Hotel of the week
The Varsity Hotel & Spa Cambridge WHERE AND WHY
Perched over the picturesque River Cam, this hotel shines like a beacon in the heart of Cambridge. It’s the perfect place to watch the world go by, especially from the Roof Terrace or Six Brasserie & Bar on the floor below.
Through floor-to-ceiling windows, it offers stunning panoramic views of some of the city’s most famous and historic landmarks.
If you like punting, rowing, weekend markets, ancient pubs, independent shops, mesmerising architecture, or even students, this is the perfect base.
The Varsity has 48 “uniquely designed” rooms, and our Senior Fellows Suite was its largest, a vast space of contemporary design which included a king-size bed, stand-alone bath, separate bathroom with toiletries, robes and spa towels, plus a furnished balcony.
Once again, huge windows maximised the scenic charm outside, with St John’s College dominating a landscape that also included more distant views of Trinity and Magdalene colleges.
There are hot and cold refreshments and even an imac (although it didn’t work!).
ON THE MENU
The first-floor Grill offers a wide range of steaks, fish, burgers, chargrilled chicken and vegetarian options.
However we chose to have dinner in the Brasserie – with mixed results. Pan-seared scallops (£14.80) arrived cold, much like my main course prime fillet steak, despite costing a touch under £40. It was returned to the kitchen, and came back piping hot.
A homemade crab-cake starter was also underwhelming, although the herb-crusted roast cod in mussel broth (£24.50), rode to the rescue. So too did the chocolate mousse (£7.50).
Breakfast includes an impressive selection of hot and cold options, including scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on sourdough bread.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE
Visit the hotel’s Glassworks Gym and Spa – Conran-designed, no less – which includes a steam room, Jacuzzi and sauna.
Regular punting is available within a stone’s throw, or take a short stroll into the city to visit some of the oldest, most famous and historic colleges in the world.
There is a vibrant market to mooch at while those who fancy an afternoon tipple should head to The Eagle, one of Cambridge’s oldest inns, once frequented by staff from the Cavendish Laboratory where, legend has it, scientists discovered the structure of DNA.
WAKE-UP CALL
Suites start from £450 per night, with rooms from £150-£280. thevarsityhotel.co.uk and hotels, a busy vista with ferries, heliports, and sea planes taking off and landing as often as the myriad of seabirds including cranes, and the port’s other cranes, effortlessly loaded containers on to cargo ships.
A cinematographer wouldn’t have to work hard to turn this panorama into an epic opening shot of a super-villain’s HQ in a Bond movie.
After a quiet stroll around nearby streets, we took a swift nightcap in Arc, the hotel’s stylish bar and restaurant, before retiring.
At nightfall the view from the room was even more spectacular and our ship had literally come in, moored a stone’s throw away and now forming part of the harbour lights’ starburst show.
We were up and out early the next day to take advantage of the city pass from Destination Vancouver – a tourist ticket to most of the city’s top attractions and tours, and a helpful queuejumper too.
We made a beeline to Cycle City Tours and Bike Rentals to whizz around the city’s cycle lanes, taking in the sights and fresh air.
It was going to be a long day so we opted for e-bikes and set off in the warm morning sun around the forest trails and cycleways of the 1,000-acre Stanley Park.
On an unseasonably hot May day we were delighted to see locals packing the sands on Third Beach as we breezed down the park seawall running alongside