I went to Cambridge for the first time and I believe I have found my new, favourite UK staycation spot.
Being only one hour outside of London, Cambridge is a brilliant spot to get away from the city without wasting a day travelling.
I stayed at The Varsity Hotel, which is a stone’s throw from Cambridge city centre.
It’s tucked away around the corner from busy streets so I felt a sense of privacy and security as I drove up, but it’s still super quick and easy to get to the hustle and bustle of the town centre.
A lovely touch at the hotel was the valet parking on offer at the hotel, so I just handed my car keys over and didn’t have to stress about squeezing into a space.
Before heading out to explore the area, I checked into the room to drop my bags and I was awe struck.
The room was spacious and airy with a floor to ceiling window overlooking Cambridge.
My favourite feature of the room was the huge balcony, giving me the chance to stand outside, soak up the fresh air and look on at the beautiful architecture from up high.
Another favourite part of the room for me was the huge, modern four poster bed which was very tempting to curl up on and have a kip.
The bathroom was clean and elegant, and we were provided with any toiletries we might have needed while we were staying which is always a nice touch.
After settling in, I nipped out to walk along the river and grab an ice cream – something that has to be done in a UK heatwave.
When I got too hot walking out and about in the sun, I decided it was time to try out the hotel spa.
The spa at The Varsity Hotel consists of a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.
The jacuzzi was my personal favourite feature because of the fact it has a massive, circular window so that you can look out onto the river as you unwind and relax.
It was fun to see people attempting to punt past us as we observed safely from the bubbles.
The steam room was equally amazing, it was very hot and so steamy that I could hardly see my hand in front of me which is exactly how I like a steam room to be.
Before long, it was time to head to the Six Brasserie for dinner.
The Six Brasserie is on the top of the hotel and is lined with windows, giving guests the ultimate view of Cambridge as they eat.
There were lots of delicious options on the menu, but to start I decided in the end on the burrata which came with sweet and fresh cherry tomatoes on a bed of rocket.
The ball of burrata came whole and was as creamy and amazing as I had imagined.
For my main course, I went for the woodstone roasted salmon which came with fire roasted peppers and giant couscous.
The salmon was perfectly cooked and seasoned with some smokiness and spice and the pepper was charred and delicious.
It was the perfect summer dish to enjoy in hot temperatures – I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the restaurant.
In the morning, I went back to the Six Brasserie for breakfast where there was a buffet spread with fruits, cereals, yogurt and pastries for guests to enjoy as well as the option to order a cooked breakfast.
The staff at the restaurant were extremely friendly and helpful, consistently making sure we had everything we needed.
When it came to checking out, I was heavy hearted to not only be leaving such a beautiful city but also such a stunning hotel.
The Varsity Hotel and Spa is an ideal place to stay if you want to be close to the city centre with amazing views and impeccable service.
Being only one hour outside of London, I can see myself going back for regular weekends away.
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