Cambridge is the prettiest city in England. Even alumni of Oxford will sometimes admit, grudgingly, that this is indeed so. In recent years, however, Oxford has had one advantage over its great rival: an exceptional hotel in the city center, namely the Old Bank Hotel on High Street. Now it seems that Cambridge too may soon be able to boast a property potentially of the Harper standard. The University Arms is housed within an 1834 building overlooking a 25-acre green in the middle of the city and is scheduled to reopen at the beginning of 2018 following a $105 million renovation. The project has been overseen by architect John Simpson, who has previously worked on restoration projects at both Buckingham and Kensington palaces. The interiors are the work of Martin Brudnizki, whose talents are on display at two of London’s most fashionable restaurants, Scott’s and The Ivy.