From Nobel Prize winners to heads of state, many have passed through the historic university city. If you’re planning on retracing the footsteps of some of the greats, Valerie Teh has selected the best places to stay.

I fell in love with Cambridge as a bright-eyed 17 yea-old, wandering along the banks of the River Cam, through pastures dotted with grazing cows, and into revere colleges with lofty spires. Many have felt the pull of this historic city, from Nobel Prize winners to heads of state who have passed through the university, as well as the 5.3 million annual travellers eager to soak up its rich history and architecture.

The hospitality scene has thankfully developed since my student days. Visitors now have a wide range of options to choose from, from the hip to the high-end of homely digs- though it is worth noting that this is not the city for cheap accommodation.

Best hotel for old school glamour: University Arms.

Take a soak in one of the University Arms' opulent rooms

Following an £80m revamp led by architect John Simpson (whose previous projects include parts of Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace) and interior designer Martin Brudnizki (responsible for the refurb of restaurants including The Ivy and Annabel's), the University Arms reopened in August 2018 to great fanfare after two years of major renovation. With a grand new porte-cochere as its entrance, marble-adorned communal areas, a restaurant helmed by Gordon Ramsay protege Tristan Welch, and 192 room- each filled with curated books and art- it's Cambridge accommodation shifted into a higher gear.

Price: Doubles from £157, room only

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