University of Cambridge Museums

From Egyptian coffins and giant whales to dinosaurs and Greek gods, the University of Cambridge Museums represent the UK’s highest concentration of internationally important collections outside London. With more than five million works of art, artefacts, and specimens, the collections span four and a half billion years. Our museums are a great place to discover something new, take time away from the hustle and bustle, or spend time with the family; and with the exception of the Botanic Garden, all of our museums are free to visit.

There are eight Museums within the consortium (in addition to the Botanic Gardens). There is a brief description of each one below:
The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology documents 2 million years of human history through artefacts and stories.
The Museum of Classical Archaeology displays plaster casts of the some of the most iconic sculptures from classical antiquity.
Kettle’s Yard is a gallery of modern and contemporary art, housed within the former home of an avid collector.
The Polar Museum documents the history of polar exploration and displays the clothing and equipment used by explorers.
The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences contains thousands of fossils of animals and plants that illustrate the evolution of life in the oceans, on land and in the air.
The Museum of Zoology showcases the diversity of animal life from moths to monkeys, mammoths to manatees!
The Whipple Museum of the History of Science displays a vast array of scientific instruments dating from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The Fitzwilliam Museum houses over half a million artworks and artefacts from around the world.

The Museums run a variety of educational and creative events for both adults and children. Visit their website for details of upcoming events (there may be a charge for some events). There is also a collection of fun learning activities inspired by the University collections that you can do from home. There are opportunities to volunteer within the Museums, most often as front of house or engagement volunteers, responsible for welcoming visitors. For details of current opportunities visit the volunteering section of their website.

Locations:

- Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street, Cambridge
- The Polar Museum, Lensfield Road, Cambridge
- Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, Cambridge
- Museum of Classical Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge
- Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Free School Lane, Cambridge
- Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge
- University Museum Of Zoology, Downing Place, Cambridge
- The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge