Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge

Summary

• Breakfast included
• No car parking
• No smoking

Facilities

• Gardens
• Squash court

Drinking and dining

• Self-catering facilities
• Continental breakfast (included)
• English breakfast (included)
• Dinner available (at additional cost)

Nearby recreations

• Recommended walks
• Pub (walking distance)
• Museums (walking distance)
• Historic houses
• Gardens
• Tennis courts (walking distance)
• Recommended restaurants (walking distance)
• Theatre (walking distance)

Sidney Sussex College is pleased to offer a variety of ensuite and standard accommodation in the unique historic surroundings of a traditional college in the heart of Cambridge. 

''Sidney is idyllic: very central, beautiful gardens, great facilities, a beautiful chapel, and all among a friendly and welcoming community''

The accommodation we have available is used by our students during term time and is pleasant, simple and clean standard or ensuite single bedrooms.  

Each bedroom will have a wash hand basin and you will be provided with towels and soap. Bathrooms are shared unless you are in ensuite rooms. Each day your bedroom will be cleaned by our Housekeeping staff. Bedrooms have tea and coffee-making facilities.

The College does not operate in the same way as a hotel, but we can promise to provide you with stunning architecture steeped in history, atmosphere and a very friendly service.

Information for guests wishing to visit the College is available here. 

Bedrooms can be chosen within the grounds of the College in either Blundell Court, Garden Court , or Cloister Court 

We also have bedrooms located outside of the College just 300 yards out of the main gate in Cromwell Court

History to the present day

Founded in 1596 Sidney Sussex is a very well-kept secret - whether it is Elizabethan brickwork, charming Cloister Court, the haunting Chapel, exquisite Rococo Hall, medieval cellars or beautiful ancient gardens - they all lie behind a rather self-effacing wall of Roman cement. Sidney's history is an even better-kept secret including the precise point at which Oliver Cromwell's head is buried. 

As one of the smaller Colleges, Sidney Sussex has a strong community spirit and is known for its warm and friendly welcome to visitors.

Dining and drinking

All rates include a 'Porters' breakfast (a generous serving of a full English breakfast) prepared by the College’s award winning chefs served in the magnificent dining Hall. Breakfast is served from 7.30 - 9.00am each day with the exception of Sunday when it is served from 8.30 - 10.00am. 

Group dinners may be arranged in advance (please make your request in the Additional Information section of the booking form).

The College student bar is not open out of term, however, due to our city centre location there are numerous pubs located only a short distance away from the College.

Grounds and gardens

Sidney Sussex has two outstanding courtyards surrounded by Grade 1 listed buildings dating from 1596. The small and friendly atmosphere of the College can be sampled in the Fellows garden and Cloisters Court where guests can sit and enjoy the peace and quiet in magnificent surroundings.

Photographs of the College and grounds taken by Adam J Nall.

Other facilities

Wireless internet access is only available in ensuite bedrooms in Blundell Court and must be requested in the Additional Information section of the booking form.

We have a single squash court in the college grounds, available free of charge.  Bookings should be made on arrival at the Porter's Lodge, although you will need your own equipment. 

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Sidney Sussex College, Sidney Street, Cambridge, CB2 3HU

Check In: From 12noon - 11pm Check Out: By 9.30am

• Guests should check-in at the Porters' Lodge at the front of the College (opposite Sainsbury's on Sidney Street).
•  The Porters' Lodge is open for check-in and check-out between 06.00am and 11.00pm. Outside these times, a night porter is on site to deal with emergencies only.
• The main gate by the Porters' Lodge is closed at 10pm. Room keys also unlock the wicket gate (the small door within the main entrance gate). If you arrive to check in and the gate is locked please telephone the Porter (01223) 338800
• Rooms are available to check in from 12noon on the day of arrival. On the day of departure, guests are required to vacate bedrooms and return keys to the Porters Lodge by 9.30am to enable the rooms to be serviced for incoming guests.
•  We regret that we do not have facilities to store guests luggage.

Please note that, despite their title, College Porters do not carry guest bags.

More photos of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge

Garden View	Sidney Street	Cloister Court in the snow	College Entrance
Standard Room in Cromwell Court	The corner of Chapel Court	Chapel Entrance	The Classical Gate
Fellows Garden	Garden View	The Cloister	Cloister Court
A garden view	The Master's Lodge	College Chapel	Blundell Court

Customer feedback

We guarantee that all our feedback is genuine and can only be submitted by people who have booked through our websites.

Hilmar Schaefer, September 2010: A public internet terminal for guests would be a great addition to your otherwise excellent service. I enjoyed my stay very much!

cheung a, August 2010: I started out looking for UK campus boarding experience and had my expectation fulfilled with one full of history and tradition. The accommodation whether for tourists (who know what they asking for) or students is beyond value for money. The room (and every room as I can see) has exclusive private view to the garden as the results of a nicely planned / natural foilage. one can sit and read next to the window without worrying being seen from outside. The seats in the guests' garden are thoughtfully placed under the tree on a gravel path. Thus, though guests cannot walk on the lawn, they can sit near it. The vegetarian sausage (VS) in the breakfast is good. Most VS is overly spiced, hard and dry. The ones in the Porter's Breakfast is different. Besides, it is obviously VS and people consume it without worry. Some VS is made to look too much like non-VS. The amount is generous and the eggs are nicely cooked. Location excellently close to everything and yet the college is well sound-proved from the busy streets. Yet to find out more about the Cromwell Wing and the haunting chapel. If more of some of such facilities can be opened to visitors... The porters I met are friendly and witty in the classic British manner.

Caroline Hawkes, August 2010: 3rd visit to Cambridge - 2nd to Sidney Sussex. Room even better than last year - lovely outlook over the garden. Sister-in-law disappointed by breakfast - no scrambled egg and croissant not fresh. Good coffee though!

Miss Sally Shand, August 2010: We did enjoy our stay. Just one or two comments. We missed access to any news via radio or TV. The TV room was across the road which was not enticing. I am aged 76 and found the doors very heavy to push!!! And the lack of any car parking facilities could have completely stopped us from coming. Fortunately we had a friend living in Cambridge who lent us parking space. Othersie all was really good.

Brenda Beech, August 2010: It was a lovely place to stay; central situation, friendly welcome, gloriously peaceful, basic room but a very comprehensive breakfast!

Dr. Eleanor Fisher, August 2010: Quiet and peaceful even on a Saturday night in the town centre. Meticulously clean, including the kitchen facilities. I would have appreciated a disposable bathcap!

yang yi, August 2010: fantastic place to live in at Cambridge. Central located,just opposite to the main supermarket Sainbury. walkable distance to King's college and other symbolic resorts. Great breakfast in an antique hall offer you a range of food. And the service girls are super-friendly in particular. Definitely will stay there again if I am back to Cambridge. Strong recommended!

Norma James, August 2010: I would certainly recommend University-Rooms.com and will be using the service again in the future.

Johan T du Toit, August 2010: My only gripe was that internet access had to be arranged in advance, which is archaic and rather inconvenient for travelers needing to log in to confirm flights and other travel plans, manage e-mail, etc., especially since internet cafes are almost non-existent in Cambridge. A simple wireless (wi-fi) service would make all the difference. But overall it was an excellent overnight experience, and the breakfast was great!

john kane, August 2010: excellent on all aspects. will definitely recommend your facilities to any potential visitor to your city. j.kane.

Wong Kar Yan Alice, August 2010: The wireless internet access is the first thing to attract me for booking the ensuite bedrooms in Blundell Court. Given its central location within Cambridge campus, it is a better deal than I can ever get from the conference event held at New Hall!

Michael Hepworth, August 2010: really enjoyed the stay. room overlooking garden excellent. shower nice and powerful. college central with beautiful chapel. would definitely come again. a small caveat: why no veggie sausages? they are cheap and easily available these days.

corinna elsenbroich, August 2010: Lovely place to stay - lovely rooms and the porters are extremely friendly and helpful!

Angela Shaw, August 2010: My room had a quiet garden view & the housekeeping staff happily attended to my requests. The college is in an excellent location.

Yee Lee, August 2010: Excellent central location directly opposite Sainsbury's to stock up on any midnight munchies or essentials. Shops, bars, clubs and restaurants on your doorstep! If coming by car then can park in the nearby Park Street car park, although this can work out rather expensive; lots of parking restrictions so probably best to avoid driving. Lovely, hearty full English or Continental breakfast in beautiful, Harry Potter-esque hall.

Gunn Irene Stenberg Benkow, July 2010: We had a plaesanr stay i Cambridge, and my son cant wait to start studying in your university. Thank you for all your help! mrs Benkow

Lynda Leslie, July 2010: I'm so glad I chose to stay here rather than a single room in a hotel. This was so central, so much cheaper and so interesting.

Mrs Julie Poole, July 2010: loo/shower floor below, and had to queue both mornings by sitting on staors to shower. Key problem both nights trying to gain entry even with spare from lodge, but not that inconvenient! The view over the garden and being in the heart of the city made the lodging superb. My daughter was at Sidney and so it was great to return after 20 yrs or so, to attend the grad of another daughter [PhD!] Many thanks, Julie Poole, St Andrews

Shengya Zhang, July 2010: nice room except far away from the porter's lodge.

Mr Clive Nicol, July 2010: Hello Was very nice overall. Just a fraction overpriced - but then again in a great location so I am sure many will continue to be ok with it :0) The only point - the radiator was fully ON, as opposed to fully OFF - my fault for not noticing till morning... I thought it was just the hot weather - but I still slept well. Thanks, Clive Nicol

Ranald Barnicot, July 2010: Generally very comfortable accommodation in beautiful surroundings.

Helen Gale, July 2010: We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the college; the room, breakfast and service were excellent. It would have been nice to have a shower on the same floor rather than having to go down 2 flights of stairs.

Jane McKeever, July 2010: Had a lovely stay. Perfect location, porters were great and the rooms were really clean. Could have done with hangers in the wardrobe.

Lisa Lees, July 2010: Portering staff were excellent. Very friendly, helpful and knowledgable about the college and town in general.

Jonathan Rees, July 2010: Hi It was a great treat to stay in Sidney and be able to wander the quads, and the porter was really friendly and helpful. The real downside for me was that the room was absolutely sweltering, the noise from the street below was dreadful, and I hardly slept ! The weather isnt your fault of course, but the roof must be poorly insulated! I will come again, I had a great weekend, but will be sure to request a room away from the top floor and facing inwards! Thanks for asking, Regards Jonathan