Hotels in Cambridge in July

conradmum

I'm trying to book three nights in Cambridge (26 - 29th July) for myself & my six year old son. I've tried the university rooms website, which is great, but they won't taking bookings for under 10 year olds at any of the colleges.

Can anyone suggest where else to try? I don't want anything fancy, just somewhere to rest our heads at the end of the day. He's attending a four day workshop there and I don't want the long drive to and fro every day.

Fen1

Found this on laterooms

http://www.laterooms.com/en/p1301/pv6861r/hotel-directions/180696_days-inn-cambridge-cambridge.aspx

The A14 can get busy, but it's a straightforward drive into the city centre.
There is also a huge Tesco at Bar Hill, just down the road from the hotel, so you can easily stock up on food there.

Where is your son's course? Might be useful to know what access and parking you need.

Pelican_eats_pigeon

There's a Premier Inn nearby, which is always dependable and good value if unspectacular. There are Holiday Inn deals on this forum that can give you good value for money, thread is here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1535105. I think there is a normal Holiday Inn and a Holiday Inn Express, both are on the edge of town.

conradmum

Fen1 wrote: »

Found this on laterooms

http://www.laterooms.com/en/p1301/pv6861r/hotel-directions/180696_days-inn-cambridge-cambridge.aspx

The A14 can get busy, but it's a straightforward drive into the city centre.
There is also a huge Tesco at Bar Hill, just down the road from the hotel, so you can easily stock up on food there.

Where is your son's course? Might be useful to know what access and parking you need.

Many thanks but I need something more central, within a short drive of a park and ride at least. We'll need to be there for 9 am and the A14 into Cambridge in the rush hour is a nightmare. Thanks for your efforts though.

The site of the workshop is very near the town centre. There is parking nearby but it's £8 a day for over 5 hours. So I'll either have to park & ride or try to find somewhere within walking distance. Not easy I know!

Fen1

http://www.accommodation.cam.ac.uk/Info/CentralLocations/

I've not tried any of these b&bs, but the central location means you will not have to commute every day and you will save on the parking costs (though you are of course paying the other way for the location).

hethmar

Have you tried the Youth Hostels Association (which are now family friendly )
http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/east-of-england/index.aspx

conradmum

Many thanks to both of you for those suggestions. I'm sure I'll definitely be able to find something within my price range now and fairly central too.

joho

Cambridge Leisure park has a Travelodge and is pretty central - can walk to town centre, 20mins. Have a look here. Has a bowling alley, cinema and couple of restaurants to pass the evenings in too. HTH

musical_norwich

I've stayed in my old college many times and I don't believe a six year old would present a problem. It might be worth calling some of the smaller and more central colleges direct (pembroke, queens', king's, etc.) - tend to be friendlier.

Also good deals from lastminute.com - normally have a top secret hotel deal on. The holiday inn at histon is out of town but has a nice pool, etc and is normally discounted to about £50. Also seen the doubletree featured for only a little bit more and it has great location. I'd try the colleges direct, if not reserve something that can be cancelled if lastminute do a great offer nearer the time.

Late rooms is a cambridge-based company but be careful as there are some awful b&b and guest houses in the city. De Vere University Arms is dreadful.

Chas

The YHA in Cambridge is about 20 mins walk from the town centre, but there is nowhere to park during the day! Street parking is either residents only or metered with a maximum stay of 2 hours. It's free after 5pm but that's no use during the day!

Lots of the B&Bs on the link above are in areas which have metered parking or residents only, so be sure to check the daytime parking arrangements before you book.


The Premier Inn at Histon (on the A14) is cheap & it's only about 1 .5 miles from the Park & Ride site at Milton. Parking at the hotel is free. Park & Ride into the City Centre is £2.30 per adult & kids are free.

The Travelodge mentioned by Joho is in a good lacation but parking is limited & costs £12 a day, or you can park in the NCP car park which is about £18 a day.

Another option would be a guest house in Milton -http://www.ambassadorlodge.co.uk/index.html Parking is free & it's about 15 mins to walk to the park & ride site (quicker to walk there than drive there in the rush hour!)

The Holiday Inn mentioned by musical-norwich is the opposite side of the A14 to the Premier Inn, so it's really convenient for the park & ride too.

Hope this helps.

conradmum

Thanks, you've all been really helpful. The site of the workshop is near the Queen's College which puts the YHA and the Travelodge too far away. The workshop runs from 9 - 5.30 over four days so I'd rather avoid a long walk at the beginning and end of the day, and there's also the parking problem.

I think I'll definitely try phoning the colleges direct. It won't hurt to ask. They may be more amenable to one smallish child.

I'm very tempted by the Holiday Inn's pool, but again a little wary of a drive to the park and ride, then the bus journey, then a walk every morning and evening.

I've noted which B&Bs are within walking distance too and will bear in mind the parking issues.