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Clare College, Cambridge (Cambridge)
Stay in the second oldest of the University Colleges, founded in 1326 and situated either side of the River Cam.
Summary
- 17th century buildings
- Breakfast included
- Free public car parking (nearby)
- Minimum age 16
Facilities
- Free broadband access
- Shared gardens
- Luggage storage
- 24 hour security
- Linen included
- Towels included
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Food and Drinks
- Continental breakfast (included)
- English breakfast (included)
Nearby recreations
- Pub (walking distance)
- Museums (walking distance)
- Historic houses
- Gardens
- Golf course (a short drive)
- Tennis courts (a short drive)
- Recommended restaurants (walking distance)
- Theatre (walking distance)
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Introduction
Clare College is Cambridge's second oldest College, boasting 17th century architecture and gardens just a 5 minute walk from central Cambridge with sites either side of the River Cam.
The College was founded in 1326 and was the first of the Oxford and Cambridge foundations to provide for a Master, Fellows and Scholars in a single community. It remains today a society of teachers and students brought together by a common interest in learning, teaching and research.
Please note: We are unable to accept bookings for stag and hen parties or similar.
History to the present day
Clare College is the second oldest of Cambridge’s thirty-one colleges. It was founded in 1326, and generously endowed a few years later by Lady Elizabeth de Clare (Lady de Burgh), a granddaughter of King Edward I (1272-1307).
In 1336 King Edward III (1327-77) granted licence to his cousin Elizabeth de Burgo to establish a collegium (the word originally meant ‘a corporation of scholars’). Although it was in the first instance referred to unspecifically as 'the House of the University of Cambridge', it became known as Clare Hall as early as 1339.
Food and Drinks
A full English breakfast is served in Old Court Buttery each morning from 7.45-9.00am. This is a 5 minute walk from Memorial Court.
For guests at the Colony, breakfast is either served on site or at Old Court depending on the time of year. You will be notified of this when you arrive at the College.
Grounds and gardens
The gardens of Clare College are some of the most admired in Cambridge and reflect a beauty and repose which belie their position, situated as they are in the middle of the city. Sited on the ancient fenland and bounded on three of its four sides by dykes and on the fourth by the River Cam, the garden stands as a fine example of a twentieth century English garden.
Our gardens are open from the end of March to the end of September.
Other facilities
Free wired broadband in bedrooms.
Parking is available. If you would like parking, please make a note in the Additional Information section of the booking form.
Arrival information and how to find us
Address: Memorial Court, Cambridge, CB3 9AJ, United Kingdom
PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE SITES.
Address:
FOR MEMORIAL COURT ROOMS: Clare College, Memorial Court, Cambridge, CB3 9AJ. Please note if you are using a sat nav this postcode will take you to the rear of the College. Please do not park in the University Library car park.
Once you get to Queens Road just follow that along the backs until you reach a black and yellow sign saying Clare College, Memorial Court. This is the main entrance.
FOR COLONY ROOMS: The Colony, Chesterton Lane, CB4 3AA. A room key or access card will be issued. This Porters' Lodge is open 7am - 11pm. Please let us know in the additional notes if you will arrive outside these times.
If you arriving by taxi to the Colony, please ensure you advise your driver that your destination is on Chesterton Lane and not Queens Road.
Check in: from 3.00pm. Check out: by 9.30am on weekdays and 10.00 on weekends.
On Arrival: Visitors register at the appropriate Porters' Lodge, where a room key or access card will be issued. Rooms will be available from 3pm on the day of arrival. Please note delegates should register at Memorial Court or the Colony and not at Old Court, Trinity Lane. Please note a £20 charge will be made to your credit card if your room key is not returned.
Parking: Parking is available at no extra charge at a car park in Adams Road which is approximately 7 minutes walk from the College. The post code for the car park is CB3 0EQ. If you require parking, please make a note in the additional notes box.
Security: The College gates will normally be locked at midnight but the Memorial Court Porters' Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day. It is strongly recommended that delegates lock their rooms at all times. The College is not insured for loss or theft of any items belonging to visitors to the College.
Cycles: There are cycle racks at the front of Memorial Court where delegates are welcome to leave their bicycles. Please note that the College cannot accept any responsibility for bicycles and delegates should ensure they use a secure lock. Cycles may not be taken through the College grounds or courts.
How to Find Us:
By rail: Cambridge Station is about a 25 minute walk from Clare, but buses run every 8 minutes into the centre of Cambridge and taxis are available for hire at Cambridge Station.
By road: Cambridge is linked to London and the M25 by the M11 motorway. Exit at junction 12 for Barton Road or Junction 13 for Madingley Road.
By coach: There are frequent services between London's Victoria Coach Station and Drummer Street Bus Station in Cambridge. Most services will terminate from Cambridge Bus Station, from here it is only a 5-minute walk to Clare Old Court.
NB: If taking a taxi from the city centre, be sure to ask to be dropped off at Clare College, Memorial Court in Queen's Road.
More photos of Clare College, Cambridge
You can be assured of a warm welcome
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Autumn at Clare College
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Scholars' Garden
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Clare Bridge
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The Fellows Garden
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Fallen Warrior
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The Great Hall
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The Great Hall
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Clare Bridge at sunset
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People by the River Cam
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Bicycle by gate
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Breakfast is served in the Buttery
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Customer feedback
We guarantee that all our feedback is genuine and can only be submitted by people who have booked through our websites.
Mr Rink Gercama, April 2012: A very enjoyable stay. Good service and a fine room!
Mrs Lucy Thompson, March 2012: More than excellent, actually. Delightful staff from booking to breakfast, including a confirmatory email just beforehand with helpful advice and map, enormous airy room, wonderful building, beautiful surroundings, peaceful. Delicious breakfast. Couldn't have been better.
Ms Jenny Glover, March 2012: This was the perfect accomodation for me and I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the facilities, location and ambience of being able to stay here.
Dr Claire Brierley, January 2012: Had a very pleasant stay and will use this service again.
Ms Gretel Watson, January 2012: A very enjoyable stay - the porters at Clare were tremendously helpful and charming. I certainly preferred the experience to staying in a hotel.
Dr Amish Vora, October 2011: Excellent stay enjoyed it. Will visit again with family.
Mr Keith Mears, October 2011: We had a wonderful stay at Clare College.
Mrs caron chalmers, October 2011: Porters at the College were very nice and helpful. The accomodation was a very good standard and the beds were comfy. The shower and toiletries were better than most hotels and it certainly was better than B&B.
Mrs Davina Rees, October 2011: Rooms clean and comfortable - towels changed daily. Kettle, tea and coffee supplied.
Porters very helpful.
Miss Claire Crisford, October 2011: Great stay, location and value for money. Highly recommend it.
Prof valerie worth, September 2011: Very pleased with the arrangement. (I did not take breakfast, so can't comment on this). Shower worked perffectly, room very clean and well provided. Situated conveniently for town, and a fair price. I'd definitely use this system of b+b again.
Dr Dora Wood, September 2011: incredibly impressed with the website and ease of booking.
Mr Matthew Harwood, September 2011: Very friendly and helpful staff, and a great overall experience.
Dr MOHD. IRFAN QURESHI, September 2011: The porters were of great human nature, very helpful and guiding.
Hope to visit again!
Thanks and greetings!
Irfan
Mr Timothy Hearn, September 2011: An absolutely brilliant experience, cannot think of anything to criticise, will be booking with you again in the very near future.
Mrs Pamela Taylor, September 2011: We had a lovely time, thank you. The porters were friendly and very helpful. No problems at all.
Mr Eugene Suggett, September 2011: The room was a good basic one like you'd expect in university accommodation, looking out on to a pleasing 1920s court. It was very clean. Checking-in was quick and the Porter in Clare Memorial Court was very friendly, helpful and courteous. We enjoyed the breakfast in the college buttery (for veggies, it was a good deal better than many b&b establishments). Just what we were after; many thanks.
Mr Sam Glen, August 2011: Much nicer than a chain hotel and good value for money - especially for single guests.
Mrs Waltraud Gasch, August 2011: The room was alright for one night. For several nights, I would recommend choosing an ensuite room. The breakfast was very good, freshly cooked, very good range of choice. In fact, it was better than in two 4star hotels I stayed in the following week!!!!!
Miss philomena creffield, August 2011: I will be booking rooms again, it is great value and a superb setting.
Mrs Hazel Burnham, August 2011: Room only - no breakfast included. Very happy with booking and accommodation was what we expected. Very convenient for central Cambridge and close to our daughter, living in Old Court.
Mr Martyn Keys, August 2011: I was very impressed by the accomodation, breakfast, and the helpful and welcoming attitude of all the staff members I encountered. Thank you very much for making it a lovely stay.
Mr Simon Brooks, August 2011: An enjoyable stay in the heart of cambridge
Ms Julie Sykes, August 2011: overall I thought the service was great and the accomodation met my needs - I would definitely use the site again
Ms Miriam Tuazon, August 2011: I would stay at your facilities again.
Miss Ellen Milner, August 2011: A bar of soap in the bedroom would have been appreciated/gel in the shower. Overall the stay was fine for my purposes (overnight stay after a wedding) and good value for money for accommodation in Cambridge.
Mr Denise Katchadourian, August 2011: Very nice...I will come back...
Ms Tania Thach-Xuan-Ky, August 2011: We had a very pleasant stay. it was lovely to be inside one of our historic colleges. Thank you.
Mr Jonathan Horrocks, August 2011: I cannot comment on breakfast as I did not have any. The room was spacious and comfortable. The college itself very peaceful and beautifully kept. A very pleasant stay.
Mr Hamish Thompson, July 2011: Booking was very easy and quick. Room was spacious and clean. Service at the college was excellent. Breakfast was average, but still fine. Overall it was well worth the cost.
Tim Flew, July 2011: Very trouble-free booking. Thank you.
Miss MIKU HIRATA, July 2011: It was wonderful experiment to stay at Cambridge accomodation!!
Mrs Joan Rush, April 2011: I enjoyed my stay at Clare College very much. It was a lovely experience.
Ms Louisa Francis, April 2011: Excellent service and accommodation.
Dr Alan Kirby, April 2011: I hope to be back!
Dr Saruhan Mosler, April 2011: I enjoyed staying in the Clare College, very friendly service
Dr Maria Vargas, April 2011: The porters were very kind and helpful. I expected to have breakfast in the hall. Instead we had it in the cafeteria...
Mr Oliver Davies, April 2011: Would use again - prob the best way to stay in Oxbridge!
Mr Douglas Lewis, April 2011: I really enjoyed my stay at Clare(Memorial Court). The porters & staff were friendly & helpful, the room was spacious, comfortable & very clean with coffee & tea making facilities, towels & shower gel satchets(which were replaced if used the next morning) excellent breakfast, free parking is available, if like me you come by car which was a big plus, so to sum up I would highly recommend Clare College if you are coming to Cambridge to visit.
Mr Richard Williams, April 2011: As a University College, you would not expect the room standard to be that of business rooms from the large hotel chains, however we were incredibly surprised at the high standard and size of the room allocated to us at Clare College.
The Porter at the front reception was a pleasure to talk to and a wealth of knowledge of the College and the wider City of Cambridge. The breakfast in the College Buttery was a great experience, although portion sizes of the cooked breakfast were a little small - staff were very friendly and helpful however, so I assume they'd have been fine if we asked for more!
Being based in Clare College, we also had free access to this College's grounds, which in spring/summer are absolutely fantastic due to the Fellow's Garden being planted with a wide variety of spring bulbs and summer plants.
Lorenzo Dematte', April 2011: Room had a funny smell, I wasn't expecting to share a bathroom (it was ok, it was a bathroom for 4/5 rooms), but the settings (the college) was amazing. Breakfast was very good!
Mrs Anna Daurio, April 2011: We enjoyed our stay at Clare College. Everyone we met was helpful and friendly.
Mrs Ursula Potts, April 2011: The staff was helpful and friendly throughout and we had a very enjoyable stay. When the occasion arises we will definitely come back to Clare College.
Judy Simon, April 2011: Thank you for a great experience at a wonderful college
Nick Manning, March 2011: A great place to stay for a visit to Cambridge
Ms Li Chan, March 2011: My neice and sister had a wonderful experience and the Porters and students were extremely helpful.
Mr ALAN CLELAND, March 2011: If you want to see and experience Cambridge then a room at Clare College is the way to do it. You are not only at the centre of things but it makes you feel a part of it in a way that no hotel could possibly match. Well done and very many thanks.
Alan Cleland
Estelle Wishart, January 2011: would recommend to others and very useful to have car parking provided.
Richard Barnes, January 2011: Enjoyed the stay - room a little too warm overnight!
Elshad Valiyev, January 2011: Very nice!
Mererid Hunt, January 2011: An excellent contribution to our 2 day visit. We now want to do the same in Oxford.
Marcel Aries, December 2010: Perfect place to stay
Sharon Hill, October 2010: Being in the centre of Cambridge was a great experience. The room was great but there was no breakfast which was a disappointment since early breakfast on a Sunday AM was hard to find. We did find a good spot about 8 blocks away but nobody we talked to knew were we could go.
Kathleen Bachtell, September 2010: The facilities at the Colony were lovely - just missing an alarm clock. The Memorial Court dorms were obviously a good deal older and understandably less pristine. Overall I enjoyed my stay very much and would be delighted to return some day.
Schulz, Marcus, September 2010: I enjoyed the breakfast very much. The atmosphere in the College was very nice with its beautiful garden and its bridge across the river Cam. The room was cosy.
Lisa Bateman, September 2010: The staff in the porter's lodge were very helpful and friendly
Nicola Davis, September 2010: The whole stay was very good - very central location, clean and great value for money. Our only problem was that check out was so very early, 11am would have been more acceptable.
Susanna Taylor, September 2010: Really enjoyed the stay! Staff in the porter's lodge very friendly and helpful. My only 'complaint' would be that soap/shower gel/shampoo was not provided in the rooms as well as a towel. Because it was advertised as B&B I expected shower gel or similar to be provided and so hadn't brought my own with me.
Mark Skivington, September 2010: Comfortable and modern room in a great location. Good value considering the proximety to central Cambridge.
Terry Rudd, September 2010: We had a very enjoyable stay in clean and comfortable room. In addition to bed linen and towels, facilities included soap, shampoo and tea making equipment and supplies. Very friendly and helpful staff. Breakfast not included.
Chris Myers, September 2010: This is a beautiful and quiet location,hard to believe it is only five minutes from town.
Dr Mark BRosnan, September 2010: There was nothing wrong with it. its was fine, clean - but basic. No frills, and no tv. For those who do not know what 'the Colony' means, it is disappointing to find yourself not in Clare College. The photo implies you will be, but you're not.
Gary Smith, September 2010: We had a very happy and comfortable stay in a very clean room. I have paid far more for far worse hotel rooms. Only problem was a leaky shower door which we advised the porter of.
Thank you very much - we will definitely be back.
Christian Saller, September 2010: It was interesting to stay at Clare College. The standard of the room was authentic and gave a good impression of students housing. If you don't expect a high standard Clare is a good place to stay.
Graham Smith, September 2010: Terrific venue + very close to town centre. We were attending a concert in Kings College Chapel, where our son-in-law was playing. Just a short walk from Clare.
Mudit Ravindrakumar, August 2010: We booked 2 large twin en-suite rooms for a night at Clare College. We had a great time staying here.
The booking process was easy on the Clare College website and the person on the phone was very pleasant and helpful when I called up with questions. The porters at the college were cheerful and helpful - allowed us an early checkin and late check-out which was very nice.
The college is a great place to stay in - esp. as it is in the centre of the town where we wanted to be and the stay included access to Clare College grounds and gardens which are absolutely lovely.
My only gripe: The rooms, though huge (the large twin ensuite had a lounge area + bedroom), are pretty basic (one bed was a guest bed not a proper bed and the room is done-up in a rather cheap way). This'd be standard for a college hostel I presume, but then you'd expect better for the price (or a lower price for this type of room).
Clearly the price is largely for the location and excellent external surroundings rather than in-room comforts.
Susan Foxall, August 2010: We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The morning porter was delightful and went out of his way to help us and be helpful. I would recommend this site and the Cambridge b &b to friends.
Paula Greenlees, August 2010: My daughter and I stayed in Memorial Court, Clare College. The porters were so friendly and helpful. On our arrival the porter was cheerful and made sure we knew our way around. We were very pleased with our room. It was very quiet, and we had a twin room plus a sitting room, (a set), which I discovered later was first year accommodation in the college. We had plenty of space and slept very well. The pillows were a bit on the thin side, but that was fine. I think it is important to remember that one is staying in student accommodation, not an hotel. It was so convenient to be in the centre of Cambridge, as this made our stay easier, as we had lots of errands to do. Breakfast wasn't included, but that didn't matter; there was tea and coffee, and we went to EAT in Lion's Yard to have breakfast. We also had college passes so we could walk through Clare and visit the chapel, library and gardens. I would stay again, but my only reservation would be about staying during term time. Having had a daughter who was a Cambridge student, I know how noisy halls can get with doors banging during term time. Memorial Court was well designed, so maybe this wouldn't be as bad as some accommodation. Thank you to the porters!
David Thomson, August 2010: Enjoyed the stay. Just as good as, if not better than, staying in a B + B.
Dr Judith Frost, August 2010: Everything about the stay was terrific. Only two exceptions: the mattress in the room was very poor, uncomfortable and did not meet the excellent standard of the rest of the accommodatons. I can't comment on breakfast as none was included. I would gladly stay at Clare again. Lovely and helpful staff and lovely accommodations.
Margherita Poggiali, August 2010: The morning in which we stayed there there was no breakfast served, which was a disappointment, as we were looking forward to dine in the hall, but also because we were not offered a discount.
We also had to check-out too early (9:30am), which is not average time for checking out.
The staff however were very friendly, nice and helpful and the rooms were exactly what we expected - students rooms, just vacated. Clean, tidy, and with a touch of nostalgia.
Ursula Engelhardt, August 2010: We enjoyed the experience of "living" in Clare College - although for 2 nights only!
Peter Bolton, August 2010: Very helpful porters. Thanks
Hugh Butland, August 2010: I would rate all aspects as very good, esp. value for money.
john nash, August 2010: Clare College is an excellent place to stay, being close to the Backs and King's Parade but well away from the hustle and bustle of the centre of Cambridge.The room was fairly basic but it was fine for a short break.The provision of soap in the room would be a useful extra.The Porters were very helpful and friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Cambridge
george emney, August 2010: I will certainly do this again!
regards
George Emney
Mrs Jean C Bateman, August 2010: Didn't know till we arrived that we had to walk quarter of a mile to breakfast, good job it wasn't raining! Very basic accommodation, dripping taps, porters very helpful.
RUTH OGDEN, August 2010: My sister and I had the most enjoyable stay and were very reluctant to leave! Only comment would be that the beds were not the most comfortable. Please thank the porters for being so helpful and courteous. I would recommend a stay at Clare to friends, and I hope to return myself one day.
Andrew Berry, August 2010: Great value accommodation and a very satisfactory experience. The room was clean, well furnished and much larger than I expected, although I'm glad I read in previous comments that no soap is supplied despite there being a washbasin in the room; I took my own so no problem there. The cooked breakfast was delicious and the grounds are very pleasant indeed. The porters were friendly and helpful. I will definitely stay here again next summer if I come to Cambridge.
Anna Wyse, August 2010: Great that we were able to park, thanks for accomodating
Martin Key, August 2010: Very clean, simple room. Pricey but excellent location
Jessica de Ridder, July 2010: Arrived to find our twin bed room only had one bed! It was quickly fixed by the staff adding a bed to the room. The room was basic and a little stuffy, but this was easily fixed by adding some flowers and letting some fresh air in. Claire is perfectly situated, and benefits greatly from having beautiful riverside gardens! The breakfast was lovely and freshly cooked. When staying in Cambrige the best place to be is in a College, with access to the grounds thrown in with your room rate. We had a wonderful time and would stay in a uni room again!
Miss A Braithwaite, July 2010: Very helpful Porter - no request too much trouble
Dr Robin Thomas, July 2010: The Porters were excellent, the room was clean and it was great to have the opportunity to stay in Clare.
Rosemary Stevens, July 2010: No breakfast on Sunday (I was aware of this from website)
Very helpful when I left my chequebook in porter's lodge.
Alec Graham, July 2010: I enjoyed the college immensely. Just one small thing that would help - soap in the room itself. I forgot to bring mine and it would have been useful rather than to keep going to the bathroom on the lower floor.
Linda Jones, July 2010: we were very impressed with the whole experience
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