Overnight stays in central Cambridge aren’t cheap. The city’s public transport network is pretty good, though – so if you’re planning on visiting, definitely take a look at accommodation options a little further out!
One place that won’t break the bank is the Turing Locke Hotel in Eddington, just two miles north-west of the city centre. It’s just 20 minutes by bus or 10 minutes by taxi to central Cambridge, and it’s a place that’s been much-lauded since it opened in late 2021.
The aparthotel boasts 180 apartments, available both for short-term stays and longer residences – perfect for those temporarily working or studying in Cambridge. I recently stayed for just one night – here’s what I thought…
The Welcome
There was someone at the reception desk to greet me instantly when I arrived: a lovely smiley lady who was incredibly helpful. There’s a choice of either checking in in person or via one of their self check-in desks.
It didn’t feel like a generic hotel. Turing Locke refer to their guests as “residents” and want to make them feel at home, and the communal areas did just that. Warm, welcoming and stylish, it was a great start to my first TL experience.
The Style
“Calming yet bold interiors inspired by the city’s historic past” is what the Turing Locke in Eddington promises. This statement certainly applies to the reception area which looks incredibly modern and actually fairly un-hotel-like in its design.
The reception area is very different from the rooms which feel much more simplistic and functional, although they have little touches like marble kitchen worktops and well-considered lighting that show Turing Locke’s attention to detail.
The Facilities
As well as its food and drink facilities (which I’ll go through later), Turing Locke Cambridge has a range of communal facilities. There’s a free co-working space, complete with private rooms and coffee on tap. There’s an on-site workout studio, a central garden courtyard and a rooftop terrace.
You’ll also find an on-site car park – but be warned, its use comes at an additional cost of £15 per day.
The Rooms
The Turing Locke Eddington features 180 studios and suites. They’re a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites, with some even featuring their own terrace.
Available for either short or longer-term stays, each living space includes a king-size bed, super-fast Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a hairdryer and iron and a Smart HD TV. There are laundry facilities available to all residents (some rooms have their own washer-dryer, some can use communal facilities), while the bathrooms are equipped with rainfall showers and toiletries.
The 28-square metre Locke Studio where I stayed had a comfortable bed, although the pillows were way too soft for my liking. I liked how many plug sockets – including USB points – were scattered around the room, but with a bedside table only on one side of the bed I can see this being annoying if two people were sharing this room for any period of time.
The other side of the room was home to a small dining table and two chairs, as well as a sofa and coffee table in front of the TV. Next to the bed there was a decent amount of storage space for clothes – as well as a locked (and certainly not sound-proofed) door through to an interconnecting bedroom next door.
I was impressed with the kitchen: well-equipped and complete with oven, hob, fridge and small appliances. There was a small supply of coffee, tea and milk sachets – the only thing I really needed for a one-night stay.
An accessible room was the cheapest option when booking, which meant a walk-in shower – no big deal. There were plenty of toiletries included…the only thing missing was toilet paper! I went down to reception to let them know and while they were very apologetic, it was quite some time before a member of the team made an appearance with the missing item…
When it came to bedtime, I liked the fact that the floor-to-ceiling windows are soundproofed, and that they feature blackout curtains for a great night’s sleep!
Overall, the studio apartment at Turing Locke Cambridge was surprisingly spacious, well-equipped, clean and comfortable, with just a few small niggles – I’d have no issue staying here again.
The Food
Bar the coffee included in the room, I didn’t actually eat or drink at the hotel. There are, however, a bar, a restaurant and a coffee shop which are shared with the Hyatt Centric hotel next door.
The restaurant – The Astronomer – which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s open seven days a week, and the menu looks delicious.
Their bar – Dutch – serves Mexican/US-inspired food and a range of cocktails, while there’s also a coffee shop – Brew – too. Annoyingly none of them were open at 7am the morning after my stay (I’d run out of coffee in the room), so I headed to Dulcedo Social a short walk away (check out these pastries!) where the coffee was incredible.
The Price
While prices will obviously vary depending on room size and date, it’s possible to snap up a very decently-priced one-night stay. My Locke Studio was under £100 for a Friday night stay, while a two-bedroom family suite would have been around the £300 mark for a one-night stay.
You’ll also find great offers on sites like Expedia and Booking.com, as well as discounts for registering directly with the Turing Locke website. While it may not be in the heart of Cambridge, it’s a great base from which to explore the city – by bike, by foot or on public transport. I’d happily stay here again in the future.