by Hilton Cambridge
Boutique collegiate nostalgia. Bold colours, clashing patterns, and deliberate nods to Cambridge University culture throughout — crests, famous alumni, local history. Manages to make a 1970s building feel surprisingly characterful.
Book a balcony river-view room — yes, they're technically the smallest standard category at 25sqm, but the views over the meadows and Cam make it the best value upgrade
Why It Matters
The only city-centre hotel in Cambridge actually on the river — and it has the only private riverside garden terrace in the city. The design overhaul was genuinely ambitious: the 2021 rebrand added a new wing with a leisure club, and transformed a generic DoubleTree into something instantly recognisable.
Cambridge's only city-centre hotel actually on the River Cam, Graduate sits at the end of Mill Lane with the river locks right outside and meadows beyond. The site has been a hotel since the 1920s — a fire in 1973 took out the original, it was rebuilt in 1970s brutalist style, then spent years as a DoubleTree before a full redesign and rebrand in 2021. The Graduate treatment transformed it completely: think clashing tartans, punt-shaped bedside tables, a Rosalind Franklin DNA double helix chandelier in the lobby, and 100-year-old Scudamore's punting boats mounted on the walls. It's a very specific, very recognisable look — collegiate nostalgia turned up to 11.
Where You'll Stay
7 room types available
Graduate Family Room
Designed for families travelling with under-12s. King bed plus a queen-size sofa bed in a living area. Same bespoke Cambridge decor, and all the standard in-room amenities. Kids menu available in Garden House.
King plus Queen sofa bedGraduate Junior Suite with River View
A proper step up at 50sqm. Separate living area with a sofa bed, two TVs, and dedicated terrace with river views. Green velvet armchair, framed photos of campus life, tartan curtains. Laptop safe, bathrobe, slippers. Good option for longer stays or if you need the extra living space.
King · 50 sqmGraduate King Room
Entry-level rooms at a perfectly respectable 28sqm. King bed, tartan curtains, punt-shaped bedside tables, and a studded leather desk chair. Some rooms have been adapted for wheelchair users. The bathroom is compact — shower-only, big enough for one at a time — but the MALIN+GOETZ toiletries are a nice touch.
King · 28 sqmGraduate King Room with Partial River View
Slightly larger than the base room at 30sqm, with oblique river glimpses. Same collegiate decor package — tartan curtains, punt-shaped tables — with the added bonus of being slightly bigger.
King · 30 sqmGraduate King Room with River View and Balcony
The balcony eats into the floor area — hence the slightly odd 25sqm — but this is arguably the best standard room in the hotel. Two plush armchairs on the balcony, views across the hotel gardens, the river, and open meadows. Worth it. Shower-only bathroom.
King · 25 sqmGraduate Twin Room
Twin configuration with the same design DNA as the king rooms — bold headboards, clashing patterns, punt-shaped tables. Available with and without balcony/river view options.
Twin
Penthouse Suite with Terrace
The big one. 90sqm with a regal four-poster bed, classic English stripes, a private terrace for morning tea, living room with sofa bed, dining table, two TVs, and a separate guest WC. Panoramic views over Cambridge — river, meadows, and the city. Start the day with tea and a view that most Cambridge visitors only see from a punt below.
King (four-poster) · 90 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
4 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Daily afternoon tea served 12:00-17:00 in the Garden Room. A classic British format — sandwiches, scones, cakes — with a riverside setting.
Included as part of the Classic Cambridge residential package — hop-on hop-off bus tour tickets to explore the city's colleges and landmarks.
Branded Graduate bikes are available. Cambridge is one of the UK's most cycle-friendly cities, and the hotel is well-positioned for routes along the river towards Grantchester.
Scudamore's punting dock sits just outside the hotel entrance. The hotel can arrange punting hire and guided tours directly. The hotel's lobby itself features a wall of restored 100-year-old Scudamore's punting boats as a design feature.
The hotel's private riverside garden runs all the way down to the Cam — the only private riverfront garden terrace in Cambridge city centre. Deck chairs, views of the punts, and drinks from Garden Bar. Seasonal (summer only).
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
400 sqm of flexible event space across 9 rooms, accommodating up to 300 guests. Scenic riverside venues for weddings, conferences, and private dining. Catering by Garden House.
Free in-room and lobby WiFi throughout the hotel.
Connecting room configuration available — useful for families.
Up to two pets, max combined weight 75lbs. Non-refundable fee: £40 for 1-4 night stays, £80 for 5+ nights. Pets permitted in the lobby and garden. Not to be left alone in rooms.
Full 24-hour room service available.
Laundry services available for guests.
Gift vouchers available for stays, dining, and Leisure Club experiences via the hotel's online store.
The hotel participates in the Green Tourism Programme, measuring its impact on environment, community, cultural heritage, and local economy.
Hilton Digital Key available via the Hilton Honors app.
8 EV chargers on-site in the car park. Register via the ROAM app or QR code at the charging point.
Over 100 spaces. Self-parking £26.50/day; valet £35. ANPR-controlled above-ground car park behind the hotel.
Well-equipped gym with Peloton bikes, treadmills, free weights up to 25kg. Open 24/7 for hotel guests (gym area only).
10-metre indoor heated pool in the Leisure Club, overlooking the River Cam. Complimentary for hotel guests. Strict 16-person capacity; adults-only after 6pm.
BUILD YOUR GRADUATE BY HILTON CAMBRIDGE PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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