THE VARSITY HOTEL & SPA, Cambridge (Cambridgeshire) – A Smart Stay in the City
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Key details
About the Hotel
Thompson'S Lane,
Cambridge (Cambridgeshire),
United Kingdom,
CB5 8AQ,
Cambridgeshire
Rooms & Suites
The Varsity Hotel & Spa offers 48 uniquely designed rooms, each featuring fast Wi-Fi, smart TVs, and keyless entry. Rooms include Elemis toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, and tea/coffee facilities. Some rooms have four-poster beds, walk-in showers, or Victorian free-standing bathtubs. The Senior Fellows Suite spans 80 sqm with a private terrace and views of St John's College Chapel.
Dining & Bars
SIX Panoramic Brasserie serves dishes from a wood-fired oven and rotisserie, with views of the River Cam. The River Bar Steakhouse offers 28-day-aged steaks and fresh seafood. Afternoon tea includes finger sandwiches, warm scones, and homemade cakes. The rooftop bar features over 30 gins and signature cocktails like lychee martinis.
Spa & Fitness
The Elemis Spa includes a sauna, steam room, and a whirlpool hot tub overlooking the river. Treatments range from massages to facials and waxing. The gym has Cybex resistance machines and Peloton bikes. Daily classes include yoga, Pilates, and high-intensity workouts like Tabata.
Location & Access
The hotel is steps from Jesus Green and the Quayside punt station. St John's and Trinity Colleges are a 3-minute walk away. Cambridge Central Station is 2 km away, with direct trains to London King's Cross. Valet parking costs £33 per night.
Events & Extras
The rooftop terrace hosts private events for up to 140 guests, with views of Cambridge's skyline. Complimentary Dutch-style bicycles are available for exploring the city. Rutherford's Punting offers discounted private tours for hotel guests. Dog-friendly rooms include beds, bowls, and a welcome box.
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Choose the Room
From cosy doubles to spacious family suites – all with flexible options, breakfast, and exclusive deals.
Thoughtfully designed amenities for a comfortable & memorable stay
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi in rooms
Parking
GBP 33 per day
Luggage storage
24-hour services
24-hour reception
24-hour security
General
No smoking on site
Free Wi-Fi
Car park
Safe deposit box
24-hour reception
Pets allowed
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
24-hour security
Luggage storage
Lift
Barber shop
Coffee shop
Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers
Sports & Fitness
Fitness centre
Cycling
Tennis
Sports trainer
Services
Valet parking
Pet amenities available
Room service
Housekeeping
Laundry
Dry cleaning
Dining
In-room breakfast
Restaurant
Bar/ Lounge area
Special diet menus
Business
Meeting/ Banquet facilities
Fax/Photocopying
Children
Cots
Children's menu
Spa & Leisure
Sun terrace
Spa & wellness centre
Sauna
Steam room
Jacuzzi
Massage
Room features
Wi-Fi in rooms
Air conditioning
Heating
Terrace
Tea and coffee facilities
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Media
Flat-screen TV
CD player
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Location
Thompson'S Lane,
Cambridge (Cambridgeshire),
United Kingdom,
CB5 8AQ,
Cambridgeshire
Map view
Thompson'S Lane,
Cambridge (Cambridgeshire),
United Kingdom,
CB5 8AQ,
Cambridgeshire
City landmarks
Museum
Fitzwilliam Museum
1.2
km
University
Trinity College
1.2
km
Church
King's College Chapel
770 m
Market
Cambridge Market Square
640 m
Bridge
Mathematical Bridge
1.1
km
Botanical Garden
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
2.1
km
Landmark
Castle Mound
630 m
University
University of Cambridge
630 m
Museum
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
1.2
km
Park
Midsummer Common
1.0
km
Landmark
King's College
660 m
Landmark
The River Cam
1.0
km
Park
Parker's Piece
1.3
km
University
Pembroke College
1.0
km
Museum
Whipple Museum of the History of Science
1.2
km
University
Corpus Christi College
930 m
University
St Catharine's College
880 m
University
Emmanuel College
890 m
University
Queen's College
1.1
km
Church
Great St Mary's Church
610 m
Museum
University Museum Of Zoology
890 m
Park
The Backs
1.3
km
Nearby
Park
Jesus Green
410 m
St John's St
St John's College
160 m
Museum
Museum of Cambridge
560 m
University
Magdalene College
240 m
University
Trinity Hall Cambridge
220 m
University
Gonville and Caius College
530 m
University
Sidney Sussex College
540 m
Gallery
Kettle's Yard
560 m
Restaurants
River Bar Steakhouse & Grill
60 m
3 Thompsons Lane Quayside
The Roof Terrace
40 m
24 Thompsons Lane The Varsity Hotel & Spa
Thaikhun Cambridge
80 m
3-5 Quayside
The Punt Yard
70 m
6-8 Quayside
Wildwood Restaurant
80 m
27-28 Bridge Street
Cafe Rouge Cambridge
160 m
24-26 Bridge Street
Costa Coffee
150 m
1-2 Market Hill Grand Arcade
Prezzo - Cambridge
130 m
32 Bridge Street
Cambridge Wine Merchants
150 m
32 Bridge Street
Guest Ratings & Reviews
Real Guest Experiences & Ratings
Guest reviews
5.0/10
based on 6 reviews
8.3
8.3/10 based on 829 reviews
Richard
United States,
January
2024
8.2/10
The hotel was perfect for our one-night stay, although the view wasn't the best, it didn't bother us as we were out exploring during the day. The room was very small by any standard for £315 a night, but it was a lovely surprise.
Rooms
7.0
The room was small, but it was a lovely surprise. The view wasn't the best, but it didn't affect our overall experience.
Service
9.0
The staff were incredibly helpful, polite, and genuine in their desire to serve. They were attentive and quick to assist with any requests.
Location
8.0
The hotel is ideally placed for exploring Cambridge. It was a perfect base for us and we would definitely come back if we return to the area.
Dining
8.0
After spending north of £500 for one night's stay with dinner and Breakfast, the dining experience was lovely. The view from the restaurant was great, and the service was spotless.
Facilities
9.0
The facilities were well-equipped and comfortable, providing everything we needed for a pleasant stay.
Mary
United Kingdom,
December
2023
8.2/10
Although the street noise was disruptive early in the morning, the room itself was spacious and clean, offering necessary amenities. The service was exceptional, with friendly and helpful staff. The hotel's location in Cambridge was ideal for exploring the city's attractions, aided by a friendly team. The dining experience was satisfactory, though more meal options would enhance it. The facilities were well-maintained and convenient.
Rooms
7.0
The room was spacious and clean, but noise from the street in the morning was bothersome. I wished there was a bath due to the empty space.
Service
9.0
The staff, from reception to valet parking, were particularly pleasant and helpful. They made my stay enjoyable and stress-free.
Location
9.0
The hotel's location in Cambridge is perfect for exploring the city, offering wonderful views and easy access to various attractions.
Dining
8.0
The dining experience was pleasant, but more meal choices would have been appreciated to enhance the overall experience.
Facilities
8.0
The facilities were convenient and well-maintained, adding to the overall comfort of the stay.
Mary
United States,
September
2023
8.0/10
My stay at the hotel was delightful. The rooms were incredibly intimate and cosy with beautiful decor, featuring a huge, comfortable bed with lovely cotton linen. The full tea and coffee making facilities were a nice touch. However, the views from the rooms didn't match the expectations set by the website. Overall, the rooms were spacious, well-equipped, and offered a good glimpse of the rooftops and surrounding area.
Rooms
8.0
The rooms certainly had the wow factor, especially with the large, extremely comfy bed and roll top bath.
Service
9.0
The service was top-notch. The staff catered well to my gluten and dairy intolerance, were attentive, and even loaded our car promptly.
Location
7.0
The location of the hotel was perfect for sightseeing in the city center. However, the noise from the glass recycling bin below some guest windows on Saturday night was a bit disruptive.
Dining
7.0
Dining options were good, and I especially enjoyed the Smashed Avocado on toast with Poached Eggs and the full English breakfast. Just a few minor observations for potential improvement.
Facilities
9.0
The hotel facilities were excellent, offering various services such as room service, dry cleaning, and valet parking.
Margaret
United Kingdom,
July
2023
9.0/10
The hotel provided a large and comfortable room with a stunning view, including a complimentary bottle of Prosecco for our anniversary. The decor throughout the hotel was impressive. The location was central, offering easy access to various attractions, along with a peaceful ambiance away from the city's hustle and bustle. The dining experience offered a delicious variety of continental options, although some improvements could be made in the variety of choices. Overall, a great stay with a few minor drawbacks.
Rooms
9.0
The room was large, comfortable, and had a stunning view.
Service
9.0
The staff were brilliant, attentive to our requests and extremely helpful throughout our stay.
Location
10.0
The hotel's location was very centrally situated, making it convenient to explore the city's attractions and near the river for punting.
Dining
8.0
The dining experience was delicious, offering a great choice of continental options.
Facilities
9.0
The hotel's facilities were top-notch, adding to the overall comfort of our stay.
Michael
United States,
July
2023
8.2/10
I had an incredible stay at this hotel. The rooms lacked nothing and the unique bath in the middle added a special touch. The views over Cambridge were simply breathtaking. The room had the wow factor, being extremely intimate and cozy with beautiful decor, a huge bed with lovely cotton linen, and an extremely comfortable mattress and pillows. However, the experience was slightly dampened by noisy air-conditioning units.
Rooms
9.0
The rooms were extremely intimate and cozy with beautiful decor. The huge bed, lovely cotton linen, and comfortable mattress and pillows made for a restful stay.
Service
7.0
The service was top-notch right from the moment we arrived. The staff even parked our car promptly and with a charming touch, wearing a bowler hat. However, some staff members could be a bit rude and uninterested, especially when it came to providing a positive exit experience.
Location
8.0
The location of the hotel is perfect, just a few minutes' walk from the main colleges and the shopping center. It offers a beautiful view and the dinner experience was truly wonderful. However, the parking situation can be awkward, and the hotel charges £19.50 per night for parking, which could be a downside.
Dining
8.0
The dining experience was delightful with a continental breakfast option. The staff was very attentive and accommodating, providing a nice variety of choices. It would have been even better if there were more breakfast options, especially a full English breakfast.
Facilities
9.0
The facilities were great, especially the spa where I enjoyed a wonderful massage and facial by Faye. Additionally, the hotel surprised me with a lovely hand-written birthday message from the manager.
Jack
United Kingdom,
May
2023
7.6/10
The hotel had its ups and downs. The rooms were comfortable but a bit noisy due to the location overlooking the bins. The service was outstanding, with a friendly and lovely staff. The location was top-notch, allowing easy access to all of Cambridge's main attractions. The dining experience was a mix of disappointment and satisfaction. Overall, the stay was pleasant with a few minor hiccups.
Rooms
7.0
The room, once we got in, was comfortable though a tad noisy due to the bin area outside. The upgrade to the superior king room didn't seem justified for the £195 paid.
Service
9.0
The service, especially as a couple with my girlfriend, was absolutely amazing. The staff were friendly, very clean, and the location was great.
Location
9.0
The location was excellent, close to all major attractions. Punting on the Cam just around the corner added to the charm of being in the center of Cambridge.
Dining
6.0
The breakfast was a mix of disappointment and satisfaction. Limited choices led us to opt for a la carte, and service took longer than expected. However, there were some good options available.
Facilities
7.0
The hotel facilities need a bit of work but overall were satisfactory.
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