The most stylish hotels in Cambridge for your next UK city break
- 1/11
The most stylish hotels in Cambridge for your next UK city break
Whether you’re coming to punt along the River Cam or visit a student at this most esteemed centre of learning, you’ll be in search of the best Cambridge hotels for a smart staycation.
An excellent place for a weekend trip from London, checking into a chic hotel outside London or a seasonal city break in autumn or winter, Cambridge gets our vote as one of the UK's top places for a short escape.
It's a great alternative if you've already experienced some of the best hotels in Oxford and you'll find some gorgeous accommodation if you're after a unique romantic getaway, too.
The East Anglia city is famous for its university, which was founded in 1209 and is one of the most prestigious in the world. Every visitor’s list must include a trip to some of its colleges, which include King’s, with its Gothic chapel, and St John’s, home to the Great Gate, which was built in 1516, and the Bridge of Sighs.
More modern additions to the city include the Kettle’s Yard gallery, which has a collection of 20th-century artworks – and more art awaits at the grand Fitzwilliam Museum.
At the Graduate, the design pays tribute to the city’s iconic punts, with an entire double-height wall of them lining reception. The riverside retreat handily has a branch of Scudamore’s, Cambridge’s premier dispatcher of punts, right next-door.
Aptly named considering its academic backdrop, the Varsity Hotel is one of the finest luxury hotels in Cambridge, with a spa, steakhouse and rooftop terrace for full-circle views of the city.
Read on for more of our favourite Cambridge hotels…
Paul Winch-Furness/The Varsity Hotel & Spa - 2/11
1) The Varsity Hotel & Spa
For a Cambridge hotel with a romantic rooftop and far-reaching views of the city, check in to the Varsity. The sky-high Six brasserie serves afternoon tea, Sunday roasts and, of course, cocktails with a spectacular skyline view out on the terrace. You’ll also be able to admire the River Cam and Magdalen College from the comfort of an 18th-century brick warehouse, which is handily now a steakhouse.
The hotel also has an Elemis spa, with a Jacuzzi overlooking the river and treatments ranging from massages and facials to mani-pedis and blow-dries.Courtesy of the hotel - 3/11
2) University Arms
This old coaching inn has been welcoming guests since 1834 and it’s still one of the finest hotels in Cambridge today. The classic decor features tiered chandeliers, ottomans and padded leather writing desks just in case you feel a thesis idea forming. The rooms and suites have views out over Parker’s Piece, Regent Street and the courtyard.
As for the inn itself, Parker’s Tavern is as enticing for weary travellers as ever, mostly thanks to its menu, which celebrates ingredients from East Anglia, its cosy cocktail bar with fireside-chat potential and its general bon-vivant airCourtesy of the hotel - 4/11
3) Graduate Cambridge
This American group of hotels has outposts in university cities all over the world, including Ann Arbor in Michigan, Berkeley in California and Oxford in England. The designers of the Cambridge edition were as studious as the population, scrutinising local details to work them into the interiors, from adding the pattern of St John’s Gate to the wallpaper to creating bathroom mirrors that are shaped like a crest.
Punts line the walls and the neighbouring riverside, where you can borrow one to meander down the college-lined waterway. There are lots of brilliant restaurants within walking distance – or dine at the Garden House and enjoy the output of the sustainability-loving chef.Courtesy of the hotel - 5/11
4) Gonville Hotel
If you’re a fan of jazz, Gonville is the Cambridge hotel for you, since it hosts weekly jazz nights in its Atrium Bar. The spa and some of the rooms are in Gresham House, a villa that was built in the 1880s. Along with period details, the rooms in this wing have modern additions in the form of smart televisions, Bose speakers, cashmere mattresses and Espa bath products.
The Terrace Restaurant is in the glass extension (added in 2016), with a view over Parker’s Piece to enjoy alongside the fine-dining on offer.Courtesy of the hotel - 6/11
5) Clayton Hotel
Just a minute’s walk from the railway station, Clayton is the ideal Cambridge hotel for anyone arriving by train. It’s also near the city’s botanical gardens and within a 10-minute stroll of the centre – and you can take the scenic route, along the River Cam.
The Tamburlaine restaurant and bar could double as an art deco ocean liner, with banquettes to enjoy a burger, salad or steak. It also serves afternoon tea every day.Booking.com - 7/11
6) The Fellowes House
A short walk from the city centre, near Jesus Green, the Fellows House has studios and one- and two-bedroom suites, each with a kitchen, so it’s perfect for longer stays. You can blend in with the locals by borrowing a bicycle, or head to the indoor pool for a swim followed by a spell in the sauna and steam room.
The rooms are named after esteemed alumni and there’s no shortage of famous fellows to choose from, including Quentin Blake, Alan Turing and Rudyard Kipling.Courtesy of the hotel - 8/11
7) Hotel du Vin
As with all Hotel du Vin outposts up and down the land, the bistro is the star of the show, but the location, amid the spires, quads and cobbled streets, in the centre of the city, comes a close second (and the wine cellar isn’t bad, either).
Its Trumpington Street neighbours are Grade II-listed buildings – and the hotel was once part of the university, with preserved features such as original brickwork, dark wooden floors and restored fireplaces.Booking.com - 9/11
8) The Regent
This Cambridge aparthotel, in a Georgian building with a listed staircase, is perfect for guests staying a little longer, since most suites have their own kitchen with a kettle, toaster and Nespresso coffee machine. The central setting is just behind Parker’s Piece and near Downing College.
For the most space, book a Loft, which has a balcony, super-king-size bed and dining table. Attractions of note nearby include the Fitzwilliam Museum and the botanical gardens.Courtesy of the hotel - 10/11
9) Hyatt Centric
A couple of miles from the centre of Cambridge in Eddington, Hyatt Centric features a cocktail bar, coffee shop and co-working spaces. The development, which has homes, shops, a school and a theatre, is also home to Dutch, a cocktail bar where you can also enjoy small plates and sharing platters, and the Finnish-style Kota for grilled meats and plant-based dishes (don’t miss the brunches).
Design details in the hotel rooms include art deco accents, pale blue walls and mustard armchairs.Courtesy of the hotel - 11/11
10) Turing Locke
The Locke group has created slick apartment suites everywhere from Bermondsey to Berlin and, helpfully for anyone in search of a homely Cambridge hotel, right here, too. This one is on the edge of the city in Eddington, with a gym, coffee shop and co-working space.
It also has a rooftop terrace and weekly bootcamps to help guests keep fit if they’ve indulged in one too many small plates at Dutch. The cobblestoned centre of Cambridge is just a 10-minute cycle away.Courtesy of the hotel
