Dinner on the quayside by Magdalene College. Hot tubbing as punters drift by on the River Cam. Afternoon tea overlooking the city’s famous spires.
Guests at The Varsity Hotel & Spa certainly won’t be short on iconic Cambridge views – which is probably a reason the hotel hasn’t just become a bucket list item for tourists, but for locals and university-goers looking for a memorable spot to spend a birthday, anniversary or graduation dinner.
The boutique riverside hotel combines classic Cambridge details – bikes (free to hire), academic display cases, rooms named after colleges – with a chic, urban feel. Think cool, contemporary cocktail menus, colourful geometric wallpapers and a low-lit spa.
From dinner on the roof terrace to candlelit massages, here’s what to expect.
Where is it?
If it’s location you’re after, you can’t beat it. Varsity sits right on the river in the heart of Cambridge, a stone’s throw from some of the university’s most famous colleges and right in the thick of the city centre buzz.
It’s the closest of the city’s hotels to St John’s, Trinity, Jesus and Magdalene colleges. King’s, Christ’s, Queens’, Gonville and Caius, Clare, Corpus Christi and the remaining colleges are just a short walk away.
Style
Don’t come for an old Cambridge college feel, but do come for urban chic luxury with nods to the university. Rooms are individually decorated, with fun geometric wallpapers, colourful sofas and fun touches like academic display cases and bicycle sculptures. Downstairs in the spa and steakhouse restaurant, expect 18th-century warehouse vibes, with exposed brick and classy neutral tones.
For sand-hued colleges and dreamy spires, just glance out of most of the windows.
Which room?
All 48 rooms include tea and coffee making facilities, Elemis toiletries, tablets with internet access and 24-hour concierge and room service. You’ll also get sauna, steam room and spa pool access with your booking.
Each one is uniquely designed, with quirky artwork, names inspired by Cambridge colleges and fun little touches that correspond to the room name, such as theatrical photos of alumnus Ian McKellen in the St Catharine’s room.
Graduate double rooms are the smallest option, or there’s the option of a Fellows Kings Room featuring a king-sized bed or a Senior Fellows Superking Room featuring a super-king size. Some come with walk-in Monsoon showers while some come with baths or Victorian free-standing bathtubs, so let staff know your priority when you call up to book. Many come with outstanding views over Cambridge, but again these vary, so do mention if that’s a priority.
For a special treat, choose a Senior Fellows Suite, the hotel’s biggest. The 80 square-metre corner suite comes with a private terrace, a lounge area with floor-to-ceiling windows and a free standing bath with direct views onto St John’s College Chapel.
Food & drink
The hotel’s main restaurant is its River Bar Steakhouse & Grill right on the Quayside – think cuts of fine prime beef with unbeatable views of the River Cam from an exposed-brick 18th-century warehouse building. Most ingredients are sourced locally and steak is the main order of the day here, as the name suggests, but you can also expect fresh grilled fish, lobster and vegetarian dishes from halloumi burgers to baked macaroni. The homemade chocolate brownies and sticky toffee puddings are a must-try.
SIX Brasserie — unsurprisingly, on the hotel’s sixth floor — offers modern-British lunch, dinner or just drinks with panoramic views over the city’s skyline, but it’s afternoon tea it’s most famous for. Think scones, sandwiches and sweets, plus the option of a champagne upgrade — the perfect Mother’s Day treat. You can hire the whole place for a private event if you fancy having it to yourself.
Facilities
After the rooftop, Varsity’s USP is its Glassworks spa, featuring bike machines, daily fitness classes, a sauna and steam room and an Instagram-worthy whirlpool hot tub overlooking the river. It’s one-way glass, so you don’t have to worry about passers-by staring in from the boardwalk.
Elemis Spa treatments are available for an additional fee, from waxing and manicures to massages and facials. The 50-minute Elemis facial and massage combination is a favourite among guests and there are candlelit couples massages if you’re visiting on a romantic break.
Bikes are available for guests to hire on a complimentary basis, and there’s free electric and hybrid car charging as part of the hotel’s eco initiative and valet parking service.
What to Instagram
Afternoon tea on the sixth-floor rooftop. Scones look better with a backdrop of spires.
Best for?
Citybreakers looking for a luxurious sightseeing stay.
How to get there
Fast trains from Liverpool Street and King’s Cross take as little as 48 minutes, then it’s a 25-minute walk at the other end.
If you’re driving, there’s valet parking for hotel guests. Chesterton Road has pay-and-display street parking just a three-minute walk away and is free after 5pm, and Castle Hill car park is just 8 minute walk away, with off street parking that’s free after 7pm everyday.
When should I go?
Whenever you can get a booking. Cambridge looks beautiful at any time of year – the spires arguably look more magical in the winter, though punting is certainly more enjoyable minus the winter chill and Varsity’s roof terrace is only open in the spring and summer. Avoid term times if you prefer town over gown.
