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
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
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
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.
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 snapshots
That looks great and loving your new blog look! Lx
FamilyAffairs recently posted…WALT DISNEY WORLD VIDEO GUIDE
Thank you Lucy x
Pancake maker and a pool! That’ll be us sorted 🙂 x
Lori recently posted…COOL KIDS STYLE // DIAPERS & MILK
Oh my! A pancake making machine!!!! YES PLEASE x
Keri-Anne recently posted…The MADS
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)
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….
Looks lovely and very reasonably priced too
Kara recently posted…Ranty Friday – I fell for the spin
That pool looks lush! Would definitely love to jump in there with the kids!
Charlotte recently posted…A day of Random Acts of Kindness
£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 term
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 eating
Boo to the one kit kat but the pancake machine? Wow. Want one of those at home.
Kate @craftsonsea recently posted…Southend Sealife Adventure Aquarium
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 Kids
I was sold by the pancake making machine – I need to visit
Emmys Mummy recently posted…Karcher 5.800 C Steam Cleaner Review
We love staying in hotels with a pool, thanks for the tip.
Jenny recently posted…Bento-inspired fruit plate
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 Blogging
I love hotel breakfasts. Fresh pancakes would be my hotel breakfast heaven!
Shell Louise recently posted…Update – Aiden’s room – Before and After Photos
I have stayed in lots of hotels, but I have NEVER seen a pancake machine, amazing!
Clare Mansell recently posted…Warming Spanish Chicken Casserole
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.
i’ve never stayed in a hotel before! that pancake maker sounds intriguing.
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 Chorizo
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]
The pancake machine is a fab idea! x
You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…Kindness – Will you ‘Pay it Forward’
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 Arboretum
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 JML
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 Canapes
That really looks good. Definitely one to consider when we visit Cambridge.
VaiChin @Rambling Through Parenthood recently posted…Creative Canvas
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)