Cambridge is a wonderful city to discover something new. The University of Cambridge alone has eight museums (plus a botanic garden), so around every street corner there’s a nugget of knowledge to find. You can reach Cambridge by train with CrossCountry, just hop aboard a service from key locations like Leicester and Peterborough.
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam Museum is perhaps our most well-known pick. The building, inspired by Greek and Roman architecture, offers an outstanding collection of fine art, antiquities, and rare artefacts. Inside, you’ll find everything from Renaissance masterpieces and Impressionist paintings to ancient Egyptian coffins. It is one of the many fantastic free things to do in Cambridge, so why not keep coming back and learn something new every time?
The Fitzwilliam Museum is great for families too, with a range of kid-friendly events taking place throughout the year. For example, Play Make Saturdays take place once a month in the museum’s Creative Studio. These are a fantastic opportunity for little ones to play with new materials and craft something from nothing.
Cambridge Museum of Technology
Located in a Victorian pumping station, the Cambridge Museum of Technology invites visitors to learn about sewage! Walk among beautifully preserved, brightly coloured engines and boilers that would have kept Cambridge’s water supply clean and safe from 1894 all the way to 1968. Highlights include the Print Room, where you can see a real vintage printing press, with demonstrations taking place on the second Sunday of each month.
The museum also holds special Steam Days, when their old North Hathorn Davey engine is brought back to life, and spectators can witness the marvellous machine working as it would have done many years ago. It’s a joyfully unique angle from which to learn about the history of Cambridge.
University Museum of Zoology
For anyone curious about the natural world, the University Museum of Zoology is the perfect place to learn something new and discover more about the world around us. Its extensive collection includes everything from delicate insect specimens to the enormous skeleton of a fin whale suspended from the ceiling.
Entry to the Museum of Zoology is completely free, and it’s a wonderful place for children to learn about the animal kingdom. Be sure to check out one of the museum's Animal Tails sessions for children aged 2-5. Upcoming events include exploring the wildlife of the Arctic and learning about animal sounds.
The Centre for Computing History
The Centre for Computing History is perfectly placed in Cambridge, as the University of Cambridge started using computers in scientific fields in the early 1950s, with the EDSAC 1, becoming one of the first universities in the UK to do it. On a visit to this fascinating computer museum in Cambridge, you’ll see vintage computers, classic arcade games, and early home consoles.
Exhibits delve into the evolution of computing, from a time when machines took up a whole room to the handheld devices we use today. Be sure to exit via the gift shop for a treasure trove of retro gadgets and apparel.
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology tells the human story across thousands of years and many different cultures. Its collection holds artefacts from all over the world, including from nearby Roman cemeteries. Multiple excavations have contributed to building this impressive archive, and it’s truly the perfect place to learn about our long and storied history.
One of the most interactive ways to enjoy the archaeology museum is by taking on a trail. The Beneath Our Feet trail explores the archaeology of Cambridge and the surrounding areas, and the Overlooked Treasures puts a spotlight on those artefacts that are often missed but have a wonderful story. You can find past trails on the museum’s website.
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
The Sedgwick Museum is the oldest of the University of Cambridge’s museums, exploring the world of geology. Browse minerals, rocks, crystals, and an extraordinary collection of prehistoric fossils. We particularly recommend making time for the Staff Favourites tours. These are free deep dives into some of the exhibits that the staff at the Sedgwick Museum love to talk about, giving you the chance to experience something amazing that you might have missed!
David Parr House
For a more out-of-the-box museum experience, pay a visit to the David Parr House. David Parr was a Victorian decorative artist who embellished his modest terraced house just as he would have the churches, civic buildings, and mansions throughout his career. The house has been preserved in all its beauty, and you can still visit it today.
The David Parr House also holds workshops throughout the year, teaching valuable arts and crafts skills like screen printing, embroidery, traditional sign writing and etching.
If you’re planning to visit some Cambridge museums, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
Info
At the time of publishing, all information given is correct. Details of events, businesses, and locations included may be subject to change by third parties. Please make sure to check any details with organisers before you travel.
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