Review of The Gonville Hotel, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Hi folks, welcome to my series on United Kingdom! Having lived as a student in London from 2011-12 and visited it multiple times, I’m sharing my knowledge of this wonderful city and places I’ve visited in its vicinity. You can read about things to do in London here, where to eat here and where to shop here. The content largely focuses on my recent trip there in June-July 2018, but there’ll also be some gems from the past. If you’d like to know more, please follow my blog. While in London, we took a short trip to Cambridge, where my husband is currently studying. Previously, I’ve written a definitive guide to Cambridge here. This post is a review of the boutique hotel we stayed at- The Gonville Hotel.

Our party consisted of my parents, my younger brother, my husband and my toddler son, so we chose a place that was family-friendly, and offered comfortable luxury. Scroll down to the last paragraph of this post for the review of the hotel.

BOOKINGS & HOW TO GET THERE:

You can book rooms at The Gonville Hotel on Booking.com here.

Cambridge is well-connected to most other cities in the United Kingdom by rail. There are multiple trains that leave every hour. Book your tickets online in advance to avail the best deals on prices.

From London, one can drive to Cambridge or take a bus. Our bus ride to Cambridge was a comfortable 3 hour journey, while the train back to London took an hour but was very crowded!

The Gonville Hotel is located in Cambridge City Centre, a 2 minute walk from the bus stand, and a short taxi ride from the train station.

TYPES OF ROOMS:

The hotel offers four categories of rooms. The most luxurious of these are the eight Feature Bedrooms in Gresham House, a 19^th century property that’s part of the hotel. These floral themed bedrooms have maintained their Victorian essence.

Superior Rooms offer luxury in a more modern setting, and we stayed in these. Classic Rooms are comfortable rooms in a slightly lower price range. There are also Accessible Rooms aimed at families or large groups travelling together.

THINGS TO DO:

The hotel dates back to the 1800’s and its historical ethos is visible in every feature it offers.

BENTLEY TOURS:

The hotel offers luxury tours of the ancient university town of Cambridge, in its two in-house Bentley cars. Ably guided by the head concierge, Elliot, it’s your chance to roam the beautiful town like royalty. The service is complimentary but must be booked in advance.

GONVILLE BIKES:

If you prefer a more modest means of exploring the city, the hotel offers complimentary bikes. These are equipped with baskets and one-touch gears.

REGULAR EVENTS:

The hotel makes sure its patrons are kept thoroughly entertained through their stay. Check their website to stay updated on all current events. You can enjoy live jazz or movie screenings, among other activities.

HEALTH & WELLNESS:

The hotel has a beautiful and well-equipped spa in the Gresham House Building. They offer many different treatments.

DINING:

COTTO RESTAURANT:

This fine-dining restaurant is helmed by Master Chef Hans Schewitzer and serves a delectable three-course meal.

ATRIUM BRASSERIE:

The coffee shop is open to visitors as well as residents of the hotel. One can ask for fresh Afternoon Tea to be prepared in advance.

The Buffet Breakfast is served here, as well as in the outdoor area in front of Gresham House.

ATRIUM BAR:

You can choose from local selections and fantastic cocktails in this classy bar.

PRIVATE DINING:

The hotel offers many rooms for private dining which need to be booked in advance.

MISCELLANEOUS:

PET-FRIENDLY:

Not only is the hotel great for children of all ages, it also welcomes your dogs! Make sure to give advance notice of the pet’s arrival.

MEETINGS & CONFERENCES:

The Gonville Hotel is a popular choice for meetings and conferences, as the impeccable service leaves no stone unturned.

REVIEW OF THE HOTEL:

We booked two Superior Rooms in the Friday Package. This package included dinner at the Atrium Brasserie coffee shop in the price of the room. This was a fantastic deal for one night, as we were able to try many dishes on their extensive menu. I was pleased with my fish and chips at dinner, and very satisfied with the breakfast selection the next morning.

The rooms were spacious, a rarity in many boutique hotels. They were furnished in a signature modern style, with a focus on the iconic sights of Cambridge. The bathroom had a bath tub and a shower head, and was well-stocked with amenities. The mini-bar had a lot to offer. There was a large LED TV as well as an expansive desk. The bedding was comfortable and the turn down service was prompt. Every member of staff was courteous, polite and attentive.

The hotel seems popular with locals, evident from a 30^thbirthday party celebration that happened when we were there.

We had a comfortable and happy stay at The Gonville Hotel in Cambridge. I’ll definitely re-visit when I’m next in Cambridge!

Hotel Rating: 5/5

Book your rooms at The Gonville Hotel, Cambridge on Booking.com here.

*This is not a sponsored post.

** All pictures are my own, unless mentioned. Copyright in my pictures belongs to nooranandchawla.