I was excited to attend the opening of the brand-new apartment hotel, The Hobson Cambridge by Adina. The hotel is a welcome addition to Cambridge’s accommodation options in this historic student town. This was also my first trip to Cambridge, which made the visit even more exciting. I had always wanted to see the city I had read about and seen featured in countless books and movies.
Cambridge has always felt like one of those places that only exists in books and movies. Therefore, it felt incredibly surreal to walk through a city where Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, and Alan Turing once lived. In addition, it is such a beautiful and quaint place, with photo opportunities around every corner. It is the perfect destination if, like me, you enjoy historic sites, gorgeous surroundings, and everything within walking distance. Staying at The Hobson Cambridge by Adina really tied the entire experience together. The hotel building used to be a fire and police station, and its façade looks just as ornate and historic as some of the city’s oldest buildings. Next, I’ll share more about my experience at the hotel and highlight some of my top things to do in Cambridge.
Arriving at The Hobson Cambridge by Adina
This Cambridge accommodation is perfectly positioned just past Parker’s Piece park. It’s only a 10-minute walk from the famous King’s College. It’s really easy to get to Cambridge from the London Stansted Airport as the train is direct and around 30-40 minutes. To get to the hotel you can then take the bus, a taxi or walk for about 20 minutes. Once you arrive at the hotel, there’s little need for public transport. Most main attractions are within walking distance. Cambridge is a great town to explore on foot, and I even managed around 20,000 steps because there was so much to see.
Design & Vibe: Elegant and inviting with historic details
The Hobson Cambridge by Adina was formerly a fire and police station before being transformed into a hotel. Today, the interiors are stylish and welcoming. As soon as you step inside, the marble floors and stone walls reflect the building’s history, while the reception area feels like an elegant living room. You can also sit at the large table here if you need a space to work. In addition, there is a mini-market open all day for drinks, food, or snacks during your stay.
Rooms That Make You Feel At Home
At The Hobson Cambridge by Adina, all studio rooms include a kitchenette. Each room comes with a fridge, microwave, crockery, cutlery, and a coffee machine. The hotel has 56 rooms, ranging from single studios to premier studios across three floors. My room was right next to the restaurant, yet I didn’t hear any noise at all. The reception is open 24 hours if you need anything. An iron can be requested, but there are garment steamers available in the room, along with a safe.
My room was quite warm during my stay. The staff explained that the hotel was in winter mode, so the only option was to turn the AC off and hope the temperature decreased. I prefer my room as cold as possible because I sleep better that way. It was a little frustrating not to be able to lower the temperature, as it stayed above 20°C even with the AC off. In addition, my windows faced the courtyard restaurant, so I couldn’t open them either.
Room features
- Comfortable and big bed: It’s such a treat to have a king size bed to oneself and I slept really well here.
- Tea from Whittard’s: As a tea drinker, I often feel overlooked in hotel rooms. They usually offer a fancy coffee machine but only poor-quality English breakfast teabags. It was a treat to find different Whittard’s teabags in the room. There was also a coffee machine available.
- Small but comfortable seating area: I really like it when I have a table to sit by in a hotel room so I appreciated having that where I could enjoy a cup of tea.
- The option of cooking your own food: Each of the studio rooms are fitted with a kitchenette with a microwave, fridge, kettle and coffee machine. This Cambridge accommodation offers everything you need for an extended stay!
- A bathroom with all the amenities: In the bathroom you will find Ink&Water soap and shampoo as well as toiletries and hair dryer.
Dining Experience at The Hobson Cambridge by Adina
Os & Izle
The Oz & Isle is the restaurant at The Hobson Cambridge by Adina. It is located on the ground floor next to the reception in a beautiful glass ceiling courtyard. The space feels open and relaxing. It’s decorated with comfortable fabric-covered armchairs and sofas, plus lots of green plants that frame different seating areas. The bar also serves wine by the glass and cocktails, so you can visit just for a drink.
Breakfast
Breakfast was buffet-style. You order hot drinks at the bar, and the staff prepares them for you. You can also help yourself to the food and juice. The breakfast features a classic English setup, with beans, bacon, tomato, and eggs available on the hot plates. I really enjoyed the overnight oats and fresh bread with marmalade that I chose for my breakfast. I especially appreciate when fresh bread is available for breakfast, so this was a real highlight. Moreover, the atmosphere during breakfast was peaceful and calm. It was very enjoyable to sit and take my time in this beautiful space.
Dinner
For dinner we tried a variety of the dishes on the menu that were perfect for sharing. There are also charcuterie and cheese boards. The menu is designed for sharing small plates, with sides like chips, new potatoes, or green beans.
My favourites were the gin and dill cured salmon, the sirloin with salsa verde, and the sticky toffee pudding. The dessert was one of the best sticky toffee puddings I’ve tried.
Why The Hobson Cambridge by Adina Stands Out
- Historic building with elegant features: this Cambridge hotel sits inside and old fire & police station and you can see traces of its past lives all over the site.
- Excellent location between the train station and city centre: The hotel is located a 20 minute walk from the train station, but it’s also possible to get a taxi and you also have the city centre of Cambridge just around the corner. A great spot for accommodation in Cambridge.
- Choose between cooking yourself or visiting the on site restaurant: Aparthotels with an on-site restaurant are excellent. You can cook something in your room if you prefer. Or enjoy breakfast or a meal at the restaurant when you don’t feel like cooking.
- Walking distance from all the must-see sites: The Mathematical Bridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, King’s College, Botanic Gardens, and many other Cambridge sites are just a short walk from the hotel.
- Stay in style: Even though the building itself feels old and historic, the interior design has been carefully selected to feel inviting, elegant and luxurious!
Additional Information
- Accommodation Address: 42-44 St Andrew’s St, Cambridge CB2 3AS
- Website: https://thehobsoncambridge.com/
- Price Range: Rooms starting at £135.95 per night
- Check-In/Check-Out: 15.00 / 11.00
- Amenities: WiFi, Kitchenette with microwave, fridge, kettle and coffee machine, minimarket at reception
- Dog-Friendly: The Hobson Cambridge by Adina is a dog friendly hotel but there is a charge of £20 per day.
- Perfect For: Couples, families, solo travellers
Top things to do in Cambridge
Free activities
- King’s College: Probably the most famous college in Cambridge. Unfortunately, it was closed for filming during my visit. I hope to return soon to tour the grounds.
- Mathematical Bridge: This wooden bridge from the mid-1700s uses straight timbers to form an arched shape. It’s a popular sight in Cambridge. You can view it from the adjacent bridge or from underneath on a punting tour.
- Corpus Clock: A more recent addition to Cambridge as the clock was installed in 2008. It’s mesmerising to watch and the longer you watch the more little quirks you notice.
- Fitzwilliam Museum: They have free entrance (with the exception of a featured exhibition) but there is so much to see! This quickly became my new favourite museum in Cambridge and just admiring the building is worth it on it’s own!
- Try at Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies: The local bakery Fitzbillies is known for their Chelsea Bun so of course I had to do a taste test and can confirm it’s quite delicious!
Paid activities
Punting Tour: I booked a shared punting tour with the Cambridge Punt Company for £20. When I arrived for my tour, I was the only person booked for my time slot, so I unexpectedly received a private tour. As a result, it was the perfect opportunity to both see the sights and learn more about the history. In addition, this tour also includes a visit to the Bridge of Sighs.
Climb the St Mary’s Tower: For £7.50 you can buy a ticket to climb the tower of the church. There is 123 steps to the top and it’s a really narrow and winding spiral staircase to the top. Perhaps not one for anyone who struggles with stairs, heights or tight spaces. At the top you get a lovely view of King’s College and the surroundings. The St Mary’s Church itself is also worth walking in to if you just want to admire the ornate inside.
» Do check out our more extensive guide to visiting Cambridge and the top things to do in 24 hours!
FAQ
The Hobson Hotel Cambridge by Adina is dog friendly but there is a charge of £20 per day.
There is the option of adding breakfast to your stay and external guests can also visit the Oz & Isle restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Breakfast prices start at £12.
The hotel is easy to reach as the Stansted Airport is accessed by a 30-40 minute direct train from Cambridge and the train station is a 20 minute walk away or a 5 minute taxi ride.
The Studio Premier Room is the largest room type at the hotel and there is also the option for the Studio Premier Room + sofa bed if you need space for 3 people instead of just two.
In the kitchenette there is a microwave, kettle, coffee machine and fridge.
Would we return to The Hobson Cambridge by Adina?
I would definitely consider staying at The Hobson Cambridge by Adina on my next visit when I need a hotel in Cambridge. It was incredibly convenient to be so close to all the sights and I loved the details of history meeting modern elegance all around the building. And even if I would visit Cambridge again and not stay here, I would consider visiting the restaurant Oz & Isle for a cocktail or perhaps the afternoon tea that I did not have the chance to try this time around. It’s a great accommodation for those who want to stay near to the Cambridge sights, whilst also have a quiet oasis to return to in between all those steps around town.
Need more inspiration for your Cambridge Trip?
- Where to stay in Cambridge: the 11 best hotels in this historic town
- What to do in Cambridge: what to see, eat and drink on your first visit
- Visiting the Christmas Market in Cambridge
Read more about the United Kingdom
- Edinburgh: A local’s guide and recommendations to things to do and see
- The Three Chimneys Isle of Skye: Where Luxury Meets Wilderness
- Isle of Raasay Guide – the hidden island gem next to the Isle of Skye
- The Old Rectory by Crabtree & Crabtree: a wholesome escape to a Northumberland holiday cottage
Read more about another A by Adina Hotel we visited: A by Adina Glasgow Review: The Wellington Hotel in the City Centre
Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
