Duke House

You can stroll from this elegant B&B on the edge of Christ’s Pieces park to Cambridge’s historic colleges, just as the current Duke of Gloucester did when this Victorian house was his home. Liz and Rob Cameron have notched up ten years as owners, and Liz is an accommodating hostess, assisted by manager Tina Shannon. The guest bedrooms, each named after a dukedom, are chic and individually styled. York is small but has a lovely big bathroom. Second-floor Cambridge has a sitting room, a private balcony, space for a third guest, and a large bathroom with original wooden shutters, brass fittings and a proper stand-up shower over the bath. All rooms are supplied with fine-quality natural toiletries. Complimentary tea, coffee and sweet treats are provided in the beautiful sitting room, with its embroidered linens and subtle, powdery paint finishes. Breakfast, served on fine china, includes locally pressed apple juice, fruit compote, organic yogurt, butter, bread and granola, free-range eggs, smoked salmon, award-winning sausages. For dinner, our readers highly recommend the nearby Clarendon Arms.