Hotel Du Vin in Cambridge, England

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Updated: May 18, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Trumpington St, opposite St. Peter’s Terrace.
• Hotel website: hotelduvin.com
• Hotel phone: +44 (0)1223 227330
• Check prices for Hotel Du Vin

Hotel du Vin – Opulence, comfort, and dramatic flair in the heart of Cambridge.

A distinctly ‘Cambridge’ hotel brought to you by the chic Hotel du Vin brand. First, there are the buildings – a Georgian terrace that was once university-owned, a few minutes from the town center. The forty-one rooms, though freshly renovated, still retain lots of character and original features, from exposed brickwork to a glass-covered well in one suite. There’s a sense of drama and luxury, with dark wood and leather accents, roll-top baths in most bedrooms, but also more practical rain showers, flat-screen TVs, and Egyptian linen on the beds. The suites are highly individual, not to mention palatial: features include original fireplaces, private terraces, and even your own mini cinema. Chic Bistro restaurant offers good on-site dining, and the cellar bar is both cozy and atmospheric.

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Hotel du Vin – Location

• Address: 15-19, Trumpington St.
• Area: Prime location on central Trumpington St, steps from the Fitzwilliam Museum. Follow the street to reach the most impressive colleges and the Backs, which start less than 10 minutes away; Market Square and Great St Mary’s are just a bit further. Close to an array of good central restaurants, shopping in the Grand Arcade, and several famously lovely riverside pubs.
• How to Get There: If coming from London, take one of the frequent trains from London King’s Cross station to Cambridge. From Cambridge train station, take the U bus to the Fitzwilliam Museum stop, just across from the hotel. National Express buses are a good transfer option from London Stansted or London Luton airports; these stop on Parkside, 15 minutes’ walk (0.7 mile) or a short taxi ride away.
• Private Transfer: We use and recommend Welcome Pickups car service. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more than a taxi – about £72 from Stansted Airport and about £95 from Luton Airport – but can be worth it to avoid the long taxi queue and for the convenience of paying ahead.
• Handy to: The Fitzwilliam Museum, central colleges, the Backs.

Hotel du Vin – The Basics

• Ages: The hotel attracts professionals as well as travelers on a city break and couples celebrating a special occasion. Families with children are welcome.
• View: Rooms at the front of the hotel overlook green and leafy St Peter’s Terrace.
• Private Pools/Jacuzzis: No private pools or jacuzzis.
• Laundry: In-room laundry and dry cleaning services available (additional charge).
• Parking: Valet parking to a nearby location for £30 per day. Reservation is not needed.
• Extras: Library, cigar shack, and smoking area, and outdoor terrace available for all. Check the website for special offers, which may include champagne/afternoon tea/dinner as part of the room rate. Hotel staff will mark a birthday or special event, e.g. with complimentary champagne.
• When to Book: Book 2-3 months in advance for the late June-August high season. Consider avoiding mid-April to mid-June as this is exam term and colleges are closed to visitors.
• How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
• Phone: +44 (0)1223 227330
• Email: reception.cambridge@hotelduvin.com
• Website: hotelduvin.com

Hotel du Vin – Amenities

• Pool: No pool.
• Spa: No spa.
• Fitness Center: No fitness center, but vouchers provided for Kelsey Kerridge, a fully-equipped gym overlooking Parker’s Piece (0.5 mile).
• For Disabled Guests: A couple of rooms have been adapted for guests with limited mobility. There is a lift on the right-hand side of the hotel. Advisable to discuss your needs with the hotel on booking.
• For Families: Children under 7 stay free using existing beds, and free cots are available for under-2’s. For all children under 12, there’s a £30 charge per night each when using an extra bed.
• Activities: Cigar tastings, as well as more traditional wine or whisky tastings.
• Other Facilities: Dog-friendly – the hotel will welcome your hound with a mat, water bowl, and treats (extra charge).

Hotel du Vin – Food and Drink

• Restaurant: The Bistro – A chic yet relaxed space, recently renovated, to enjoy British and modern European cuisine. The prix fixe menu is good value at 2 courses for £18.95 and 3 courses for £21.95 (though it’s not available on Saturdays after 7 pm). Lunch service is 12 noon–2:30 pm Monday-Saturday, and dinner service is 5:30–10 pm (10:30 pm Friday & Saturday). A traditional Sunday lunch is served 12:30-4 pm, and dinner that day is 6-9:30 pm. $$.
• Lounge/Bar: Atmospheric, in the hotel cellars, serving a great range of drinks. Impressive wine collection, and the illuminated wine cellars are a nice touch. There are cozy nooks off the main bar to relax in with friends.
• Breakfast: Buffet, plus hot food cooked to order, including French options such as crepes. Option to include it in the room rate, otherwise £16.95 per person. Served 7-10 am Monday-Friday and 8-11 am weekends and public holidays in the Bistro.
• Room Service: 24-hour room service available.

Hotel du Vin – Rooms

• Room Types: Standard Double Room • Superior Double Room • Studio • Suite • List of all Rooms
• Smoking Rooms: Hotel du Vin is 100% smoke-free.
• Best Room: The Wolf Blass Suite has twin copper slipper baths in the room (in addition to a rain shower) and an 8-feet bed; the TV turns 360° and there’s surround sound, so you can watch from either in comfort. The Belle Epoque Suite is a peaceful ground-floor room which comes with a private terrace and a cave-like mini-cinema. Both are beautifully decadent.
• For Families: Ask for 2 interconnected rooms, which will accommodate up to 6 people.

Hotel du Vin – Local Transport

• Walking: The Fitzwilliam Museum is across the street, and the University Museums are 5 minutes away. It’s less than a 10-minute stroll to the most popular colleges, the river, and the nearest punting station. The Botanic Garden is a similar distance in the opposite direction. 12 minutes’ walk (0.6 mile) to the central bus station and under 20 minutes (1 mile) to the railway station. Walking is the best way of getting around compact central Cambridge with its pedestrianized streets.
• Bus: The U bus runs from the nearby Fitzwilliam Museum stop direct to the railway station in one direction, and to the central bus station in the other; other local buses and coaches to London airports depart from there.
• Taxis, Uber: A taxi from the train station to the hotel costs around £6. An Uber is slightly cheaper.

Hotel du Vin – What’s Nearby?

Recommended Nearby Tours

• Punting – One of the most popular things to do in Cambridge (particularly in nice weather) is to go punting: using a long pole to steer and propel your punt along the River Cam, past the city’s many colleges. Punting companies such as Scudamore’s, Let’s Go Punting, and Cambridge Punters are found by the bridge at the top of Bridge Street (0.8 mile), at the north end of the city center. Scudamore’s also has a second location by the bridge on Mill Lane, near Queens’ College (0.3 mile). You can rent a punt by the hour or else opt for a guided tour, whereby you’ll glide past the colleges and get to hear about their history from your knowledgeable punting guide (often a current Cambridge student).
• Walking Tours – The tourist office by Market Square (0.5 mile) runs a range of walking tours. These range from a quick hour to a more leisurely stroll visiting several colleges. There is also a Friday night ghost tour where you can hear about some of Cambridge’s creepier history. Prices start at £10 per adult and go up to £25 per adult for the longer tours.
• Hop on Hop off Cambridge Bus Tour – Buy a 24-hour pass for an open-top bus tour that circles Cambridge’s main sights and then some. Take in the river, the medieval churches, even the WWII Cambridge American Cemetery. A good place to hop on is Downing St, an 8-minute walk (0.4 mile).

Best Nearby Restaurants

• The Oak Bistro – Classy local bistro which simply does fantastic-looking, delicious food. Emphasis is on local produce with big flavors – duck, beef, and lamb. Elegant inside, with a cozy walled garden. (0.3 mile).
• The Old Bicycle Shop – Industrial chic gastropub – formerly the country’s oldest bike shop – now serving brunch, drinks, lunch, and dinner. Offers tempting vegetarian and vegan options like green tea marinated crispy tofu and pulled jackfruit kebabs. (0.4 mile).
• De Luca Cucina & Bar – Tasty modern Italian fare, including lunchtime sharing plates – look for the Cicchetti menu. Their top floor piano bar won Cambridge’s Bar of the Year 2018. (0.4 mile).
• Smokeworks – BBQ, cooked slow and served fast, to the delight of meat-lovers. Finish off your meal with a beer, bourbon, or alternatively a milkshake (there are alcoholic options here too). (0.4 mile).
• The Senate Bar & Bistro – A great central spot for a quick bite, opposite King’s College Chapel. The Mediterranean-style menu runs from breakfast to a steak dinner, via tempting antipasti sharing boards. (0.5 mile).
• Parker’s Tavern – New star spot on the Cambridge scene, found inside the historic University Arms hotel. British classics reinvented with precision and attention to detail. For dessert, build your own ice cream sundae. (0.5 mile).
• Trinity Restaurant – The place to go for a high-end treat. The menu emphasizes carefully sourced meat and fish, beautifully presented, and service is attentive. Order oysters and champagne for that Cambridge May Ball feeling. (0.6 mile).

Best Nearby Bars and Breweries

• The Anchor – Opposite Queens’ College and on the river, this pub is great for before/after hiring a punt at Scudamore’s punt station, right outside. Alternatively, sit on the terrace in the sun, enjoy a jug of Pimm’s or some comforting pub food, and simply watch the action on the river. (0.4 mile).
• Eagle – Sip a pint and drink in the air of history in this cozy 16th-century coaching inn. Cambridge scientists have been drinking here for years; most famously, Watson and Crick first announced their discovery of the structure of DNA right here. (0.4 mile).
• Pint Shop – Cool yet friendly bar specializing in craft beer and gin (over 100 varieties). The food – dry aged steaks, coal-cured salmon – is likewise award-winning. (0.4 mile).
• Granta – A pretty waterside pub, perched by a mill pond. The riverside beer garden offers the perfect spot to relax with a gin or ale and watch the punters pass by. (0.5 mile).
• NOVI – Specialty coffee by day; craft cocktails, beers, and organic wine by night. Open till 3 am, a rarity for Cambridge. (0.5 mile).
• The Clarendon Arms – Open since 1812, this pub serves up traditional atmosphere, real ales, and a clever food menu. (0.7 mile).
• Thirsty and Hungry – This quirky bottle shop/bar/café serves a good selection of low-intervention wines and craft beers from Northern Europe. Oh, and the food is by a Michelin-star chef. (0.8 mile).

Best Nearby Cafes

• Hot Numbers Coffee – Chilled out cafe with its own micro-roastery, so you know they’re serious about their coffee. Serves single origin coffees, as well as cakes from local favorite Fitzbillies. (75m).
• Fitzbillies – The oldest bakery in town has been serving its famous sticky Chelsea buns since 1920, and is still going strong. Drop in for brunch, a traditional Afternoon Tea, or just take away some sweet treats. (0.3 mile).
• Aromi – Sicilian café with a window stuffed full of sourdough pizzas, arancini, and cannoli. Everything is handmade, authentic, and delicious, as the busy interior suggests. Finish things off with the extra thick hot chocolate. (0.4 mile).

Nearby Shopping & Cool Shops

• Grand Arcade/Lion Yard – As close to a shiny shopping mall as Cambridge gets. A good mix of British and international brands, from the affordable (JD Sports, Topshop) to the high-end (Fossil, Rigby & Peller). Tech lovers can head for the Apple Store, Menkind, or Raspberry Pi. (0.4 mile).
• Bene’t Street/Peas Hill – Arty accessories and cute gifts at Podarok and Ark, and handmade jewelry, ceramics, and glass at Cambridge Contemporary Crafts. (0.4 mile).
• Fudge Kitchen – A place of sweet, creamy delights opposite the gates of King’s College. The fudge is handmade daily in front of hungry tourists. Come in for a free sample and you’ll be sure to buy. (0.4 mile).
• John Lewis – Taking up a prime spot at one corner of the Grand Arcade is this high-end department store, a British institution. Fashion to furniture, beauty, and electronics across 4 floors. (0.4 mile).
• Cambridge Market – The market has been the city’s hub since the Middle Ages, and still runs daily. You can find everything from books to clothes and jewelry. It’s also great for fresh fruits and vegetables, and a whole range of street food stalls, particularly on weekends, serving anything from falafel to Chinese dumplings and curry. On Sundays, local craftsmen show off their wares at the arts and crafts market. (0.5 mile).
• St Mary’s Passage – Pick up a handmade leather bag from The Cambridge Satchel Company or stop by Ryder & Amies for an official Cambridge University sweatshirt (or scarf/tie/cufflinks if you prefer). (0.5 mile).
• Ted Baker – Polished but quirky British mens and womenswear designer. By the Grand Arcade. (0.5 mile).
• Chocolat Chocolat – By the entrance to the Grand Arcade, find this charming purveyor of all things chocolate – homemade chocolates, ice cream, and rich hot chocolates. (0.5 mile).
• Green Street – Cobbled street full of individual boutiques. Find cool, relaxed womenswear at OSKA, funky footwear at Modish, and complete your look at Laird Hatters. (0.6 mile).

Nearby Attractions

• The Fitzwilliam Museum – One of the first public art museums in the UK, this palatial neoclassical building holds a seriously impressive collection. Choose from antiquities drawn from the Near East, Egypt, and Rome; brightly illuminated manuscripts; artworks that span the 13th to the 21st centuries; and several more treasures. (0.1 mile).
• The Polar Museum – A small but rich museum of polar exploration, communities, and research. See equipment and poignant journals from expeditions by Scott and Shackleton; art, scrimshaw, and clothing from people native to the Arctic; and active work by the Scott Polar Research Institute looking at ice, climate, and of course, penguins. (0.3 mile).
• Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology – Explore 2 million years of human history through objects, including a large collection from the voyages of Captain Cook, and see the work of contemporary indigenous artists. (0.3 mile).
• University Museum Of Zoology – Gasp at mammoths and giant ground sloths and peer at insects and molluscs from one of the best collections of its kind. Connected to the history of the science as it is, the museum holds specimens collected by the great naturalists of the past, including Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, which led to their work on evolution. Good for families. (0.3 mile).
• King’s College – Unmissable, the most iconic place in Cambridge. The chapel is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture; buy a ticket online or from the visitor’s center across the street, then walk in to stare up at the largest fan-vaulted ceiling in the world. The chapel remains accessible from Senate House passage in spring when the rest of the college is closed to visitors. During term time, fans of choral music can hear evensong sung by the famous choir each day for free; book well in advance for the legendary Christmas concert. (0.4 mile).
• Queens’ College – A pretty medieval college of red brick, Queens’ sits right on the river. It features a 15th-century Old Court, leading to a stunningly decorated Old Hall, a Tudor President’s Lodge, and the tower in which Erasmus once stayed. The graceful Mathematical Bridge, which joins the older part of the college to the new, is rumored to have been designed by Newton and originally built without nails (both untrue). (0.4 mile).
• Cambridge University Botanic Garden – Come for the feeling of finding lush woodland in the city, and discover a diverse plant collection and a rich scientific resource. Children will enjoy exploring different habitats, including the tropical greenhouse, and there are family events, especially during school holidays. (0.5 mile).
• Great St Mary’s Church – The university church stands gracefully above the market, at the center of Cambridge today as it was when erected in the 14th-century. Climb the 123 steps of the Tower for sweeping views of the colleges and the city (tickets are £4 for individuals and £12 for families Monday-Friday, £5 and £15 respectively on weekends). (0.5 mile).
• Trinity College – The richest and largest of the colleges, Trinity has an academic grandeur to match, boasting more Nobel Prize winners than all of France. Walk through the Great Gate, under the frowning eye of college founder Henry VIII, and wonder at the scale and elegance of the 16th-century Great Court. Behind this are the graceful cloisters of Neville’s Court and the famous Wren Library, where visitors can see Isaac Newton’s copy of the Principia Mathematica and AA Milne’s original Winnie the Pooh, among other treasures. (0.6 mile).
• The Round Church – A rarity even for a town loaded with history, this is one of only 4 round churches in the country. Built in 1130, it transports visitors back to Norman times. It also houses an exhibition on the history of the university. (0.7 mile).

Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores

• Cambridge Market – The best selection of fresh produce in town (particularly on weekdays), plus an excellent cheese selection, and food stalls on weekends. (0.5 mile).
• Marks and Spencer Food Hall – Grocery section of respected department store. On the pricey side, but high quality food. (0.6 mile).
• Sainsbury’s – Main city branch of quality supermarket. Good selection of groceries and essentials. (0.7 mile).

Hotel du Vin – The Hotel

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