Where? The University Arms Hotel, Cambridge, England, UK

When? October 2020

Why? This month I was invited to the beautiful, traditional boutique hotel, The University Arms in the centre of bustling Cambridge.

As well as a short mini break, I used the stay over as a back drop for shooting the Autumn-Winter 2020 fashion campaign for British designer brand Serran, in a beautiful Ferrari Portofino.

So if you’re wondering why I’m wearing lovely outfits whilst sitting in a Ferrari, that’s why :) keep scrolling to read all about my wonderful U.K. Staycation at the University Arms in Cambridge.

The University Arms Hotel

With a rich history as one of the oldest hotels in the academic city, The University Arms is as much a part of the city’s heritage as the colleges themselves.

Set in an enviable location right in the heart of the city it’s the perfect place from which to discover the many activities that go hand in hand with Cambridge living.

From cycling around the cobbled streets gazing up at the spectacular architecture, to hiring a boat for a punt along the river Cam, whatever the time of year Cambridge is a wonderful city in which to enjoy a staycation or vacation.

In keeping with the stucco fronted, grand entrances of the Universities, the hotel facade has a neo-classical style, columned drive through with valets in top hat and tails ready to park your car for you.

Arriving at the hotel feels very luxurious, surrounded by the splendid setting but once inside it has a wonderfully friendly and homely atmosphere.

The interiors are filled with dark wood, traditional mahogany furnishing, huge roaring fireplaces, book shelves filled with the works of literary legends and retro ‘old school’ mismatched seats.

The vast arched sash windows fill the rooms with natural light creating lovely relaxed lounge spaces. It almost feels like you’re inside a school building, but a lovely posh one.

The University Arms is one of the most loved places in Cambridge for afternoon high tea. Comprising of traditional finger sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and newer additions like macaroons, it’s a perfectly indulgent way to spend the afternoon.

The Rooms

We stayed in the beautiful, bright and airy, elegantly decorated Woolf Suite, named after famed, modernist, British author Virginia Woolf. All the suites are named after literary figures, we are in Cambridge after all.

Complete with walk in wardrobe, roll top free standing bath tub, walk in wet room shower, huge wide screen TV, a library of high brow reading matter and a fantastic coffee machine, the suite exhibits all the requirements of an excellent boutique hotel bedroom.

Who knew Virginia Woolf’s short essays were that funny… oh they’re not, oh dear :/

A little welcome gift of a sparkling tipple and delicious chocs come with the suite, how lovely!

The bathroom is elegantly decorated with a huge free standing roll top bath, how divine!

Eating – Food & Drink at The University Arms

For guests wanting to visit Cambridge for the day the hotel is happy to put together a wonderful picnic hamper, which you can take out with you. They also provide hotel bikes in case you fancy discovering the city on two wheels. It’s the perfect way to spend the day, Just take a brollie in case, we are in the UK after all.

The Full English

The full English breakfast in the main dining room restaurant is a feast fit for kings and scholars alike. I have to say it was one of the best UK hotel breakfasts I’ve had in ages!

Each element from the sausages, eggs to mushrooms was perfectly cooked and sourced from organic local producers, the orange juice was freshly squeezed and my earl grey tea, so fragrant I asked for a couple of extra tea bags to take back to my room!

Dinner is served

Our evening meal at the hotel restaurant was a triumph for the taste buds. I well thought out menu caters for all diets. I had the fish of the day which was beautifully prepared sole in a beurre blanc sauce with samphire (pictured below). It was perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth.

Each vegetable side was a simple yet super tasty, I couldn’t fault it.

The images above and below are shots from the Ferrari photoshoot, the dress is designed by British fashion label Serran.

That’s all from Cambridge for now. Thank you so much for stopping by and thanks also to the University Arms hotel for such a wonderful stay. I can’t wait to visit again soon.

For more info on the hotel click here.

For more UK staycation ideas click here or head over to my instagram page @bonnierakhit to see more of my travels.

Bon voyage xx