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Home / Destination / Europe / UK / Elsewhere / A family-friendly hotel near Cambridge

A family-friendly hotel near Cambridge

February 20, 2014 by Gretta Schifano 28 Comments

Holiday Inn pancake machine. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The breakfast

My youngest is very pleased when he reads the notice at breakfast: ‘Make your own fresh pancakes here’. The sign is on a silver box-like machine in the restaurant of the Cambridge Holiday Inn. My son presses the button on the front of the machine, puts his plate to the side of it and waits expectantly. After a couple of minutes a small, round pancake drops onto his plate. He smothers it in chocolate sauce and devours it happily.

Meanwhile my husband is reading the i newspaper and eating a bowl of fresh fruit. Apart from the pancake machine, all of the usual breakfast options are on offer. I go for scrambled egg and mushrooms and, pancake inhaled, my son is thrilled to find a mini packet of Coco Pops amongst the cereals. The joy of hotel breakfasts for him is eating his weight in things we never have at home but for me it’s letting someone else do the work while we sit down and eat together.

Holiday Inn Cambridge restaurant. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Holiday Inn Cambridge restaurant. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The room

We’re staying in the hotel in a double executive room with a sofa bed for the youngest: the eldest is on a school ski trip. The room is comfortable if a little snug with the sofa bed extended. The decor is neutral with good quality furnishings: a large pale wooden desk, white cotton bed linen and, something I really like, sliding wooden shutters instead of curtains. Our room has all of the gadgets you might expect: a safe, a chargeable minibar, an iron, a trouser press (does anyone ever actually use these?) and a TV. The only gadget I ever really want in a hotel room is there too – a kettle. When we arrive there’s a welcome KitKat left for us next to the kettle too which is appreciated but I wish there’d been one for each of us.

Holiday Inn Cambridge, Executive room. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Holiday Inn Cambridge, Executive room. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The pool and gym

Guests are welcome to use the hotel’s health club with its gym, 15-metre indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. The pool is busy when I go but there’s enough room for everyone. It’s divided into two sections so that those who are swimming lengths are separated from the kids who are just playing. There’s no lifeguard at the pool when I’m there, so you’d definitely need to keep an eye on your children in the water. After my swim I have the sauna and steam room to myself while my husband finds just two other people at the gym when he goes there.

Holiday Inn Cambridge pool. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Holiday Inn Cambridge pool. Copyright Gretta Schifano

There’s plenty of comfortable seating in the public areas of the hotel, a children’s play area is enclosed in a central courtyard and there’s lots of free parking outside. The staff we meet are all very helpful and friendly. After breakfast the restaurant serves food until 9.30pm and there’s also a bar at the hotel which serves snacks and light meals. I think this is a good place for families to stay apart from the fact that there’s no free WiFi available anywhere. If you want to pay for it, WiFi access will cost you £5 an hour, £10 for four hours or £16 for 24 hours, which I think is pretty steep.

The location

The hotel is in a quiet spot in the village of Impington, just outside Cambridge and makes a good base for families exploring the city and the surrounding area. Cambridge has some great family-friendly places to visit  including the Fitzwilliam Museum, The Polar Museum and the University Botanic Garden. The Imperial War Museum at Duxford and the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate are also nearby.

The lowdown

We stayed in a double executive room with a sofa bed at the Holiday Inn Cambridge as guests of the hotel for the purposes of this review. The room costs from £69 per night, including breakfast. Family rooms cost from £74 and cots are available free of charge but must be requested at the time of booking. Children under 12 sharing a room with their parents stay and eat for free.



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Related

Categories: Elsewhere, Room reports
Tags: Cambridge, family friendly hotels, Holiday Inn

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Nell@PigeonPairandMe.com says

    August 27, 2014 at 7:11 pm

    I’m looking for a place to stay near Cambridge for their litarary festival in November. I’ll definitely bear this in mind….
    Nell@PigeonPairandMe.com recently posted…Summer snapshotsMy Profile

    Reply
  2. FamilyAffairs says

    March 4, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    That looks great and loving your new blog look! Lx
    FamilyAffairs recently posted…WALT DISNEY WORLD VIDEO GUIDEMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      March 4, 2014 at 9:18 pm

      Thank you Lucy x

      Reply
  3. Lori says

    February 21, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    Pancake maker and a pool! That’ll be us sorted 🙂 x
    Lori recently posted…COOL KIDS STYLE // DIAPERS & MILKMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Keri-Anne says

    February 21, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    Oh my! A pancake making machine!!!! YES PLEASE x
    Keri-Anne recently posted…The MADSMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Sarah Ebner says

    February 21, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    Love the idea of the pancake machine, but only one kit kat? Terrible!
    Sarah Ebner recently posted…The Drake Fun Day at the Golden Hinde (by Robert)My Profile

    Reply
  6. Cass@frugalfamily says

    February 21, 2014 at 8:38 am

    I want to go just for the pancake making machine 😉
    Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…Girls Only Night – Quick and Easy Non Alocoholic Mojito mocktail recipe….My Profile

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  7. Kara says

    February 21, 2014 at 7:51 am

    Looks lovely and very reasonably priced too
    Kara recently posted…Ranty Friday – I fell for the spinMy Profile

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  8. Charlotte says

    February 20, 2014 at 11:06 pm

    That pool looks lush! Would definitely love to jump in there with the kids!
    Charlotte recently posted…A day of Random Acts of KindnessMy Profile

    Reply
  9. Annie from UK Parenting says

    February 20, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    £74 for a family room is such a bargain – and a pool too! Always great to read family recommendations of family friendly places to stay!
    Annie from UK Parenting recently posted…Things to do with children in half termMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Carole at Healthier Mummy says

    February 20, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    Wow, the pancake machine is worth the visit alone. It’s a good price for a family trip to explore another city. But you’re right about the KitKats – just getting one would cause no end of squabbles in my family.
    Carole at Healthier Mummy recently posted…‘My child doesn’t eat enough’: 8 tips for fussy eatingMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Kate @craftsonsea says

    February 20, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    Boo to the one kit kat but the pancake machine? Wow. Want one of those at home.
    Kate @craftsonsea recently posted…Southend Sealife Adventure AquariumMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Kirsty says

    February 20, 2014 at 9:21 pm

    I didn’t realise that some Holiday Inn hotels have swimming pools. I love swimming so this is a real bonus for me on a holiday. Add to that a pancake machine and it is hard to complain!
    Kirsty recently posted…Rainbow Craft for KidsMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Emmys Mummy says

    February 20, 2014 at 9:14 pm

    I was sold by the pancake making machine – I need to visit
    Emmys Mummy recently posted…Karcher 5.800 C Steam Cleaner ReviewMy Profile

    Reply
  14. Jenny says

    February 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm

    We love staying in hotels with a pool, thanks for the tip.
    Jenny recently posted…Bento-inspired fruit plateMy Profile

    Reply
  15. TwinsplusTwo says

    February 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm

    I lived in Cambridge for 11 years, following on from University there. We got married nearby and had our wedding night at the Holiday Inn! Lovely hotel – we treated ourselves to a night there a couple of years back for old times sake.
    TwinsplusTwo recently posted…“Taking in the Washing” – my thoughts on BloggingMy Profile

    Reply
  16. Shell Louise says

    February 20, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    I love hotel breakfasts. Fresh pancakes would be my hotel breakfast heaven!
    Shell Louise recently posted…Update – Aiden’s room – Before and After PhotosMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Clare Mansell says

    February 20, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    I have stayed in lots of hotels, but I have NEVER seen a pancake machine, amazing!
    Clare Mansell recently posted…Warming Spanish Chicken CasseroleMy Profile

    Reply
  18. Priya Tew says

    February 20, 2014 at 7:35 pm

    Mmmm that pancake machine along with the jacuzzi has got to be a hit! They need free wifi though 😉
    Priya Tew recently posted…Chewy Oaty Cookies: great baby/toddler snacks.My Profile

    Reply
  19. laura redburn says

    February 20, 2014 at 7:34 pm

    i’ve never stayed in a hotel before! that pancake maker sounds intriguing.

    Reply
  20. Jo Bryan says

    February 20, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    How cool you had me at pancakes, I agree the Kit Kats should be for all guests staying. Not abd price for a family room.
    Jo Bryan recently posted…Macaroni Cheese with ChorizoMy Profile

    Reply
  21. Michelle says

    February 20, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    Thanks for a thorough review. A place to consider if we go to Cambridge which isn’t too far from us, but far enough to warrant a night over
    Michelle recently posted…Raw [Project 365:2014 – Day 51]My Profile

    Reply
  22. You Baby Me Mummy says

    February 20, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    The pancake machine is a fab idea! x
    You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…Kindness – Will you ‘Pay it Forward’My Profile

    Reply
  23. Charly Dove says

    February 20, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    You had me at the pancake making machine and the pool and the word relax! Looks heavenly and great value too 🙂
    Charly Dove recently posted…Spring at Winkworth ArboretumMy Profile

    Reply
  24. Mummy of Two says

    February 20, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    That looks like a great hotel at a very reasonable price. I would love to make my own pancakes too!
    Mummy of Two recently posted…Ceracraft Pans from JMLMy Profile

    Reply
  25. Angela Spicer says

    February 20, 2014 at 10:48 am

    I don’t think I’ve lived because I’ve never seen a pancake machine in a hotel before. I’m so going just so I can use it lol
    Angela Spicer recently posted…Quick CanapesMy Profile

    Reply
  26. VaiChin @Rambling Through Parenthood says

    February 20, 2014 at 9:29 am

    That really looks good. Definitely one to consider when we visit Cambridge.
    VaiChin @Rambling Through Parenthood recently posted…Creative CanvasMy Profile

    Reply
  27. Emily @amummytoo says

    February 20, 2014 at 9:28 am

    A pancake making machine?! I’m sold! The pool looks lovely too.
    Emily @amummytoo recently posted…Draw all over the tablecloth with washable felt tips! (review)My Profile

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Heathrow park and fly hotels says:
    July 4, 2014 at 7:06 am

    […] but all opinions are my own. I haven’t stayed at any of these hotels but I did stay at the Cambridge Holiday Inn recently and would recommend […]

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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