Best hotels in Cambridge 2023: From spas to family holidays

I fell in love with Cambridge as a bright-eyed 17-year-old, wandering along the banks of the River Cam, through pastures dotted with grazing cows, and into revered colleges with lofty spires. Like me, many have felt the pull of this historic city, from Nobel Prize winners to heads of state who have passed through the university.

However, there is much more to this city than its famous higher education halls. After all, around 5.3 million people venture to the riverside location every year, each as eager as the last to soak up its rich history and architecture.

The hospitality scene has thankfully developed since my student days. Visitors now have a whole host of activities to choose from: you could visit one of the many museums found in town, dine in some of the most romantic restaurants, visit the Botanic Gardens or of course punt down the river – it’s not quite Venice, but it’s pretty close.

Thankfully there’s also a wide range of hotels to suit every taste, style and budget too. From the hip to the high-end or homely digs, Cambridge has it all. Though it is worth noting that this is not the city for cheap accommodation…

Neighbourhood: Quayside

When the Varsity launched in 2011, it immediately became the place to see and be seen in Cambridge. The brainchild of a group of Cambridge graduates, the all-encompassing but unassuming boutique hotel is comprised of 48 sleekly decorated rooms, two popular restaurants, a full-service gym and Elemis spa. That’s not to mention that there is also one heck of a view from its seventh-floor roof terrace, conveniently packaged into two buildings in the city’s buzzing Quayside area.

The spectacular view alone justifies a visit, and on any given day, you’ll likely find yourself taking in the sight of college spires and punts floating along the Cam alongside young locals and university students celebrating a special occasion.