History

The original University Arms building was finished in 1834, shortly before Queen Victoria's Coronation. It started life as a small post house with fifteen bedrooms; Now, after several extensions the hotel contains 119 en-suite rooms - there have been many changes over the last 175 years.

In 1893, the hotel was the first in Cambridge to install electric lighting. Further work was undertaken in 1927 when the Ballroom, Byron and Cromwell suites were added, the Ballroom being decorated with ancient wood panels rescued from the demolition of nearby Cheveley Hall.

Famous recent guests of the hotel include The Beatles (who had to be smuggled out of the hotel in the head porter's car) and the Kray Brothers. John Cleese worked in Parker's Bar when he was a student.

The hotel overlooks Parker's Piece, famous in its own right. It was here that Queen Victoria's Coronation feast was held in 1838. In 1848 some of the earliest rules of the game of football were implemented here by Cambridge students and these formed the basis of the modern FA rules.