The Castle Cambridge

United Kingdom , Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE, 37 St Andrews Street
Show on Google | Map

50 reviews shown

6/10

Pleasant

12 Aug 2025

Conny

This is a very old hostel in an excellent location right in the centre of Cambridge. It depends what you are looking for. The hosts were very friendly and helpful; they just aren't on site all day and had to be contacted by phone at times. The hostel rooms are in a maze of hallways above a pub, with lots of doors and turns that you have to remember to find your way up through the building to your room. That adds historical interest but is not great for convenience and fire safety. The hostel room itself was very old with carpets worn and stained, not a great experience. The shared bathrooms were recently renovated and looked great.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jul 2025

Husam

Excellent B&B option if you are visiting University of Cambridge.

Business Self

4/10

Poor

02 Jun 2025

Nancy

Read other reviews. I do not regret staying here, but I wouldn't recommend it either. It is a bare bones room. We stayed 3 days and I liked it better over time. Good location. Easy keypad access to the building and you don't have to go through the bar to get to your room.

We came in Saturday afternoon and checked in at a bar filled with drunken college students. The family with small child waiting before us looked very unhappy to be there. You go upstairs through a labyrinth of fire doors - seriously I've never seen anything like it. The rugs are very worn and stained. I was worried we wouldn't find our way out or back in.

Our room had a nice bright duvet, broad windows, and nothing but a bed, small table with tv, and some kind of blocky thing I am not sure what it was. No chair. Rugs were stained - I looked for bugs. But the place was quite meticulously clean and freshly painted, as were the halls.

We were on the top floor so there was noise outside and downstairs, but not particularly in our room. The bathroom was a floor down, spotlessly clean, and we literally never saw anyone else there except the person cleaning.

The owner was helpful. It's a crash pad. I've stayed in worse. And many many better.

Business Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Jul 2024

Caroline

Steven was very helpful, beds comfy, able to leave bags during the day. Quite noisy due tobeing on main road but very convenient for town centre.

Leisure

4/10

Poor

04 Jun 2024

Verified traveler

Improve access to attendants!

We were unable to get ahold of the hotel attendant to check in, perhaps a USA phone problem. Perhaps informing connecting via WhatsApp. The construction was loud. There was no sheet on the beds and the pillows were small. The communal bathroom worked out just fine though.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

26 May 2024

Stephen

Concert Stay.

On the positive side, great location: about 1min from the park and ride bus stop, about 5 mins walk from the Corn Exchange venue. Super friendly and helpful staff.
In the negative side: ultra basic accommodation and very noisy from the bar downstairs, until the early hours.

Partner

4/10

Poor

28 Apr 2024

Felix

This is a very very basic hotel. Quite literally a place to rest your head in central Cambridge. At £100 per night it is not cheap. The sheets of my bed were not clean and the curtains did not cover enough of the window to block out the sunlight. That being said, the room itself was not horrendous and the shared bathroom was not revolting. Overall I think it was expensive for what you get but not the worst travelling experience of my life.

Leisure Self

6/10

Pleasant

13 Feb 2024

Melanie

The location is excellent. The room is clean and staff are helpful. However, avoid booking on Fridays and Saturdays if you want to sleep at night. The bar plays very loud music 'til 3am and it's impossible to sleep.

Leisure Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

03 Feb 2024

Verified traveler

Give it a miss

As all the other reviews, this is just a room over a bar, shared bathrooms and no breakfast. I was aware of this (and that it’s way overpriced), but there’s also no one around in the bar in the morning in case anything goes wrong. I forgot to take my room key to the bathroom with me, and was locked out my room from 4am to midday, which was when someone appeared in the bar downstairs. I was then informed I had missed the checkout time. Really wished I had booked somewhere else.

Self

8/10

Excellent

04 Dec 2023

Felix

You're above a pub, but right in the city centre, for real cheap. It's highly convenient, clean bathrooms and bedding, but be warned, it's above a pub. Its a bit noisy until late, but that's expected. Can't complain really. We left some headphones and keys behind but they were very kind to ship them back for us! Would recommend if you're in for a couple of nights and just need a bed. Gud price

Leisure Friends

2/10

Poor

27 Aug 2023

Terrible!

This is not as advertised at all, you literally get just a room with a tv in it. No amenities at all. The room was dirty, smelled like urine, one window was broken, the door didnt lock, one of the beds was broken. And the bathroom was a floor down, which wasn't very clean either. We did not end up staying as felt unsafe!

Friends_and_family Friends

4/10

Poor

24 Aug 2023

martin

Someone tried to break into my room. Brakes brothers lorry parked outside with its engine on from 4 am

Taps all on a timer so 15 secs is not long enough. Very expensive for shared toilet and shower

Business Self

2/10

Poor

13 Jun 2023

Susan

The room was cramped bathroom two lots of stairs down though clean. Walked out went to Premier Inn. Paid the full price so would like a refund please.

8/10

Excellent

08 Jun 2023

Alexander

Clean and tidy.
It was as shown on description: upstairs with 2 twin beds and a full size bed. The bathroom was shared and clean. The location was amazing -- thumbs up --and it made it easier to go and get around Cambridge. Being in City Center becomes noisy in the evening. This was a short and brief stay on our way to mainland Europe to catch an early flight out of London.

I would stay again. Thanks for lettings us unload our luggage prior to check-in time.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

19 Sep 2022

Mr W

Horrible

Terrible place. Room without any comforts. None! Not even light except a cold ceiling light with a pull-cord. Shared toilet. Shower on different floor.

Self

4/10

Poor

19 Sep 2022

Ben

Bad

Old staff quarters above a pub

8/10

Excellent

14 Aug 2022

Sylwia

A little noisy at night.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

31 May 2022

Deborah

I’ve never felt so unsafe staying away with work. After a warm enough welcome, things went downhill! Two women staying on one floor without a working shower, expected to use the one the owner used and another guest on another floor. One of the room locks didn’t work properly and looked as though it had been tampered with! Left me feeling extremely vulnerable. Window wouldn’t close so extremely noisy night! Room was in poor repair and there wasn't even any tea making facilities or even a glass in the room. For the price paid, it was a disgrace. Would recommend you avoid this place!

Business_and_leisure Friends

4/10

Poor

01 May 2022

jeffrey

Basic and noisy

On arrival, I discovered that it was not really a hotel but a pub with rooms above. this in itself was not a problem as I was working and would not be returning until around midnight but after the person who seemed like the bar manager showed me the room, he returned to say as I didn't book through bookings.com, maybe I wasn't aware that there would be a dj on until 3a.m. and offered me ear plugs. As it was graduation week and everywhere was booked up and / or very expensive plus I had to get to work, I decided to let it go as what else could I do at that point? It was very loud but finally did get to sleep after 3 only to be woken again by a bottle bin being emptied at around 6 a.m. I would advise anyone thinking of staying here to check with other websites or even the property itself to see what closing time is over their stay. Hotels.com should really be held accountable for this. Also, shower wasn't working on my floor apparently one above was ok but I just left as soon as I could.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

28 Mar 2022

Thomas

Great location

Very friendly helpful staff

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Nov 2021

Amal

Nice and clean place to stay. Great location to explore Cambridge.

Leisure Friends

4/10

Poor

01 Nov 2021

Stuart

Misrepresented

The b and b is not a b and b. There is a bed but no breakfast. Why is it advertised as a b and b. It even says on the front door b and b guests call the number shown on arrival. Misreprentation.
The room is basic. The bathroom is dirty. The walls are paper thin
My advise would be to spend another 75 pounds and go stay at the Hilton.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

05 Jul 2021

Jon

Clean, Great Location, Great price.

Location location location - if you need a clean stay near to city centre that doesnt break the bank this place ticks all the boxes. Friendly team made sure all was as expected. Room was basic but respected in the price - all good.

Self

2/10

Poor

11 Feb 2020

Verified traveler

Warning! Keep away!

Lousy place. Extremely loud disco-music saturday night.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Staff was always there to help and the place was clean, though loud, because it’s above a bar - but I knew that before I confirmed my booking! So I would give them a good grade!

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

15 Sep 2019

Alan

Good budget hotel for central cambridge

The room was spacious, clean and had a nice bed. There was a large closet available. The washrooms were shared and down a flight of steps, but were nice. Given its central location and its cheap price its very reasonable. There was some confusion about my booking as I checked in, but I did book just over 24 h in advance - so this may have been instrumental. Overall a good hotel for a budget stay in central cambridge

Business

10/10

Exceptional

27 Aug 2019

Tina Marie

Excellent

Amazing weekend very busy but we were told it may be noisy as it was a bank holiday weekend but with the very friendly staff it was a very pleasant stay will be back

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Jul 2019

Kjell

Noice on fridays and saturdays because off disco those nights, otherwise quite.

Friends

4/10

Poor

06 Jul 2018

Verified traveler

More like a hostel:not a hotel

The hostel is very well located right in the centre of Cambridge. It is a rabbit warren of rooms and we had to climb about six flights of stairs to get to our room. I had not realised that there was no ensuite bathroom and all the rooms shared just two bathrooms. There was no water in our room and no hairdryer. The bedding looked tired. The common parts were rather shabby. Some guests in the room next to us cleared there throats noisily. We were there in a heatwave and being just under the eaves the room felt hot. There was certainly no air conditioning. It reminded me of my student travels in India. I must check more carefully next time I book somewhere!

8/10

Excellent

22 Dec 2017

Paul

very central, convenient .

this hotel is just a few moments from shops and restaurants. historic cambridge and the river cam being just down the road.

Partner

4/10

Poor

09 Jul 2017

Verified traveler

Outdated boarding house above a bar.

B&B without the breakfast. The barman checked us in. No one to check us out until bar opened at 11am so we had to find cleaning lady to store our luggage. Bare essentials: bed (bad mattress), towel, shared bath (updated, clean). We were on top floor (3) with only one way out; this was very unsettling. No a/c, hot night, had to keep only window open which is above entrance to the bar so very noisy until 1 am then the delivery truck noise started about 6 am.

2/10

Poor

15 Sep 2016

Kieron s

never again

grotty room with constant noise all night. So noisy we got up at 0430hrs and left

Family

2/10

Poor

06 Aug 2016

Renato Alvaro

Do not recommend!

Check in at 4PM, dirty room. Noise!!!! Never more this place.

Family

4/10

Poor

16 Apr 2016

Centre of city but the dodgy part.

I expected frugal room. But it could have been better. No bedside lamps. Kettle has to live on the floor.

4/10

Poor

23 Nov 2015

Molli

Room was very cold, free wifi wasn't very good at all

Family

2/10

Poor

31 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

Live like an impoverished student for £75 a night!

Unbelievably grim room. Up several flights of stairs, through coded security doors, to a room with peeling wallpaper, cobwebs, cracks, a massive tv (?) and rotten carpet. There was a pink plastic washing up bowl in the room. It may have been a commode because the nearest bathroom was several flights down. That bathroom was like something from a halls of residence: shabby bath, Lino, and a shower curtain turned brown with age and rusty water. Oh, and the place is billed as B&B but breakfast has to be purchased at the stinky weatherspoons next door. Make sure you get an early night (if you can; the pub downstairs is open until 3am) because security will hound you down if they think you don't belong there.

Family

2/10

Poor

11 Oct 2015

Robert

Over priced

Nowhere near worth the price. They call it B&B but don't provide breakfast.
Worth about £50.

6/10

Pleasant

16 Aug 2015

Verified traveler

Central and sweet for a short stay

An enjoyable 1 night get away. The price was reasonable for its amazing central location. As long as you're ok about having a shared bathroom with other guests, it's perfect for anyone having a sweeping visit of Cambridge. Bar has amazing live music as well!

Partner

2/10

Poor

28 May 2015

Peter

Charged twice for the room, no reimbursement

When I turned up at the hotel, the manager insisted I had not paid, and that when I had given hotels.com my credit card details, this was just for confirmation. I didn't have time to argue ( was running late for appointment), so I had to take the manager's word and pay. It turned out on my next credit card statement that I HAD paid when booking by telephone with hotels.com. Customer services promised to \"look into this\" 2 months but so far I have received no reimbursement. So it turns out I paid £85 twice for a room for one night with not even toilet! Won't be staying there EVER again, or using hotels.com.

2/10

Poor

04 May 2015

It's a mistake of the universe, avoid at all costs

If you are ok to sleep in the middle of the dance-club you might be ok with the B&B, otherwise avoid this place at all costs, and do not agree to stay there even if they pay to you.

This B&B fails at both B's: it was absolutely impossible to sleep there due to music playing ALL NIGHT in the dance club below you, so that your bed will jump at each sound. So Failure on Bed. And in regards to Breakfast - that is the second failure - there was just no breakfast available as there was nobody in the hotel to serve you in the morning.

There have to be some commission in UK that checks allowed level of noise at B&Bs and there is no chance that these guys will ever pass it, it was just unhuman and illegal to them to sell rooms there.

I've made a mistake of booking with reading - but other people, please read comments and avoid this place at all costs!

2/10

Poor

02 Jan 2015

Verified traveler

Awful

Not really a B&B or hotel. It's a noisy pub with loud music that has some rooms upstairs. Very basic with a most unappealing bathroom. We didn't wash we just moved on. The guys downstairs were nice enough and seemed surprised to have anyone staying

Partner

2/10

Poor

13 Oct 2014

Rapinder

Disgraceful service hotels.com

Worst time of my life!!!. Hotel was closed, no answer to any number. Found myself stranded with nowhere to go. After spending all day at hospital after my 4 yr old had surgery i found hotel closed. Then i spent over a hour on the phone with hotels.com who failed me completely !! No refund received or replacement hotel given as the lady was didnt understand english properly even though it says all rooms are guaranteed!!' I use this site dozens of times over the last few months, i feel let down as i spent the night in my car with temperatures at 5*.

Chances are no one will sort this

Family

2/10

Poor

04 Oct 2014

Verified traveler

DUMP

A total dump, do not stay there. We waited 2 hours to get in, no hot water staff did not help. If i could swear i would write more.
DO NOT STAY HERE

4/10

Poor

29 Sep 2014

Marco

Noisy Noisy and noisy.

Room was too small. We booked twin bed, but there was only King size bed available. Rooms in The Castle is basically some rooms above a pub/club. So it is extremely noisy at night.

Family

4/10

Poor

27 Sep 2014

averil

Towels never changed. Tv did't work. Bathroom never cleaned. staff overworked. Manager not available.

4/10

Poor

09 Sep 2014

Verified traveler

Rooms are above a very noisy bar.

The hotel is very well located in central Cambridge and the room was clean. However, there is a bar downstairs with a very loud crowd. I could hear all the noise from my room (which was at the top floor). The WiFi signal was very weak.

2/10

Poor

05 Sep 2014

Gareth

Dreadful hotel

Terrible, worst hotel ever. Staff are dismissive and there is a nightclub directly beneath the room so there is no sleeping to be had before 4am

6/10

Pleasant

02 Sep 2014

Kate

Great Location but only ideal for short stay

The location is ideal for central Cambridge, the staff were very friendly (even if at times they seemed a little clueless to what was going on), room was very clean and comfy, the bathroom was clean (although a little shabby). Although we knew it was a shared bathroom for the room we thought there would be more than 2 bathrooms available for the all of the rooms. Since the toilets were not seperate to the bathroom there was sometimes a wait, and there was not a bathroom on our floor (the top floor). It was very loud at night as its above a bar/club, this didn't bother us however as we were out till late, but would not recommend to someone who is looking for a an early quiet night. Overall, its fine for a no frills basic clean hotel in central Cambrdige, however, we used a voucher from this website to pay for it. If we had paid the full price we may not have been so satisfied.

Partner

4/10

Poor

02 Sep 2014

John

Comfy Beds - Bad Location

Although situated at the very center of Cambridge, the rooms are on the first floor of a Cafe/Restaurant. Combined with the nearby Wetherspoons makes the surrounding noise from people immense, especially on the weekend until late at night. Service was good though.

8/10

Excellent

01 Sep 2014

Don

The good and the bad

Super English breakfast included. A bit noisy on rooms in front due to bar. Shared bath ok but shower head hard to keep attached. Friendly and helpful bartender slash hotel front desk. TV was basically a prop since no cable to plug in it.