Varsity Hotel, a fitting base from which to explore Cambridge
The cool new Six Restaurant, which serves a mean G&T, a spa and rooms with amazing views make the boutique property a great place to stay while in the British university city
What is it? The Varsity Hotel is a boutique riverside property right in the centre of Cambridge, a five-minute pedal or punt from the heart of the British university city and 40 minutes from London by train.
Shall we start with drinks in the lobby? The reception area is compact and feels crowded at busy times but space is at a premium in England’s fastest growing city. Besides, you haven’t come to Cambridge to lounge in the lobby. Let the bowler-hatted doorman take your bags and valet park your car while you race up to the sixth floor.
Whoa, what’s the hurry? Six Restaurant (above), the recently opened all-day eatery, that’s what. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide commanding views of spires, colleges and the River Cam. Tuck into an avant-garde kimchi, blue cheese and chives pizza or opt for the free-range spit-roasted chicken with mustard mash. G&T connoisseurs may drool over a menu featuring 30 gins paired with eight tonics. If you’re still steady on your feet, wander up to the open-air roof garden (below) and enjoy a sightseeing tour without leaving the comfort of your wicker chair.
And if I want to work off my meal? Cambridge is geared up for two-wheeled transport, so rent a bike on nearby Park Street. Cycle lanes are almost as wide as the roads but that doesn’t stop students attempting to knock down the odd dawdling tourist. Next head to The Backs, a scenic stretch of green space where several colleges back on to the River Cam. Hire a punt and steer your way serenely past the Wren Library at Trinity College, the King’s College Chapel and the Bridge of Sighs. Don’t expect to have the gorgeous waterway to yourself, though.