The Varsity

At last! Smart chic rooms in the centre of Cambridge with spectacular views and a pocket spa to boot

Everywhere, in magnificent Cambridge, narrow side streets wind beguilingly between grand colleges and student digs in Victorian terraces; few of them lead to rooms as splendid as the Varsity’s airy modern suites. Here, in a completely new glass-topped building, 48 rooms span the gamut from swanky expanses you could roller-blade in to more typically student-size rooms; but all are blessed with floor-to-ceiling windows, superb beds and treats such as iPod docking stations and use of an Aveda spa. Regardless of size, all are impeccably designed, with sleek contemporary furniture, weighty curtains in neutral tones, and a distinctive dash of colour in bold wallpaper or unusual prints.

The roof is a stunning, astro-turfed terrace, open to 360 degree views of Cambridge - a wonderful place for an early drink. Next door, their River Bar restaurant serves a reliable menu of steaks, with a superior wine list, while tucked away in their Glassworks spa are tiny havens where expert masseuses work transformative magic. A perfect base for sightseeing, or a great treat for a special weekend.

Highs

• The views. Cambridge has never looked so grand as from the Varsity’s windows or roof terrace
• The location. Perfectly situated in the heart of the city for colleges, shopping, and strolls along the Cam
• Breakfasts: enormous, lavish, and lengthy. Don’t be in a rush to head out
• The well-equipped gym and spa: small but serious, with superb massages
• The overall feel of a smart city hotel with real style and friendly service: something Cambridge has lacked until now

Lows

• Some rooms are a lot nicer than others. Graduates Rooms are positively small, and most lower floor rooms have uninspiring views
• You have to go outside and back in again next door to enter the restaurant, or the spa
• No parking outside: it’s a 10-minute walk to the car park, though valet parking is planned and meanwhile, a helpful map is provided. Drop your bags first
• Room design is great throughout, but corridors lack the same style, with alarming liquorice-allsorts striped carpet in places