Price Range: ££££
Categories: Luxury, Historic, Graduation, Romantic, Pet Friendly, Parker's Piece, Parking, Valet Parking, Marriott Bonvoy, Autograph Collection, Concierge
First published: January 2026
The University Arms is Cambridge's grand dame. Built in 1834, comprehensively redesigned, it anchors the city with the kind of presence that makes other hotels feel like they can't even try hard enough.
This is the hotel for graduation and milestone celebrations, and anyone who wants to look out over Parker's Piece - one of Cambridge's famous greens - while staying in a building that is Cambridge, not just in Cambridge.
It's also the only Marriott Bonvoy property in Cambridge. For points collectors, there is no alternative.
But prestige comes with friction. The grand entrance sits on one of the most congested pedestrian corners in the city. The valet loop is tiny and high-pressure. The surrounding Regent Street is a place to pass through, not a place to be. You're paying for the hotel and its views, not the immediate streetscape.
Arriving during peak hours (15:00-18:00) is chaotic. The grand entrance is flush with a narrow, high-traffic pavement. You'll be fighting a tide of students, commuters, and language school groups just to reach the door.
By car, the valet area is a tiny loop. If there are several taxis already there, the whole system grinds to a halt, forcing you to unload bags in a flurry of "sorry" and "excuse me" to passing pedestrians. It works, but it's not the serene arrival the hotel's grandeur deserves.
And if you're driving: do not overshoot the hotel down Regent Street. The road becomes St Andrews Street, and the bus gate camera there operates 24/7. Miss the hotel, keep driving, and you'll receive a £70 fine. Non-negotiable.
Skip the valet chaos entirely.
The University Arms has a side entrance on Park Terrace - the quiet street running along the edge of Parker's Piece. It's an official entrance, fully accessible to guests.
If you're being picked up or dropped off, have your driver pull onto Park Terrace instead of fighting the Regent Street valet loop. It's a wide, quiet stretch where a car can actually stop without blocking traffic. For Uber or taxi pickups, this also avoids the nightmare of "where are you?" calls on busy Regent Street.
The Park Terrace entrance is 60 seconds from the main lobby. Same hotel, dramatically better arrival.
Ceremonial Grandeur. Cambridge's Anchor.
The University Arms is part of Marriott's Autograph Collection - a group of independent hotels that use Marriott's booking system and participate in Marriott Bonvoy, while maintaining their own character.
This is the only Marriott Bonvoy property in Cambridge. For points collectors, loyalty members, or anyone with status to leverage, there is literally no alternative in the city.
Points earning: Standard Marriott Bonvoy earning rates apply
Elite benefits: Platinum and above members can use Suite Night Awards (reportedly clears well at this property)
No Marriott branding: You won't see Marriott logos anywhere except a small Autograph Collection plaque. The hotel maintains its independent character.
Cash rates routinely run £200-300+ per night. For Bonvoy members with points to burn, this represents genuine value - a luxury Cambridge stay that would otherwise be eye-wateringly expensive.
If you're collecting Marriott status or have elite benefits to use, this is Cambridge's only option. The Graduate is Hilton. The Gonville is independent. Hotel Du Vin is independent. For Marriott loyalists, it's University Arms or nothing.
The University Arms doesn't just sit in Cambridge, it anchors it.
The hotel occupies a commanding position on the edge of Parker's Piece, one of Cambridge's most famous open spaces. This 25-acre green is used for morning joggers, casual sports, Christmas markets, fairs, and community events. It's big, open, and shared - genuinely one of Cambridge's great public assets.
Looking out from the hotel, you see grass, sky, and space. It's a view that no other Cambridge hotel can match. The Graduate has the river; the University Arms has the green.
The flip side: Regent Street itself is a place to pass through, not a destination.
The immediate surroundings lack the charm you might expect from a hotel of this calibre. The street is functional - the main artery from the station into town - but it's not where you'd choose to linger.
The character, the restaurants, the "Cambridge" feeling - all of that requires a short walk into the city centre.
This is the trade-off. You're paying for the hotel, its grandeur, and the Parker's Piece views - not for the immediate streetscape.
By 11pm on a Saturday, the area is safe, quiet, and away from most of the action. There are a few bars on the opposite side of the street, but this isn't a nightlife zone.
The hotel's position means you're close enough to walk into town for dinner, but far enough to return to genuine peace.
The recommended option for most guests.
Taxis can pull into the valet loop directly outside the main entrance. In practice, this works smoothly outside of peak hours. During busy periods (15:00-18:00), the loop can back up - but even then, it functions.
From the train station, expect a fare of a few pounds for a journey of 5-7 minutes. Given the quality of the hotel and the unpleasantness of walking with luggage, the taxi is the only sensible arrival.
The Hack: If the valet loop looks chaotic, ask your driver to pull onto Park Terrace instead (the quiet street along Parker's Piece). Use the side entrance - it's official, it's staffed, and it's dramatically calmer.
Valet parking
This is a high-end hotel with proper valet service. Hand your keys at the door, the porters handle everything. The car is parked off-site and retrieved when you need it.
The alternative - self-parking and walking - undermines the entire arrival experience.
EV charging: The hotel has electric vehicle charging stations (subject to availability).
If you insist on parking yourself:
Queen Anne Terrace car park is a 7-minute walk straight across Parker's Piece. It's the closest public option, but walking from a car park to a luxury hotel isn't the arrival experience you're paying for.
This is really only for extended stays where you park once and don't need the car again.
But, the reality is the parking at the hotel should suffice.
Critical: If you're driving and overshoot the hotel, do not continue down Regent Street.
The road becomes St Andrews Street, and there's a bus gate camera that operates 24 hours a day - no peak-hours-only grace period. Drive through it, and you'll receive an automatic £70 fine.
The hotel is obvious and well-signed. But if you miss it, turn around legally - don't assume you can "just go around the block." The fine is non-negotiable.
Don't. Take a taxi.
It's a 20-25 minute walk with luggage - a straight shot up Station Road and Hills Road, then onto Regent Street. The pavements are narrow, busy, and require multiple road crossings. It's more-or-less the same unpleasant trudge as walking to Hotel Du Vin or the Hilton City Centre.
Given how high-end this hotel is, arriving sweaty and flustered with a wheelie bag is not the experience you're paying for. The taxi costs a few pounds and takes 5 minutes.
If you insist on walking: The route is simple enough (Station Road → Hills Road → Regent Street), but it's genuinely not pleasant with luggage.
From Coach/Bus (Drummer Street)
Drummer Street is approximately 0.5 miles away and the beauty of this location is that you don't have to trudge through the city centre. A short walk from where the coaches drop off, literally around the edge of Parkers Piece make this a perfect hotel to arrive at by coach.
The graduation hotel.
This isn't just a strong contender. For many Cambridge families, the University Arms is the graduation hotel. It's the one they book months in advance, the one that matches the significance of the occasion.
Why it works:
- Proximity to Senate House for the ceremony
- The grandeur matches the milestone
- Parker's Piece provides space for family photos
- Parker's Tavern (the hotel restaurant) handles celebration dinners
- The overall prestige says "once in a lifetime event"
Other hotels work for graduation. The Graduate offers riverside calm. The Gonville has Bentley transfers. But for pure ceremonial weight, the University Arms is the default choice.
Strong contender - but a specific kind of romance.
The University Arms delivers romance through grandeur and prestige. If your partner is impressed by the actual hotel - the building, the history, the sense of occasion - this is your choice.
However, the location itself isn't inherently romantic. You're on a busy street corner, not a riverside lane. The views are over Parker's Piece (impressive) rather than the Cam (romantic).
Comparison: The Graduate by Hilton offers riverside tranquility, punting on the doorstep, and a more intimate "Cambridge postcard" romance. The University Arms offers "I booked us the best hotel in Cambridge" romance. They're different propositions.
The only option.
If you're collecting Marriott points, have elite status to leverage, or want to use Suite Night Awards, this is Cambridge's only Marriott property. The Graduate is Hilton. Everything else is independent.
For Bonvoy loyalists, the decision is already made.
Works, but with caveats.
For executives, board meetings, or hosting important clients, the University Arms provides appropriate prestige. Parker's Tavern can handle business dinners. The hotel's reputation precedes it.
However, there are no co-working spaces nearby, and the immediate Regent Street area isn't particularly useful for business logistics. For practical business travel (meetings across the city, train connections), The Clayton or Hilton City Centre are more functional.
This is a hotel for business occasions, not routine business travel.
Excellent - possibly the best in Cambridge for dogs.
The Parker's Piece advantage: Your dog has a 25-acre green space literally outside the door. It's as close to having your own multi-acre back garden as any city hotel can offer. A 1-minute walk is generous - it's right there.
Morning walks, evening walks, post-dinner stretches - all without crossing a single road. For dog owners, this location is unmatched. The Graduate has Coe Fen (also excellent), but Parker's Piece is bigger.
Workable, but not the closest.
The Corn Exchange is 0.3 miles away - officially a short distance, but realistically about 10 minutes due to narrow, often crowded pavements.
The University Arms works for Corn Exchange events, but you're not right there. For a show where you want to walk out and be in bed within 3 minutes, the Hilton City Centre or Premier Inn City Centre are closer.
Parker's Piece is excellent for children - space to run, kick a ball, burn energy. The location works for families in that sense.
Both are upmarket Cambridge institutions. The real difference:
The Gonville is modern chic in a historic building - stylish, design-forward, slightly cooler.
The University Arms is proper posh - traditional grandeur, ceremonial weight, the establishment choice.
The Gonville sits on a busy junction and feels slightly separated from the city. The University Arms has Parker's Piece and feels like Cambridge's anchor.
Choose Gonville for contemporary luxury. Choose University Arms for traditional prestige.
Both are luxury options, but they serve different purposes:
The Graduate is Hilton-affiliated, riverside, tranquil. It's the romantic "Cambridge of postcards" choice - punting on the doorstep, Coe Fen walks, dead-end lane quiet. It's also a tier below the University Arms in terms of pure prestige.
The University Arms is Marriott-affiliated, Parker's Piece views, ceremonial. It's the "grand dame" choice - impressive building, milestone occasions, proper posh.
Choose Graduate for riverside romance and Hilton Honors.
Choose University Arms for grandeur, graduation, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Hotel Du Vin is boutique sophistication - understated, wine-focused, blends into the city. It's on Trumpington Street with no parking whatsoever.
The University Arms is grand statement - announces itself, dominates its corner, offers valet parking.
Choose Hotel Du Vin for intimate foodie weekends (and if arriving by taxi).
Choose University Arms for impressive occasions (and if you need parking).
Yes. The University Arms is an Autograph Collection hotel, fully participating in Marriott Bonvoy. You earn and redeem points, elite benefits apply, and Suite Night Awards reportedly clear well here. This is the only Marriott Bonvoy property in Cambridge.
Yes, and it's one of the best dog-friendly hotels in Cambridge. The major advantage: Parker's Piece is directly outside - a 25-acre green space accessible without crossing any roads. For dog owners, this location is hard to beat.
It's the graduation hotel in Cambridge. The prestige matches the occasion, Parker's Piece provides photo opportunities, Senate House is walkable, and Parker's Tavern handles celebration dinners. Many families book this hotel specifically for graduation and reserve months in advance.
The bus gate on St Andrews Street (which Regent Street becomes) operates 24 hours a day. If you're driving to the hotel and overshoot it, do not continue down the road - you'll trigger the camera and receive an automatic £70 fine. The hotel is easy to see; if you miss it, turn around legally.
Different hotels for different purposes. The University Arms offers traditional grandeur, Parker's Piece views, and Marriott Bonvoy membership - best for graduation, prestige occasions, and Marriott loyalists. The Graduate offers riverside tranquility, Coe Fen access, and Hilton Honors - best for romantic weekends, dog owners wanting river walks, and Hilton loyalists. The University Arms is a tier above in prestige; the Graduate is more intimate and Cambridge-postcard romantic.
For the right occasion, yes. This is Cambridge's premier hotel - the building, the views, the prestige are unmatched. For graduation, milestone celebrations, or when you want the best, it justifies the premium. For a routine overnight stay, you're paying for grandeur you may not fully use - consider the Graduate or the nearby Hobson or Gonville for excellent quality at lower rates.
About 1 mile - a 20-25 minute walk, or 5-7 minutes by taxi. Walking with luggage is not recommended (narrow pavements, busy roads). Given the hotel's prestige, arriving by taxi is the appropriate choice.
The hotel overlooks Parker's Piece (25-acre green). Regent Street provides access into the city centre (Market Square is about 10 minutes walk). The immediate Regent Street surroundings are functional rather than charming - the character emerges as you walk into the historic centre.
Verified: 2026-01-03
Ground-truthed by our local research team.