The Varsity Hotel & Spa review: A boutique hotel in one of the UK's most historic cities
Visitors are first greeted by the hotel's colourful entrance, decked out in beautiful blooms
Highlights
- A range of eateries to choose from
- Incredible attention to detail
- Beautiful city views
- Spa with a sauna and steam room
- 24-hour room service
- Great service
The Varsity Hotel & Spa review
The Varsity Hotel & Spa, situated in the heart of Cambridge, is an independently owned boutique hotel and spa with just 48 rooms. Nestled on the banks of the river, in Cambridge’s Quayside area, the hotel is well-located for those who want to try the city's famous punting or explore the nearby bars and shops.
Located down a quiet street near some of the university’s accommodations, visitors are first greeted by the hotel's colourful entrance, decked out in beautiful blooms. The hotel is home to two restaurants, along with Glassworks Health Club where guests can enjoy a sauna, steam room, SPA Pool and a range of luxurious toiletries.
Each of the rooms at the Varsity are uniquely decorated and celebrate the city's heritage (Image: The Varsity)
Our bedroom features floral green wallpaper and homely touches (Image: Sophie Harris)
The hotel is home to two restaurants offering a diverse range of dishes (Image: The Varsity)
We were pleasantly surprised by how many menu options there were (Image: The Varsity)
The hotel caters guests from breakfast right through to dinner (Image: The Varsity)
Even during busy times, the hotel was able to accommodate us for dinner (Image: The Varsity)
The hotel is home to a spa and wellness centre (Image: The Varsity)
The cocktail menu served at the hotel bar has some incredibly unique options (Image: The Varsity)
Kitted out with a whirlpool overlooking the river, a sauna, a steam room, a SPA Pool, plus a huge range of luxury Elemis treatments, it's the perfect spot to relax after a busy day exploring the historic city.
Guests can expect to be welcomed by warm and friendly staff, who are on hand to offer directions. Perhaps one of the perks of the hotel is that it has dog-friendly options for those who want to come with their four-legged friends in tow.
The Rooms
Rating: 4.5/5
Each of Varsity's rooms is uniquely designed, with quirky artwork celebrating the cultural heritage of the city. These special touches made the space feel like a home away from home.
Room sizes vary, with categories spanning, Graduate Double Rooms, Fellows King Rooms, Senior Fellows Superking Rooms and Senior Fellows Suites.
We were handed the key to a Senior Fellows Superking Rooms - all of which are slightly different from one another. The room features a bathroom with underfloor heating and a Victorian free-standing bathtub.
The cocktail menu was one of the main highlights of our stay - offering a unique array of drinks
The bed looks out towards a Juliet balcony - a special addition setting the hotel apart from its competitors in the area. Guests can expect plenty of space to relax, with a large wardrobe, television, desk area and seating area.
Modern elements including an iPad to browse the hotel restaurant menu, order room service and browse the spa, means everything you might need is at the touch of a button.
Bathrooms feature a variety area, Juliet balcony, a shower and a free-standing bath with complimentary Elemis products. It's worth noting, however, that as each of the rooms is uniquely designed some bathroom elements may differ from room to room.
Dining and Drinking
How does The Varsity Hotel & Spa compare to other UK hotels?
Rating: 4.5/5
The hotel is home to two restaurants, the River Bar Steakhouse and Grill, located on the Quayside with views of the river and SIX Brasserie.
For our stay, we dined at SIX Brassiere. The sixth-floor location boasts stunning views across the city, where you can watch the sunset and the lights of Cambridge begin to twinkle whilst you dine.
The Head Chef locally sources most of his menu ingredients including steak, fresh fish, homemade puddings and an extensive cocktail list.
Main course dishes span the likes of steak, duck, fresh pizzas, fish dishes and vegetarian options. On Sundays, the restaurant whips up impressive-looking Sunday roasts between 12pm and 4pm and also provides a plant-based section.
Desserts include traditional favourites such as cheesecake and apple crumble. The cocktail menu, though, was one of the main highlights of our stay. As well as your cocktail classic, there was an array of unique options including the Nutella Martini, Eton mess cocktail and even a Toblerone cocktail - all of which were reasonably priced for a city centre location.
For those who want to enjoy a cocktail with a view, the brassiere also leads to a roof terrace which looks out across the city. However, the last orders were taken rather early during our stay which was surprising given that it coincided with a Bank Holiday weekend.
Staff are attentive and friendly, offering menu recommendations and suggesting their favourite dishes.
When morning arrives, the brasserie also serves a continental buffet breakfast, along with freshly cooked pancakes and the much-loved Full English breakfast. Guests have the option to choose how their eggs are cooked, and the dish is served with sourdough toast.
Amenities
- Valet parking
- Rooftop terrace bar
- Great Wi-Fi
- Two restaurants
- Hairdryer
- Toiletries in room
- Air conditioning
- 24-hour room service
- In-room safe
- Spa with sauna, steam room and SPA Pool
- Bathrobes and slippers
- Gym membership and classes
Location
Rating: 4.5/5
Located just a five-minute walk from Trinity College, the college where Sir Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking studied as well as being situated right on the river where you could go punting.
Varsity Hotel is also close to the market square where there are plenty of shops and eateries, and is within easy reach of the train station. For guests who don't want to use the hotel's valet service, there are a few car parks located nearby.
However, due to being within close proximity to the university accommodation, the surrounding area can be quite loud during the day - though this didn't bother us too much when trying to sleep.
Value For Money
Rating: 4.5/5
Prices to stay at The Varsity Hotel & Spa start at around £155 for a weeknight stay or £200 for a weekend stay. Prices do increase depending on which room is chosen and the season. Find rooms and book direct on The Varsity Hotel & Spa website.
Or, compare deals and prices at The Varsity Hotel & Spa with Booking.com or Hotels.com.
Final Verdict
Of course, most people are visiting Cambridge to explore the historic city, but one of the perks of Varisty is that visitors don't really need to leave the hotel for dinner, drinks or breakfast.
Luckily, if you are planning on exploring, the hotel is within easy reach of most of Cambridge's most popular sites.
There are also multiple dining and drinking options just a short walk away if you want to branch out from the hotel's offering.
Rooms offer a comfortable place to spend a short stay and the unique accents of each room provide a thoughtful, homely touch.
Dining and drink options in the hotel are excellent, with a diverse and unique variety for cocktail lovers to enjoy.
But it would be fantastic to see the rooftop terrace stay open a little later so that guests can fully enjoy views of the city as night falls.
