What to do and see in Cambridge, England: The Best Museums

An engaging museum that tells the story of a busy WW2 airfield that was used by the RAF, USAAF and Belgian Air Force and played an important part in D-day. A warm, friendly welcome awaits with lots of interesting and interactive exhibits that tell the story of the people at the airfield.

Museum houses vast collections of antiquities from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, including exhibits of English and European pottery and glass, furniture, clocks, Chinese jades, and ceramics from Japan and Korea.

Cambridge Museum of Technology is the home of our industrial heritage. Based in the city’s historic sewage pumping station, the Museum helps people to explore, enjoy, and learn about their industrial heritage by celebrating the achievements of local industries and the people who worked in them. The large site on the River Cam has green spaces for picnics and a fun, relaxed atmosphere for families. There are audio-visual displays, hands-on exhibits, and children’s activities, as well as traditional museum displays and historic buildings. The Victorian Pumping Station with its original machinery showcases 19th-century engineering and technology. Displays on the forgotten industries of Cambridge reveal an alternative side of the city’s history to the famous colleges. And the story is brought into the 20th Century with exhibitions on innovative local companies in our new building.

Discover the vibrant history of the past 300 years of Cambridge and Cambridgeshire life in a beautiful 17th century timber-framed building, the former White Horse Inn. Our objects relate to everyday lives, the customs and traditions of local people, places and events. Visit our nine themed rooms that explore a different aspect of how people have lived, worked and played since the 1660s in the city and county. Our museum celebrates the ordinary and eccentric: discover our weird and wonderful collections, from familiar household objects, paintings and toys to Fen folklore cures and remedies. Admire the crafts and skills of generations. Reminisce about our vacuum cleaners and televisions. Explore the fascinating stories of local people – find the Giant’s Boot, the prize belt of the long-distance champion of the world, witch bottles and the real Muffin Man! We’re a short walk from the city centre, through the medieval town on the River Cam and next to Kettle's Yard art gallery and house.

Come to Kettle's Yard to enjoy art in an inspiring setting. Experience changing exhibitions in our new galleries and explore a wonderful collection of art in a historic house. And it is all free. The new Kettle's Yard opened in February 2018 with galleries, creative spaces for activities and a cafe and a shop. There are free, changing exhibitions to visit throughout the year, showing artists from around the world. We also have a variety of events for all ages, from workshops to music concerts. Visit our website to find out what's on. In the House you can enjoy paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and textiles. Works of art are displayed alongside natural objects like shells, pebbles and plants to create a unique place that many enjoy for its tranquility and beauty. We offer lots of art activities for all ages. Many of these are free and drop in, with no need to book. Find out about all our upcoming events on our website.

Come to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge to see world-class collections of art and artefacts from all over the world. Objects ranging from stone tools and pots to sculptures and paintings represent cultures and histories over millennia. Great recent and contemporary works reflect the diversity of peoples worldwide, and the resilience of indigenous cultures confronted by globalisation

Cross the Silver Street bridge and stroll under the leafy canopy of Sidgwick Avenue to discover the Museum of Classical Archaeology. The collections range from enormous plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculpture to the smallest sherds of ancient pots. The casts are not mere copies, but are historical objects in their own right and many date to the eighteenth century. Traditionally, the casts formed a teaching collection but today the Museum welcomes school groups, families and many other visitors through its doors. All are welcome and admission is free. Check the website for information on tours and events.

The Polar Museum: Discover the extraordinary stories of Earth's coldest, driest, windiest, highest and deadliest places, from heroes to modern climate science. The Museum is part of the Scott Polar Research Institute, established in 1920 as part of the University of Cambridge, which is a centre of excellence in the study of the Arctic and Antarctic. Research covers both the natural and social sciences and is often interdisciplinary. The Institute also houses the World's premier Polar Library and extensive archival and photographic collections of international importance on the history of polar exploration. A range of sculptures are displayed in the Institute grounds.

This museum houses an extensive collection of geological specimens from around the world, which are used by scholars worldwide as part of their research activities.

The University Museum of Zoology is one of Cambridge's major attractions. It reopened in 2018 after a five year redevelopment programme. It offers the visitor an opportunity to explore new galleries displaying the diversity of animal life. Find out about evolution of life on earth, discover stories of extinction, survival and pioneering exploration.