University Arms Hotel, Autograph Collection - Cambridge

Fennie G.

My husband and I came to stay at the beginning of January for my birthday and a child free night away after the chaos of Christmas and New Year. We had the most wonderful stay. From the moment we stepped foot in the building, we were treated with kindness and made to feel very special. We were kindly allowed to check into our room early and upgraded to a beautiful Superior room with a lovely view of Parker's Piece. We also received a complimentary drink due to my birthday which was so kind and we very much enjoyed a cocktail in the Parker's Tavern bar - highly recommend! The rooms were beautiful and well equipped; the facilities all round the setting were wonderful and the breakfast - wow, so much on offer. We really enjoyed everything about our stay and hope to return again in the future. Thank you so much. Highly recommend (and have already been telling everyone to book to go here ASAP!).

R M.

A truly exceptional stay!

The University Arms is a gem. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the stunning decor and thoughtful design throughout the hotel. Our upgrade to the Turing Suite was an absolute highlight – a spacious and luxurious haven with breathtaking views.

The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, making us feel truly welcome. The breakfast was delicious, offering a wide variety of fresh and high-quality options. And to top it all off, our room boasted a fantastic balcony overlooking the vibrant green and the charming Christmas market, creating a truly magical ambiance.

The University Arms is a testament to refined elegance and impeccable service. We highly recommend it to anyone seeking a memorable stay in Cambridge.

Karen C.

This is a fabulous hotel. We felt very spoilt here. Welcome from reception was perfect, room was large and well equipped. No bath but great showers with lovely individual toiletries and soft towels. Really comfy huge bed with great quality bedding. In the very heart of Cambridge which was great. We parked the car across Parkers Piece in Queen Mary terrace which cost us less than £20 for 24 hours.

Ronnie S.

Lovely stay on 30th December for my wife's 70th bithday. Good hotel in a great location with an attractive room, nice accessories, an excellent shower, fine coffee and pleasant staff. Two little let downs - there was no butter available in the restaurant at breakfast only margarine! Only whole milk was available in the restaurant too - no skimmed or semi skimmed! My wife had to go to Sainsbury's next door for milk for our cereal and tea/coffee. This is not acceptable in a hotel of this stature. Otherwise it was a really enjoyable stay and we'd stay there again expecting these issues to be resolved!

a U.

Enjoyed our stay here - it’s a lovely hotel in a convenient location, but not without some issues.
The first problem is general lack of parking in Cambridge town centre. If possible the train is probably best. I have a large EV and looked at all the car parks, most of which are not made for bigger cars. So 2 weeks before arrival I got in touch with the hotel, explained my wife has a blue badge and they were brilliant - reserved me a space in the underground carpark. My advice is don’t park there if you have a large car - it’s got about 10 spaces, is very tight, and the entrance is the exit. If all spaces are full the you have to reverse out as it’s not possible to turn. I had to leave my car in the carpark (without a space) and went to check in - at this point it went a bit wrong. I was told I shouldn’t have gone in the car park (but I was let in and the email told me to park there), and the secure accessible space promised was not available. Luckily the concierge Charles, is brilliant. He took my wife to the room in the lift, and then came back and helped me reverse out - a stressful nightmare if you have a car with sensors which auto stop. Every bell and alarm was going made and it constantly was refusing to move. Got out and then had to drive in a loop for 30 minutes (Cambridge has one way systems and traffic and is really a place to walk and cycle only) to get back to park at the front of the hotel. This in itself was a worry because there are clubs and pubs and footpath to get the park, so it’s not at all secure. I didn’t really sleep well as a result (the party goers leaving the bars late also!l didn’t help). We took an hour from arrival to get sorted and ready, which didn’t help our plans as we had an early dinner. The staff were generally great. Our room was overlooking the main road but was fairly noisy due to the clubs and pubs. The room was a good size and the bathroom well appointed too. On the Sunday morning (at about 11) there was booming music - it turned out to be a rather aggressive Brazilian preacher with a loud sound system, talking for hours. It was too loud as the sound bounced in our bathroom window so we went back out to the shops. “PJ’s Tavern” was very nice - but book before if you want to eat at a table in the restaurant. We had snack and drinks - lovely but had a bit of a problem with one dish. We did speak to the manager and he resolved it. Breakfast was very comprehensive - quite busy and warm in the restaurant, but everything was well stocked, replenished and tasty. I think we would come back but not sure if we would drive, although for us it probably is twice as quick as train. I think the hotel was built in 2007 but is in keeping with the older architecture. The weather was bitterly cold - we’ll come back in summer!

Laura F.

Absolutely stunning! We stayed in the top-floor suite, and it was an incredible experience. The entire space was impeccably clean, beautifully designed, and very spacious. The rooms were not only elegant but also offered breathtaking views.

The location was perfect, an ideal spot for a relaxing weekend getaway.

snmgotogether 0.

Room was basic and dated. Toilet lid and seat were both lifted up (very odd!!) when I first arrived in the room and someone had spit in the toilet and not bothered flushing it - disgusting, but I flushed it and wipe cleaned the unit. Bathroom had tiny tubes of shower and hair gel - no hand wash but a bar or soap. The shower head, which might have been gold once upon a time, was turning bluish green. I'd have expected better.

Breakfast was very good but they brought scrambled eggs when I asked poached. Not a big deal and I don't like food wasted so had it anyway.

The reception staff on my evening of arrival appeared 'not bothered ', very much "to the point" and less engaging - to the borderline of being rude.

Charged me an extra £172 on my credit card (don't even know how the amount was calculated and they didn't want to explain) as security deposit for 2 nights for single occupancy!! Are you serious (is it a hotel or student dormitory) - what part of my business attire implied that I'm here to damage your room - which barely had anything worth that money given how dated everything was.

I will definitely not recommend this hotel.

Andrew H.

With a warm welcome on a cold winters night, my visit to this new “Grand Dame” of Cambridge was off to a great start. ||I had an amazing room which you need to book on the top floor with a balcony overlooking Parker’s Piece. ||Spotlessly clear, delightful decor and charming amenities. Breakfast in the morning was a hive of activity and the team took care of us all as if we were the only guests. Just perfect.