Set in the heart of lively Porter Square, this unfussy hotel is ideal for city explorers, placing you a few steps from the subway and a mile from Harvard Square. Rooms are clean, comfortable, and kitted out with flat-screen TVs, work desks and free WiFi. There’s a peaceful patio garden in which to escape the city buzz, plus valet parking if you’re arriving in your own transport. For bigger city action, Boston’s just a 20-minute drive away.

You can’t get much closer to Harvard than this – just a two-minute stroll from campus, this easy-going Victorian inn offers a base for exploring Cambridge that’s both practical and not short on character and charm. The rooms are simple and traditionally styled, with private bathrooms, cable TV, air-con and free Wi-Fi. Guests enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast and free parking – a rarity in the area – plus access to a public library and swimming pool just across the street. Harvard Square, the T subway station, the Fogg Museum and plenty of cafés are all within easy walking distance.