Leonardo Hotels, Belfast City

Introduction

Leonardo Hotel Belfast City is so conveniently placed right in the heart of the city that it instantly becomes a compelling choice for any stay. Surrounded by Belfast’s best shops, restaurants, cultural landmarks, and vibrant nightlife, the hotel offers the perfect base for exploring everything the capital has to offer. With modern, comfortable rooms and welcoming amenities, it strikes the ideal balance between style, ease, and location.

I was kindly invited to a private evening wedding party at a close friend’s house on the 6th of June 2025, so I needed somewhere convenient to stay overnight. After a bit of research and checking around, I managed to snag a fantastic deal at Leonardo Hotel Belfast City. I’ll share a little more about the price later on, but for now, let me tell you why this hotel turned out to be such a brilliant choice.

Travel

Living in Northern Ireland, Belfast is my city, so getting here was simple. I decided to drive up, and parking was straightforward with no issues at all. That said, the hotel is also brilliantly located for anyone arriving by public transport — it’s literally just across from the Grand Central Station. You can hop off a bus or train and walk straight over without worrying about tricky turns or confusing routes. It’s pretty much a direct path, and with maps on your phone, you’ll have no problem finding it!

Arrival and Check-in

Arrival at Leonardo Hotel Belfast City was refreshingly straightforward. The lobby felt large and spacious, with plenty of comfortable chairs and seating areas to relax in — ideal if you want to lounge for a while or charge up your devices. Check-in with the staff was a breeze, smooth and friendly, with no issues at all. My room was on the second floor if I recall correctly, and the timings were standard: check-in from 3pm and check-out by 11am.

Accommodation

Heading up to my room, I was pleasantly surprised as soon as I opened the door — it was far more spacious than I had imagined. I’d booked a double room, but to my surprise there was also an extra single bed, which worked out perfectly as I had a guest with me.

To the left, there was a tall, clean wardrobe with plenty of space for shoes, jackets, and luggage — really handy for keeping things off the floor. The room also had a long desk and a smaller round table, giving me more than enough space to scatter my miscellaneous items (and trust me, I had plenty).

The bed itself was simple but clean, and honestly, I fell asleep straight away after such a long day — no complaints there. My guest also had no issues with the single bed, so all good on that front. The only slightly off-putting thing was a red stain on the carpet. Of course, it could have been anything, but naturally, your mind goes to the worst possibilities… not the nicest first impression.

In terms of practicality, the room was well equipped with sockets, which was a blessing since I had camera gear and devices to charge. A couple of my larger adapters didn’t quite fit into the tighter sockets, but there were enough spread around the room to make it work. The TV was fine too, though I would have liked to see YouTube available — I don’t recall that being an option.

Lighting-wise, the room leaned towards cool, bright lighting, which isn’t really my preference when winding down at night. A warmer, more ambient option would’ve made the atmosphere cosier. That said, the overall floor space was excellent, and I loved how roomy it felt — definitely not claustrophobic. The air con worked well, and the windows could be opened slightly for fresh air, which I appreciated.

The bathroom was clean and modern, with a large sink, plenty of towels, and all the usual amenities. The warm lighting made it feel more inviting compared to the bedroom. The only issue I noticed was the water — it took an unusually long time to heat up. For a moment I thought, after reading all those horror stories of hotels with no hot water, that this was going to be my turn. Thankfully, the water eventually did get hot, but the wait was much longer than I’d have expected

Parking

There’s no onsite parking at Leonardo Hotel Belfast City, but just to the side of the hotel there’s some on-street parking — around 10–12 spaces if I remember correctly. The good news is that after 6pm, it’s free until 8am the next day. Between 8am and 9am, there’s a one-hour paid limit, which I managed easily using my parking app.

Once 9am rolled around, I moved my car to another nearby street with a two-hour limit, which was plenty for me. Compared to the hotel’s recommended car park about 10 minutes away — which charges nearly £30 for overnight parking — this method saved me a lot. With just a bit of extra effort, I ended up paying around £5–6 total. Definitely worth the small hassle.

Price and Score

Now onto the part that really sealed the deal for me — the price. I booked about a month in advance and did a lot of research to find the best value. My goal, like most people’s, was simple: keep costs down while getting the most out of the stay. Initially, I had booked another hotel, but after comparing options I cancelled and switched to Leonardo Hotel Belfast City — and I’m glad I did.

Through itison (a site a friend recommended), I managed to get this overnight stay for £95, which was a steal compared to most other places pricing at £130+ at the time. The booking process involved a couple of extra steps, like redeeming a code and entering a PIN, but it was straightforward enough. The best part? I hadn’t booked right away when I first looked, so a day or two later they sent me a follow-up email with a 10% discount code. That brought the total down to about £85.50 — including breakfast and what was essentially a family-sized room. For the location, the size of the room, and the breakfast included, I’d call that a proper bargain.

If I were to score this stay, I’d give it a solid 4 out of 5. Honestly, it was one of the best bang-for-buck deals I’ve ever come across, and I’d happily stay here again if I can snag a similar price in the future. At around £85.50 including breakfast and such a spacious room, it really felt like excellent value for money.

If anyone reading this is looking for a place to stay in Belfast City, I’d definitely recommend checking out Leonardo Hotel. You never know — you might just snag a deal like I did. Just to be clear, everything mentioned here was paid for by myself, so this is an honest reflection of my experience.


Sources*

https://www.leonardohotels.co.uk/belfast/leonardo-hotel-belfast
https://www.itison.com

Disclaimer* All images included in this review are original and captured by me, please do not repurpose without my permission.