Acorn Guest House

A friendly place with comfy beds, a quiet setting and reasonable prices. It's dated, but clean, and worked well for a Cambridge stopover. They don't serve meals, though there's a traditional bakery nearby with lovely fresh sourdough and pastries, plus a café next door where you can order brunch. There isn't any parking at the property. It's on the main road, but street parking is available nearby, and it's free from Saturday evening through Sunday.

We all enjoyed our week at the Acorn this July. My husband, my sister, her husband and I were greeted by the owner in a relaxed way. He explained how to get into Cambridge and pointed out some city highlights. I already knew the city, but it was a nice refresher. The guest house is well placed, a block from a grocery store, a short walk to the pubs on Chesterton, and an easy walk to the town centre, even quicker if you cut through Jesus Green. It was unusually hot, so the rooms felt a bit stuffy. Still, with the portable fan and a breeze from the open window, we slept comfortably. Breakfast came in three options: full English, Continental, or Veggie. We tried different ones each morning and left the table more than satisfied. The owner promptly dealt with all our questions and concerns. It was a no-fuss stay.

The bed was clean and comfortable, but the shower was ice cold. There was hair around the bathroom sink taps, the bin hadn't been emptied, and the towels had stains. The shower looked mouldy and rusty in the picture. It was minging!

I was glad that check-in ran until 10pm, and the manager was calm and friendly. At first glance the room felt very British, with Victorian decor and a kettle surrounded by teabags, but it seemed oddly empty for such a small, crowded space. You might be okay if you can overlook the mould in the bathroom. Our room was right beside a construction site, only about 2 meters from the window. The guest house couldn't really control that, but it was noisy even at night. A fan attached to the building hummed all night. The bed sagged, and I could feel the springs in my back. Pro tip: the edge of the bed was comfy. The other staff were okay. The waiter was rather impersonal, breakfast was acceptable, and the cleaner was nice. The guest house is a long way from the railway station, with no direct bus. It's at least a half-hour walk if you're walking fast. From somewhere like milton road, the bus takes about 20 minutes. Keep that in mind if you plan to travel a lot.