DESPITE its small size, Cambridge punches far above its weight in terms of allure and history thanks to its origins as home to one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities. Here is the Glass pick of what to do with 48 hours in this superb city.
Lobby
Base yourself at the flawlessly chic University Arms Hotel. First opened in 1834, this was originally a coaching inn and today is the oldest hotel in the city. Rooms are beautifully appointed, the staff are warm and the breakfast buffet is to die for. The hotel also offers a small spa with a select menu of luxury treatments.
Suite
Friday evening: Start with a sunset chauffeured Champagne punt on the River Cam with Rutherfords Punting to learn all about the history of the university and enjoy views of the grounds that can only be seen by boat. Then, have dinner at Mercado Central where Spanish chefs celebrate their Galician and Basque heritage with inspired seasonal dishes.
River Cam Photo credit Rutherford’s. Photo credit Rutherford’s
River Cam and King’s Chapel. Photo credit Rutherford’s
Saturday: After breakfast, head to the botanical gardens to enjoy hours of exercise and education as you take one of the hotel’s fascinating self-guided tours. For lunch, head to Sticks’n’Sushi for a mouth-watering array of seafood, grilled meats and cocktails – we especially enjoyed the unusual and delicious pairing of steak tartare with Chinese caviar.
Then, head to the Cambridge Gin Lab for a masterclass in gin-making and create your own botanical blend. For dinner, go to the iconic Cambridge Chop House for world-class steaks with a view of the stunning King’s College.
Sunday: After breakfast, take in a relaxing treatment at the hotel spa before heading out for some retail therapy. (Love-cambridge.com is a wonderful resource for discovering events and finding hidden gems and local producers.) For lunch, head to Novi, a chic bar and kitchen serving bottomless brunches, botanical cocktails and British small plates with an international flair.
by Nicola Kavanagh
A double room at University Arms starts from £204 on a B&B basis