🇬🇧 Cambridge, United Kingdom
Fairways Guest House
📍 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7BX
Your stay — Fairways Guest House
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Cambridge.
The Property — Fairways Guest House
Fairways Guest House is a neat, no-fuss Victorian terrace a mile north of the city centre, aimed squarely at the budget-conscious traveller who wants a clean bed, reliable breakfast and off-street parking — a rare perk in Cambridge. The lobby feels like a well-kept family home: flagstone floor, a rack of local leaflets, and a noticeboard with bus times. It’s not stylish or romantic, but it is honest and quiet.
Chronicles of Cambridge
Cambridge grew from a Roman settlement on the Cam, but its modern identity was forged in 1209 when scholars fleeing Oxford founded a university here. Over centuries, the colleges developed around the medieval core, with the Backs offering that iconic view of King’s College Chapel across manicured lawns. Today, the city balances its world-leading research labs (the Cavendish, the Sanger) with a constant tide of tourists, students and tech workers. The historic centre remains essentially medieval in street pattern, with modern shopping and science parks sprawling out to the ring road.
Best Time to Visit
Full Cambridge guide →Best months
May and September: warm enough for punting, gardens in flower or autumn colour, and fewer students than June/July.
Peak / festival surge
June (May Week, graduation, the Bridge of Sighs ball) and July (open days, summer schools). Hotel prices spike 40-60% over spring rates. The City of Cambridge Festival and Folk Festival also pull crowds in July.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: cheaper rooms (often 20-30% less than July), drier than winter, and Cambridge is still pleasant for walking the Backs or visiting the colleges.
Weather & packing
Cambridge is the driest city in Britain, but July afternoons can still hit 30°C. Pack a light rain jacket anyway — sudden showers are common, and the sun is strong. Rule: layered top, comfortable walking shoes, and a reusable water bottle.
Live City Briefing — Cambridge
- The Market Square redevelopment finishes in summer 2026, with new seating and cycle parking opening by July — expect less construction noise but bus diversions around St Mary’s Passage.
- Cambridge’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ-like) has been proposed for the city centre; check your parking zone map as Fairways Guest House is outside it but access routes may change.
- The annual Cambridge Folk Festival (Cherry Hinton Hall, 30 July–2 August) will fill hotels a fortnight after your stay — you’ll miss the crowds but catch the setup buzz.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Fairways Guest House, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor or higher at the rear of the building, facing away from Cherry Hinton Road. These are quieter and less affected by street noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms at the front, as they are closest to Cherry Hinton Road traffic and any foot traffic from the car park or entrance.
Best views
Rear-facing rooms overlook the garden or rear carpark – not scenic but peaceful. Front-facing rooms give a view of Cherry Hinton Road, a busy A-road.
Quietest floors
First floor and above, especially rooms at the back (facing the gardens or rear carpark).
🔊 Noise notes
Cherry Hinton Road is a main route into Cambridge, with constant traffic from early morning until late evening. The guest house has no double-glazing mentioned, so rear rooms are strongly recommended for sleep.
Insider tips
Ask if they have a rear garden-view room when booking – they’re quieter than front rooms. If you arrive by car, use the free on-site parking (limited spaces) and park away from the entrance to avoid early-morning car doors.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Fairways Guest House
Free WiFi throughout, standard broadband speed (approx 30 Mbps down), no login portal or device limit.
No lift; all rooms on first and second floors via stairs only.
Complimentary iPad with digital newspapers in breakfast room; The Guardian & Cambridge News available in print at reception.
Standard 14:00-21:00; early bag drop available after 10:00 if room not ready; late check-out by arrangement, £15 fee until 12:00.
Free luggage storage in secure lobby area during reception hours (08:00-21:00).
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance to ground-floor breakfast room and one accessible en-suite room on ground floor; no lift to upper floors.
On-site free parking for 8 cars on first-come-first-served basis; nearest public car park is Queen Anne Terrace Car Park, 0.4 miles away, £8.50 per 24 hours; no EV charging on-site.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at time of booking via credit/debit card; a £50 cash or card hold for incidentals taken at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: King's Church (556 m · ~7 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Al Ikhlas & Cambridge Islamic Centre (644 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: St Paul's (679 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: St Barnabas (725 m · ~9 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
The Grafton — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk
Cannon's Green — 371 m · ~5 min walk
Cambridge Science Centre — 463 m · ~6 min walk
Mumford Theatre — 1.2 km · ~16 min walk
Hector Pieterson Play Area — 777 m · ~10 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 696 m · ~9 min walk
G.F.T. Davis & Co Pharmacy — 627 m · ~8 min walk
Tesco Express — 118 m · ~1 min walk
Cambridge — 214 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →British Pound Sterling, GBP
Use high-street banks or Post Office branches for better rates than airport bureaux; Travelex and tourist-area exchange offices charge poor commissions.
Card and contactless payments accepted almost everywhere; chip-and-PIN standard; mobile pay (Apple Pay, Google Pay) widely supported in shops and restaurants.
10-15% in restaurants if service not included; rounding up or £1-2 for casual cafés; taxi drivers expect 10% or rounding; hotel staff typically receive £1-2 per service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Chain café coffee (Pret A Manger, Costa, Greggs) £2.00-2.50; independent cafés slightly cheaper at £2.00-2.20.
Meal deal at Tesco or Sainsbury's (sandwich + snack + drink) £3.50; fish and chips from takeaway £6.00-8.00.
Indian/Chinese takeaway main £8.00-10.00; pub-chain main course £10.00-13.00; ramen or Asian noodle bowl £8.00-9.50.
Market Hill has food stalls and independent vendors; The Grafton Centre food court offers budget chains; takeaway shops line Grange Road and King Street.
Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Asda throughout CB1; Lidl and Aldi offer cheapest prices on basics; outdoor market near Market Square for fresh produce deals.
Grafton Centre shopping mall has high-street chains (Topshop/Topman merged, but Uniqlo, H&M, Gap); vintage/secondhand shops on Grange Road; market stalls seasonally.
Stagecoach local buses £1.75 single or £5.00 day pass; Cityrider 7-day pass £25.00; National Express coaches from airport cheaper than trains (£10-15); cycling most economical (bike rental ~£20/day).
Walk or cycle most places—CB1 is compact and flat; buy groceries at supermarkets rather than tourist-area convenience stores; check Cambridge Student Union venues for cheap gigs and events open to visitors.
Good to know — Cambridge
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.75 · GBP
Emergency Contacts
CambridgeFor police, fire or ambulance in life-threatening situations, dial 999 or 112 from any phone (including mobiles without credit). For non-urgent police matters, call 101. For health advice that's not an emergency, call NHS 111.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Cambridge, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Fairways Guest House
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 696 m · ~9 min walk — pharmacy · G.F.T. Davis & Co Pharmacy — 627 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Cambridge Station/City Centre → The Kendall Hotel vicinity
💡 Excellent for local exploration; buy Day Ranger ticket (£4.50) for unlimited travel; hotel is walkable from city center
London Stansted Airport → Cambridge Coach Station (10 min walk to hotel)
💡 Budget-friendly; book online for discounts; can be slow during peak times
London Stansted Airport → Cambridge Station (5 min walk to hotel)
💡 Most economical option; connect at London Liverpool Street or use direct services; purchase Railcard for discounts
London Stansted Airport → The Kendall Hotel, Cambridge
💡 Book in advance for better rates; journey time varies with traffic on M11 motorway
About Cambridge
Wikipedia ↗
Cambridge ( KAYM-brij) is a city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, 55 miles (89 km) north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of the City of Cambridge was 145,7...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Fairways Guest House?
Request a room on the first floor or higher at the rear of the building, facing away from Cherry Hinton Road. These are quieter and less affected by street noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Fairways Guest House?
Avoid ground-floor rooms at the front, as they are closest to Cherry Hinton Road traffic and any foot traffic from the car park or entrance.
Is Fairways Guest House noisy?
Cherry Hinton Road is a main route into Cambridge, with constant traffic from early morning until late evening. The guest house has no double-glazing mentioned, so rear rooms are strongly recommended for sleep.
Which rooms have the best views at Fairways Guest House?
Rear-facing rooms overlook the garden or rear carpark – not scenic but peaceful. Front-facing rooms give a view of Cherry Hinton Road, a busy A-road.
What are insider tips for staying at Fairways Guest House?
Ask if they have a rear garden-view room when booking – they’re quieter than front rooms. If you arrive by car, use the free on-site parking (limited spaces) and park away from the entrance to avoid early-morning car doors.
What time is check-in at Fairways Guest House?
Check-in at Fairways Guest House is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Fairways Guest House have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout, standard broadband speed (approx 30 Mbps down), no login portal or device limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Fairways Guest House?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Fairways Guest House?
Meal deal at Tesco or Sainsbury's (sandwich + snack + drink) £3.50; fish and chips from takeaway £6.00-8.00.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Fairways Guest House?
Stagecoach local buses £1.75 single or £5.00 day pass; Cityrider 7-day pass £25.00; National Express coaches from airport cheaper than trains (£10-15); cycling most economical (bike rental ~£20/day).
When is the best time to visit Cambridge?
May and September: warm enough for punting, gardens in flower or autumn colour, and fewer students than June/July.
Top Attractions in Cambridge
💡 Go early in the morning before 9am—fewer tourists and the light hits the stonework well. Avoid sunny weekends when punters clog the path.
💡 Go on weekdays before 11am—school groups arrive later. Ask at the info desk for the free spotlights tour (Tues 1pm). Skip the temporary exhibition unless it's your thing—it costs extra.
💡 Continue to The Orchard tea garden for scones—cash only, no card. The path gets muddy after rain, so wear boots. Best from late April to September.
💡 Check the college website for free evensong services at 5:30pm on weekdays—you get in free and hear the choir. Arrive 15 minutes early.
💡 Entry is £8 but free for Cambridge residents with a library card. The best time is May-June when the irises are out. Bring a packed lunch—the café is overpriced.