The Varsity Hotel & Spa

Hotels
8.3 (928 reviews)
Thompson's Lane , Cambridge , gb

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Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly Staff
Great Location
Clean Rooms
Cons:
Dated Rooms
Limited Amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
7.94
The hotel was very clean and well-maintained, but some rooms were dated and lacked modern amenities.
Service
8.91
The staff were exceptional, friendly, and very attentive throughout the stay.
Location
8.95
Excellent location, perfect for exploring the city, although initially hard to find.
Room Quality
7.9
Rooms were generally comfortable and clean but some were noted as dated.
Amenities
7.93
Amenities were good, but some guests expected more such as a mini fridge.
Value for Money
7.89
Value is subjective with some complaints regarding pricing compared to facilities.
Food and Beverage
8.44
Food quality was good and there was a great rooftop restaurant, although some amenities were closed.
Overall Experience
8.41
Overall a lovely experience with minor concerns regarding some amenities and room features.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 01:31

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations
The Varsity Hotel and Spa, located in the heart of Cambridge, boasts modern rooms named after prestigious colleges, offering top-notch amenities like LCD TVs, monsoon showers, and free Wi-Fi.

Exclusive Rooftop Terrace
Enjoy breathtaking views from the impressive rooftop terrace overlooking the River Cam, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring the historic city.

Wellness and Leisure
Indulge in the Glassworks Gym and Spa, featuring a hot tub, steam room, sauna, and fitness classes, providing a relaxing retreat during your stay.

Experience the charm of Cambridge and book your stay at The Varsity Hotel and Spa for a memorable and luxurious getaway.

Important information:

Valet parking is GBP 33.00 per day (24 hours). Guests can arrive at the hotel drop the luggage off and the valet porters will park the car for them.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 33 per day.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 3 years old to 12 years old stay for £30 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 13 years old to 17 years old stay for £50 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children from 3 years old to 12 years old stay for £30 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    People 13 years old and over stay for £50 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 928 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.94
Service: 8.91
Location: 8.95
Room Quality: 7.9
Amenities: 7.93
Value for Money: 7.89
Food and Beverage: 8.44
Overall Experience: 8.41
G
Gita • couple • us
8
Very pleasant, would return.
Pros:

It is centrally located, very close to shops and cafes. We got an upgrade to a larger room which was very welcome. The staff were very friendly and responded to every request promptly. The Spa and Gym are great and the rooftop restaurant has great views!

Cons:

Unfortunately there was construction right across the street which started at 8 am and was quite loud. Not the hotel’s fault of course, just our bad luck.

2026-04-23 • via Nuitee
H
HENRY • couple • gb
10
2026-04-23 • via Nuitee
S
Sheena • couple • gb
9
Wonderful stay in fabulous Cambridge we will return !
Pros:

Wonderful location close to the centre of Cambridge , shops and river for punting . Great views from the restaurant/ breakfast area
Staff couldn’t do enough to help and the valet parking worked perfectly well

2026-04-23 • via Nuitee
F
Filippo • solo_traveller • it
10
2026-04-21 • via Nuitee
A
ANDREW • family_with_children • gb
8
A great location for exploring Cambridge. Rooftop terrace a must see.
Pros:

Location and breakfast both excellent. Staff were very helpful. Rooftop terrace a great spot.

Cons:

Small issues: Minor stains on bed sheet and we were woken at 2am by loud knocking on bedroom door (twice!)

2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
A
Abdelmoula • solo_traveller • be
9
2026-04-17 • via Nuitee
H
Howard • couple • gb
9
Convenient, flexible, good value
Pros:

Clean, helpful staff, good timely food

Cons:

Nothing

2026-04-14 • via Nuitee
K
Kozarenko • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-04-14 • via Nuitee
P
Peter • solo_traveller • gb
8
Great location in a beautiful city
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Uncomfortable bed and pillows

2026-04-14 • via Nuitee
T
Trevor • couple • gb
5
Nice, but noisy.
Pros:

Staff lovely.

Cons:

Active building site next door

2026-04-14 • via Nuitee
L
lee • couple • gb
10
Perfectly perfect
Pros:

In the middle of everything. Short walk into the centre of the City. Lots of pubs nearby and great for shops

Cons:

The only issue was that at breakfast you are a bit bearded into a small section of the restaurant.

2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
T
Tracy • couple • gb
10
Fabulous staff made this hotel stay perfect
Pros:

Perfectly situated for our stay. The real stand out for us were the staff - ALL The staff! All were super friendly and nothing was too much trouble.
It’s not often I would say this but they were a total credit to the hotel and made our stay all the better for it.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
L
Laing • couple • gb
10
2026-04-10 • via Nuitee
J
Jason • couple • gb
9
Great location for what we wanted to do
Pros:

Beautiful room excellent breakfast

2026-04-06 • via Nuitee
L
Lynda • couple • gb
9
Great location , clean an comfortable accommodation, breakfast was great
Pros:

Great location

Cons:

I can’t say their was anything disliked

2026-04-06 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • extended_group • gb
6
Pleasant but not worth the money
Pros:

Standard

Cons:

Window’s very old and room cold

2026-04-06 • via Nuitee
C
Catherine • extended_group • ph
8
Lovely short stay in Cambridge with accessible location in town
Pros:

Property location is right in the city which is very accessible by foot however, very difficult to find by car. Rooms are quite nice but ceiling in the shower in our room was leaking. There is a coffee maker, two bottle is f water, robes and slippers. Bed is comfortable. Staff were nice and allowed us to check in before 3 since our rooms were ready.

Cons:

The roof terrace was not open on the day or our arrival and even the next day so we were not able to really enjoy that considering that the reason why we booked the place was bec of the roof terrace.

2026-04-05 • via Nuitee
C
Carly • couple • gb
9
Very handy location, lovely room, friendly staff
Pros:

In a good location. The room was clean, nicely decorated. Would liked to have stayed longer!

Cons:

Nothing

2026-04-03 • via Nuitee
K
Keith • solo_traveller • gb
7
Decent stay, helpful staff
Pros:

Had to wait longer than usual to get access to the room - 2.30PM Therefore could not get my usual room - 316

2026-04-01 • via Nuitee
T
tracey • couple • gb
9
Excellent hotel
Pros:

Staff were really friendly and helpful

Cons:

Nothing

2026-03-29 • via Nuitee