Looking for the best area to stay in Cambridge?
Follow the guide, we have tested, listed and detailed for you the best areas to stay in Cambridge as well as the best accommodation in this beautiful English city.
⏰ Don’t have time to read it all?
Here are the best places to stay in Cambridge, with hotels ranging from upmarket to budget. They all have great reviews and are in great locations!
🚨 These are some of the most popular hotels so don’t delay in booking. Plus, they offer free cancellation, so don’t worry if you change your mind.
- Best upmarket hotel: Worth House
- Best value: Leverton House ❤️
- Best budget hotel: Harry’s bed and breakfast
- Best hotel for families: Leverton
- Best well-located flat: Nice Apartment
🌃 Find other accommodation at the best price
Table des matières
Where to stay in Cambridge for the first time: Round Church Street
Round Church Street is located just outside the city centre and is one of the first residential areas of Cambridge to be next to the universities. Staying here means you’re within walking distance of all the main sights in the centre, making it a great place to stay if you’re visiting Cambridge for the first time.
During the summer, take a break from sightseeing and relax on the grass in Jesus Green Park. There are also regular concerts.
Saint John’s College is located in this area. It is particularly worth visiting for its chapel and its stained glass windows depicting scenes from the life of Christ. Over the River Cam, the Bridge of Sighs was built in 1831 and is said to be Queen Victoria’s favourite spot in the city.
Best hotels to stay in Round Church Street
Upscale
Worth House: A charming guest house set in a Victorian villa, with a large en-suite bathroom, 500 metres from the River Cam. Great breakfast and free parking! See price and availability.
Best value for money
❤️ Leverton House: Room spotless and very clean. The bedding is particularly comfortable. The breakfast is excellent and Wendy’s welcome is incredible as she goes out of her way to please you. See website and availability.
Cheap hotel
Harry’s bed and breakfast: A magnificent house, full of charm. Featuring a terrace, this bed and breakfast also includes a well-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, microwave and fridge. During your stay at this bed and breakfast, you can enjoy the garden or go hiking and cycling in the surrounding area. See website and availability.
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5 things to do and see in Round Church Street
- Visit Saint John College, its chapel and the Bridge of Sighs.
- Take a tour of Stafford House Cambridge
- Picnic in Jesus Green Park
- Try some incredible vegetarian dishes at The Orator.
- Dine in one of the restaurants along the River Cam
Cheap accommodation in Cambridge: Mill Road
Mill Road is the area around Cambridge Central Station. Being a little further from the city centre, it offers cheaper accommodation options and is therefore ideal for backpackers and budget travellers. From here, it’s easy to catch a bus to the main part of the city.
Mill Road nevertheless has plenty to offer. The Cambridge Science Centre offers an interactive, hands-on experience for children and adults, giving them the opportunity to learn more about science and technology. Inside, visitors will find exhibitions and performances, as well as regular workshops.
In summer, the Coleridge Recreation Ground is a fantastic playground for children, with a paddling pool and splash pool. Adults will love the football pitch and tennis court. To see what the local cultural scene is like, head to Cambridge Junction, which hosts concerts, plays and more.
Best hotels to stay at in Mill Road
Upscale
Worth House: A charming guest house set in a Victorian villa, with a large en-suite bathroom, 500 metres from the River Cam. Great breakfast and free parking! See price and availability.
Best value for money
❤️ Leverton House: Room spotless and very clean. The bedding is particularly comfortable. The breakfast is excellent and Wendy’s welcome is incredible as she goes out of her way to please you. See website and availability.
Cheap hotel
Harry’s bed and breakfast: A magnificent house, full of charm. Featuring a terrace, this bed and breakfast also includes a well-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, microwave and fridge. During your stay at this bed and breakfast, you can enjoy the garden or go hiking and cycling in the surrounding area. See website and availability.
🌃 Find other accommodation at the best price
5 things to do and see in Mill Road
- Learn about science at the Cambridge Science Centre
- Taste Italian Pizza at Cambrige’s coear at Tradizioni
- Take in a show at Cambridge Junction
- Visit the 196 cocktail bar
- Take the kids for a day out at Coleridge Recreation Ground.
Where to stay in Cambridge with your family: De Freville Avenue
De Freville Avenue is a quiet area and one of the most sought-after by Cambridge residents. Many of the University’s professors have chosen to live here. As De Freville Avenue is a quiet area, it is an ideal place for families to stay and get a good night’s sleep.
Many university rowing clubs are located around De Freville Avenue, along the River Cam. Go there to watch the students train for the famous Oxbridge Rowing Race. If you want to try rowing yourself, some clubs in the town allow visitors to have a trial session.
Across the river, Midsummer Common, once England’s largest common, is a popular spot, especially in summer. A funfair is held here every year. Take the kids along for a fun day they won’t forget!
Best hotels to stay at in De Freville Avenue
Upscale
Worth House: A charming guest house set in a Victorian villa, with a large en suite bathroom, 500 metres from the River Cam. Great breakfast and free parking! See price and availability.
Best value for money
❤️ Leverton House: Room spotless and very clean. The bedding is particularly comfortable. The breakfast is excellent and Wendy’s welcome is incredible as she goes out of her way to please you. See website and availability.
Cheap hotel
Harry’s bed and breakfast: A magnificent house, full of charm. Featuring a terrace, this bed and breakfast also includes a well-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, microwave and fridge. During your stay at this bed and breakfast, you can enjoy the garden or go hiking and cycling in the surrounding area. See website and availability.
🌃 Find other accommodation at the best price
3 things to do and see in Freville Avenue
- Try rowing on the River Cam to feel like a student again.
- Have lunch on the banks of the River Cam at the Midsummer House.
- Have fun at the annual Midsummer Common funfair.
Where to stay in Cambridge to party: the city centre
The city centre is the real heart of Cambridge. This is where you’ll find the most famous colleges, as well as museums and plenty of shopping opportunities. You’ll love the cobbled streets around King’s Parade, the street alongside King’s College.
King’s College is probably the most famous college at the University of Cambridge, and also the most visited. One of its highlights is the chapel, which has the largest fan vault in the world, built in the Gothic style. The chapel was used as the setting for Hogwarts during the filming of the Harry Potter movies.
Behind the colleges, the Backs are the area where the grounds meet the River Cam. One of the most popular ways to explore them is on a punt, a flat-bottomed boat propelled by a punter pushing a pole against the riverbed. The punters will tell you the story of each college. In winter, blankets are even provided!
Best hotels to stay at in this part of Cambridge
Upscale
Worth House: A charming guest house in a Victorian villa, with a large en suite bathroom, 500 metres from the River Cam. Great breakfast and free parking! See price and availability.
Best value for money
❤️ Leverton House: Room spotless and very clean. The bedding is particularly comfortable. The breakfast is excellent and Wendy’s welcome is incredible as she goes out of her way to please you. See website and availability.
Cheap hotel
Harry’s bed and breakfast: A magnificent house, full of charm. Featuring a terrace, this bed and breakfast also includes a well-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, microwave and fridge. During your stay at this bed and breakfast, you can enjoy the garden or go hiking and cycling in the surrounding area. See website and availability.
🌃 Find other accommodation at the best price
5 things to do and see in City Centre
- Take a riverside cruise on a punt on the River Cam
- Stay overnight at Hilton Cambridge City Centre
- Visit King’s College and Chapel
- Shop in Grand Arcade, a small town full of shops
- See the famous collections of art and antiques at the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Romsey, the coolest place to stay in Cambridge
Romsey used to be a less-than-pleasant part of Cambridge, but in recent years it has become one of the trendiest areas in the UK. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, it has its own atmosphere, full of English cool.
In Romsey, take the opportunity to live like a local and take the time to hang out in all the local cafés and restaurants. Good restaurants to try include the Limoncello Café for a unique Italian atmosphere, the Black Cat Café for an all-day breakfast or the Liutaio Music Café to sip a cup of tea surrounded by musical instruments.
From Romsey, don’t take the bus into the city centre – get on a bike instead. Pedal through the picturesque terraced houses and Mill Road before reaching the historic centre. If you get tired, there’s always a restaurant to stop at!
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5 things to do and see in Romsey
- Take a scenic bike ride into the town centre
- Have a picnic in the Romsey Recreation Ground
- Stop off at one of the local cafes and try the locally roasted coffee.
- Visit Cambridge Market Square
- Bargain for vintage clothes in one of the charity shops.
And let us know in the comments if you have any other hotels to recommend. In the meantime, bon voyage!