Places to Stay With a Restaurant in Cambridge

What's on offer around Cambridge

BritStays currently lists 17 places to stay with a restaurant in the Cambridge area of Cambridgeshire. Sixteen are hotels and one is a camping site, so this is mostly a hotel-based choice. Ten are in Cambridge itself, with two each in Royston, Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds, and one in Bishop's Stortford.

Every stay here has a restaurant. The other facilities vary more than you might expect:

• Bar: 11 of 17
• Parking: 11 of 17
• WiFi: 11 of 17
• Disabled access: 9 of 17
• Near a train station: 8 of 17
• Pet friendly: 6 of 17
• Gym: 3 of 17

Around a third of these stays don't list parking or WiFi, so don't assume either comes as standard. If you're driving or need to work while you're away, check the listing before you book.

Coast or countryside?

None of these stays is on the coast. This is an inland area, and its outdoor appeal is countryside and grand estates. Wicken Fen and the Wimpole Estate are both National Trust properties, and Wimpole Hall is a good choice if you enjoy historic houses.

If you'd rather not stay in the city, look at Royston or Bury St Edmunds. The Sheene Mill in Royston lists a restaurant, a gift shop and a nearby train station. In Bury St Edmunds, The Bull Inn has a bar, a restaurant and disabled access. Riverside House Hotel adds a laundrette, which helps on a longer stay.

Stays that suit couples

If a meal and some time to unwind are the point of the trip, several stays list a spa. Gonville Hotel combines a spa, bar and restaurant. Varsity Hotel lists a gym, spa and bar, and Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket offers the same trio. Hotel du Vin & Bistro in Cambridge suits couples who mainly want a good dinner, with a bar and WiFi alongside the restaurant.

Stays that suit families

For families, practical features usually matter more than polish. Travelodge Cambridge Newmarket Road lists takeaway food as well as a bar and restaurant, which is useful when children are too tired for a sit-down meal. Arundel House Hotel and the other Travelodge in Cambridge both list disabled access, and Sorrento Hotel lists parking.

For rainy-day ideas, The Centre for Computing History is in Cambridge. Whittlesey Museum is elsewhere in Cambridgeshire. In warmer weather, H2O Rampage Aqua Park and Aqua Splash Redricks Lakes are among the nearby water parks. Check travel times from your chosen base before you plan the day.

Bringing the dog

Six of the 17 stays are listed as pet friendly, so dog owners have a real but limited choice. Tuddenham Mill is one of them, and it also lists a restaurant and WiFi. Policies on dogs in dining areas differ from place to place. Ask whether your dog can join you at mealtimes or will need to stay in the room. If you plan a countryside walk at Wicken Fen or the Wimpole Estate, check their dog rules before you set off.

Accessibility, trains and days out

Nine stays list disabled access. Beyond Cambridge, these include White Hart in Newmarket and Ramada London Stansted Airport in Bishop's Stortford. The Ramada also lists a gym. Eight stays are near a train station, which is worth filtering for if you'd rather leave the car at home.

For history, Stansted Mountfitchet Castle and the remains of Waytemore Castle make good half-day outings alongside the Wimpole estate.

When to book, and what to check

With 17 stays in total, choice narrows quickly once you add a specific need. Only six are pet friendly and only three have a gym. If one of those is essential, book as early as you can. Weekends and school holidays tend to be busier, so leave yourself more time then.

• Confirm the restaurant's opening days and hours for your dates, as hotel restaurants don't always serve every meal.
• Reserve a table when you book your room if you want to eat in on your first night.
• Check whether parking is on site and whether you need to pre-book a space.
• If you need accessible facilities, ask for specifics about the room and the dining area.