For all of Cambridge’s charms, it’s not one of the hippest cities to visit. The rise of the Boutique Hotel, a phenomenon which has re-moulded the face of many a European city, and has been catalogued by a torrent of equally modish travel guides, seems to have passed our university city by. This isn’t hard to understand, nor is it a criticism. Cambridge’s rich history and captivating cityscape stand it in good stead as a tourist hot spot. But there certainly was a gap in the market for a stylish hotel that didn’t just see itself as a refuge for the weary sightseer.

This gap has now been plugged. Tucked away on the opposite side of Magdalene, you’d be forgiven for not being aware of The Varsity Hotel. Yet its understated exterior gives away nothing about the hotel’s astonishing interior. The design and artfully placed furnishing celebrate the ‘Varsity’ part of the name. Each room is named after an Oxbridge college (mine was the ‘St John’s suite’) and the decoration is cleverly linked to the history of that particular college (a portrait of Wordsworth by Benjamin Robert watched over me as I slept in the glorious four-poster bed). A guide is included in the room providing information about all the art throughout the hotel, making your experience not only relaxing, but informative too.The most impressive aspect though, and what really sets The Varsity Hotel apart from its competitors, is the view. Floor to ceiling windows offer a previously unknown panorama of most of the city, and the extensive wooden decked balcony offers a place to sit back and enjoy the University’s own dreaming spires.

Linked to Glassworks Spa and the River Bar restaurant, it has a lot to offer aside from being a base for the tourist trail. With a rooftop garden opening soon, and an outdoor cinema for sultry summer evenings, it is set to become one of Cambridge’s coolest locations.

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