The Varsity Hotel & Spa
by the TopOfHotel team
The Varsity rolls a central old-town riverside location, a rooftop bar over the college spires, and a quiet spa into one place — the draw is the location and the romance more than the size of the rooms.
The Varsity rolls a central old-town riverside location, a rooftop bar over the college spires, and a quiet spa into one place — the draw is the location and the romance more than the size of the rooms.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The Varsity Hotel & Spa is a 4-star boutique sitting right on a quiet lane called Thompson's Lane, on the bank of the River Cam in the heart of old Cambridge. The building isn't large, but it's designed to feel like a warm little hideaway. Rooms are modern and contemporary, with calm tones, wood and soft fabrics — clean and comfortable rather than showy. What sets the rooms apart is the view: many open onto the slow-moving Cam with punts drifting past, and some higher floors look out over the college domes and towers lined up behind. Couples rate the location and atmosphere as high as 9.4, because it's romantic in a way the chains can't match — opening the curtains to the river and the old colleges is genuinely special.
Food and amenities
The heart of the place is the top-floor rooftop bar, Six. The lift opens onto a terrace with a wide-open 360-degree panorama of the domes, towers and rooftops across Cambridge — many reviews call it one of the city's best sunset spots. Order a cocktail or a glass of wine and watch the sky change colour over the old university. Down in the building there's the riverside River Bar Steakhouse & Grill serving steak and seafood, plus the Glassworks spa with treatment rooms, a sauna and a gym that looks over the river. Out front on the water there's a punting dock, so you can step straight onto a punt to glide past the riverside colleges — eating, drinking, relaxing and activities all in one place.
Location and getting there
The location is the trump card here, no question. The hotel sits on the River Cam on Thompson's Lane, right in the heart of the old town — step out the door and St John's College is about 3 minutes away, Magdalene College about 4, with Trinity College, the Round Church and the central shops all within easy walking distance. The punting dock out front lets you drift past the riverside colleges right away — a must-try in Cambridge. Cambridge railway station is about 10 minutes by car or bus (roughly a 25-minute walk), connecting to London King's Cross in under an hour. In short, if you want to roam the university town on foot all day without touching a car, this riverside spot nails it.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing that comes up is room size: this is a boutique building in the old town, so some standard rooms run fairly compact given the constraints of the structure — if you like space, upgrade to a river-view room or a suite for more comfort. Second is parking, which is limited and paid; book it ahead, because finding a spot yourself on the old-town streets is genuinely hard, so plan for it if you're driving. Last, the Six rooftop bar is open to non-guests, so weekend nights get fairly busy and may mean booking or queuing, and rooms near the bar can pick up some of the buzz on packed nights. If you're a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the bar zone or on the quieter river-facing side.
Our take
From reading through hundreds of real guest reviews, The Varsity Hotel & Spa is a riverside boutique that ties together a central old-town location, the romance of the River Cam, a rooftop bar over the college spires, and an in-house spa and gym. If your trip looks like punting from the dock out front, walking a few steps to see St John's and Trinity, then a soak in the spa before wine and sunset on the Six rooftop, this fits beautifully. If you want roomy, fully loaded quarters or you're travelling with a big family, the boutique rooms may feel a touch snug. Overall we give it 8.5/10, best for couples and anyone who wants to stay in the old town and explore on foot all day without relying on a car.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The riverside location on Thompson's Lane puts St John's, Trinity and Magdalene College just 3 to 4 minutes' walk away, and there's a punting dock right out front to step straight onto the water.
- The top-floor Six rooftop bar has a 360-degree view across the city's college domes and towers — reviews call it one of the finest sunset spots in Cambridge.
- The in-house Glassworks spa has treatment rooms and a sauna, plus a gym with river views, so you can unwind after a day on your feet without leaving the building.
- Rooms are modern and warm, many looking out over the River Cam or the college spires, and couples rate the location a high 9.4 for being both romantic and walkable.
- You're in the heart of the old town but on a quiet riverside lane, so you can wake up and soak in the university atmosphere on foot all day, barely needing a car.
- It's a boutique building in the old town, so some standard rooms are fairly snug given the constraints of the structure — if you want more space, upgrade to a river-view room or a suite.
- Parking is limited and paid, so flag it when you book — finding a spot yourself on the old-town streets is genuinely hard.
- The Six rooftop bar is open to non-guests, so weekend nights get busy with bookings and queues, and rooms near the bar can pick up some of the noise on lively nights.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Cambridge
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a room facing the River Cam, or a higher floor that sees the college spires — the view is better and it's quieter than the street side.
- Head up to the Six rooftop bar in the early evening before sunset to grab a good seat, since seating is limited and weekend nights get crowded.
- Take a punt from the dock out front in the morning or late afternoon — fewer people and nicer light than at midday.