The best cheap hotels in Cambridge

This small, neat hotel is handy for Cambridge Science Park, and has rooms for under £50. They’re simply decorated, but come equipped with TVs, toiletries and tea- and coffee-making facilities, and most are en suite. Parking and wifi are free. A cooked breakfast can be added to your bill for £5, while guests in a hurry can opt for breakfast-to-go. It’s an easy walk to the centre of town from the lodgings.

A three-star, low-rise hotel, the Centennial has 39 rooms, plus lounge, bar and restaurant. Neat bedrooms have old-fashioned decor, TVs, toiletries, tea- and coffee-making facilities and desks; all are en suite and have free wifi. The hotel is close to the railway station but also has its own car park, and it all comes in at under £90 including breakfast.

A smart B&B/hotel near the railway station, converted from a couple of Victorian town houses, Fenners’ spick-and-span en suite rooms come in various sizes (single to family). Each one is individually decorated, with wooden floors and white linens, and all come with complimentary wifi and toiletries. Prices for doubles start at around £65 a night and, handily for midnight snack fiends, reception is 24/7 and has a selection of snacks and drinks. Fenners also operates some serviced apartments.

A family-run B&B offering double or twin rooms at £75 a night, a price that includes a cooked breakfast (vegetarian option available). The en suite bedrooms have cheery decor and there’s plenty of natural light, while amenities include an iPod docking station, tea- and coffee-making facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi. There’s free parking onsite, and it’s less than half a mile from Girton College.

Five miles from the city centre (but linked by regular buses), the Hallmark is the spot to head if you like lots of facilities. Here they include a large indoor pool, a gym, a sauna and steam room, two tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course. The 136 chain-hotel style bedrooms have free wifi, and regular deals mean rooms are available for under £70 (breakfast is included in some rates but not others). There’s a bar and restaurant, and an outdoor terrace, too.

Regular deals mean that a room at Holiday Inn Express can be had for around £50 – which includes free wifi, parking and a hot buffet breakfast. Rooms are simple but trim and nicely kitted out, with power showers, tea- and coffee-making facilities, a TV and a desk. There’s a bar and a restaurant on the premises. The hotel is a couple of miles from the city centre.

As the name suggests, this branch of the Ibis chain is handily located for the railway station (one minute away); the Botanic Garden is close by, and it’s a short walk to the centre of town. The decor is a lively mix of colour and pattern, giving the place a bit of character. Rooms (from £75) have tea- and coffee-making facilities, free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs and desks, while en suite bathrooms have showers rather than baths. Snacks (including pizza) are available in the café/bar, and there’s a hot breakfast buffet. Dogs are welcome.

A seventeenth-century inn with rooms, two miles south of the city centre. Despite being a pub, this is a good option for families, as there’s a large garden with a children’s play area. Wifi and parking are free. Motel-style rooms are housed in an annexe and start around £70 (including breakfast); all have en suite shower rooms and TVs.

The hotel is set in 50 acres a couple of miles from Cambridge, but it’s easily walkable on a designated footpath. Rooms are in the original house, or in a nearby chalet, and can be had for under £60; all have TVs and are en suite, with neat decor enlivened by bright fabrics and garden views. The rural setting includes a heated outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court and croquet lawns. Continental breakfast is extra (£10), but wifi is free. Hotel amenities include a guest lounge and an honesty bar (or you can take the private footpath to the local pub).

Prices are keen at YHA Cambridge, with beds from £20 and private rooms with en suite facilities from £39. All the usual hostel amenities are here: luggage and cycle storage, laundry facilities, a TV lounge, a self-catering kitchen as well as a café and bar. Bedding and hand soap is provided; bring your own towel or hire one from reception. Free wifi is available in public areas. The hostel is a short walk from the railway station.