Cambridge, United KingdomCentral Cambridge
University Arms Hotel
Collegiate literary retreat
Central Cambridge Cambridge, United Kingdom
Renovated
2018
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage SocialOutside the door
The house
MarriottCollegiate literary retreat
The dark-panelled Library features a roaring fireplace and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, drawing guests in for afternoon tea and quiet reading.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Cambridge-blue interiors feature velvet armchairs, leather-topped writing desks, and turret bathrooms looking over the lawns.
Notable
Operating since 1834 on Parker's Piece, the historic coaching inn features restored Victorian turret architecture.
Notable
Locals and academics gather for Friday jazz and literary-themed cocktails inside Parker's Tavern Bar.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
UK Readers' Choice Awards – The best hotels in the rest of the UK
Condé Nast Traveler
2025
This beautiful but small town gets a proper pedigree design hit—a coaching inn artfully reimagined by two of the U.K.’s top talents.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Set along Parker's Piece on Regent Street, the hotel sits moments from central colleges and the city's historic cycling lanes.
The rooms
Bespoke headboards and heated bathroom tiles anchor calm quarters, with top-floor alumni suites opening to double-sided bookcases and park views.
The gym
- Gym
- Fitness centre equipped with treadmills, cardio gear, weight machines, and free weights, plus complimentary guest bicycles.
Dogs stay too.
Parker's Tavern Bar
Teal barstools line the curved timber counter, where bartenders mix drinks beneath glowing brass racks and marble columns.
Restaurant
Parker's Tavern
Arched stained-glass windows look out over the green, and the kitchen serves seasonal dishes from East Anglian producers.
How it began
Founded in 1834 as a coaching inn, the property borders the historic common where the rules of association football were first written.
Good to know
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.