Cambridge

Sedgwick Museum

University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ
Tel: 01223 333456    Fax: 01223 333450
E-mail: sedgwickmuseum@esc.cam.ac.uk
Web: www.sedgwickmuseum.org

One of the University's many hidden treasures, and actually its oldest museum, the Sedgwick is packed full of fossils with over 1 million in its collection. These range from the earliest forms of life over 3000 million years old through huge ammonites, giant marine reptiles, dinosaurs and a hippopotamus only 125,000 years old from the nearby Barrington gravel pit, a striking testimony to climate and environmental change. The museum started with Dr John Woodward's bequest of his fossil collection in 1728 (it's still on display in its original cabinets) and includes Charles Darwin's Beagle rocks. A stunning new mineral gallery shows minerals and gemstones in all their colourful glory.

Cambridge & County Folk Museum

2-3 Castle St, Cambridge, CB3 0AQ
Tel: 01223 355159
E-mail: info@folkmuseum.org.uk
Web: www.folkmuseum.org.uk

The Cambridge & County Folk Museum has been open to the public for over 60 years, providing a fascinating insight into the history of Cambridge for local people and tourists alike. The Museum is housed in the former White Horse Inn, a timber-framed building, the earliest parts of which date back to the late 16th century. It is located in the most ancient part of Cambridge, just a few minutes walk from the centre of the City. For 300 years people of every walk of life sought refreshment and rest at the White Horse Inn, giving the museum a unique, friendly atmosphere. The busy and varied displays introduce you to some of the colourful individuals from fen, college and market.

Kettle's Yard Museum

Castle St, Cambridge, CB3 0AQ
Tel: 01223 352124    Fax: 01223 324377
E-mail: mail@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk
Web: www.kettlesyard.co.uk

Kettle's Yard is the former home of Jim and Helen Ede and houses the fine collection of art, from the early part of this century, which they gave to the University. Artists represented include Ben Nicholson, Christopher Wood, Alfred Wallis, David Jones, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. There is a separate gallery for exhibitions of contemporary art, which are widely advertised and detailed on the website. Each exhibition is accompanied by a lively programme of lectures, workshops and discussion groups.

Imperial War Museum

Duxford Airfield, The Airfield, Duxford, Cambridge, CB2 4QR
Tel: 01223 835000    Fax: 01223 837267
E-mail: duxford@iwm.org.uk
Web: duxford.iwm.org.uk

During WWII Duxford was one of the most important air bases in Britain, and planes flying from here played a major role in the Battle of Britain. Today Duxford houses the largest collection of historic aircraft in Europe, ranging from WWI vintage biplanes to Spitfires, Concorde's and Gulf War jets. The collection of planes is augmented by several special exhibits, including The American Air Museum, which boasts the largest collection of US aircraft outside America. There is also a British Aircraft Collection, Battle of Britain Exhibition, Naval Collection, Royal Anglian Regiment Museum, and tanks, trucks and artillery in the Land Warfare Hall. Finally, 'The Forgotten War' Exhibition looks at WWII in the Far East, with special attention on the war in Burma. Duxford frequently hosts air shows and special events throughout the year.

Cambridge Museum of Technology

Old Pumping Station, Cheddars Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8LD
Tel: 01223 368650
E-mail: museumoftechnology@ic24.net
Web: www.museumoftechnology.org

The Cambridge Museum of Technology is based in the Old Pumping Station with the original pumps and boilers and many other engines. There are a number of hands-on pumps, a printing room, a collection of early Cambridge wirelesses, instruments and other local artefacts.

University Museum of Zoology

Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ
Tel: 01223 336650    Fax: 01223 337779
E-mail: umzc@zoo.cam.ac.uk
Web: www.zoo.cam.ac.uk

The University Museum of Zoology displays a great range of recent and fossil animals, emphasising the structural diversity and evolutionary relationships among the animal kingdom. The collections were accumulated from 1814 onwards, and include many specimens collected by Charles Darwin. They are now housed in a spacious modern building on two floors. The lower gallery presents a striking array of mammals, many as mounted skeletons which are appreciated as much by art students as biologists. This gallery also houses a near-comprehensive display of British birds. The upper gallery houses systematic displays of the major animal groups, exhibits that trace the origin and evolution of land vertebrates (not just dinosaurs!), and a notable collection of beautiful shells. To find the museum, look for the spectacular whale skeleton, hung above the entrance and visible through the archway from Downing Street.

The Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey

Ely Rd, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB5 9PQ
Tel: 01223 860988
E-mail: f.m.denny@tesco.net
Web: www.dennyfarmlandmuseum.org.uk  

At the Farmland Museum:
Discover farming through the ages and learn about the rural history of Cambridgeshire with interactive and object displays for all ages. Visit a village shop and see a magnificent 17th Century stone barn and the workshops, which include a basket maker and a blacksmith. Explore a traditional Farmworkers Cottage and a Fenman's Hut.

At Denny Abbey:
Explore this lovely abbey still featuring superb Norman interiors. At different times, it housed Benedictine monks, the Knights templar and nuns of the Franciscan order, the Poor Clares. See the Franciscan nuns' refectory of the mid 14th Century and the rooms converted for their founder, the Countess of Pembroke. Learn how Denny has evolved through the centuries with our displays and children's activities.

Whipple Museum History of Science

Free School Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3QA
Tel: 01223 330906    Fax: 01223 334554
E-mail: hps-whipple-museum@lists.cam.ac.uk
Web: www.hps.cam.ac.uk

The Whipple Museum is a pre-eminent collection of scientific instruments and models, dating from the Middle Ages to the present. Microscopes and telescopes, sundials, early slide rules, pocket electronic calculators, teaching and demonstration apparatus, as well as laboratory equipment, are included in this outstanding collection. The main gallery of the Museum is housed in a large hall with Elizabethan hammer-beam roof-trusses, built in 1618 as the first Cambridge Free School. Two other galleries have recently been redesigned: 'An University within Ourselves' focuses on sciences in 18th century Cambridge colleges; the 'discover' is a reference collection displaying a wide array of scientific instruments. The Museum is part of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science and plays an important role in the Department's teaching and research.

Institute of Visual Culture

Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge
Tel: 01223 350533    Fax: 01223 312188
E-mail: admin@instituteofvisualculture.org
Web: www.bureau-k.de

The Institute of Visual Culture, is a new organisation in Cambridge championing innovative contemporary art. Located in East Anglia while reaching out to the world, the Institute’s own productions: exhibition projects, research, commissions, publications and conferences both contribute and actively challenge the international discourse surrounding the practice and theory of visual art and culture today.

Wysing Arts

Fox Rd, Bourn, Cambridge, CB3 7TX
Tel: 01954 718881    Fax: 01954 718500
E-mail: info@wysingarts.org
Web: www.wysingarts.org

Set in eleven acres of beautiful South Cambridgeshire countryside, we have a gallery, several permanent outdoor sculptures, and a picnic area, so feel free to visit at any time. Our exhibitions and residencies programme is available separately, so please let us know if you would like a copy. For adults - As usual we have a varied selection of weekend workshops - all led by professional artists and with no more than six participants, they are a wonderful opportunity to learn new skills in a supportive atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. New for this programme are the Talk and Technique sessions, where you can discover the ideas and techniques used by the artists who work all year round at Wysing Arts. For children and family workshops - In response to the popularity of the last programme, we've made some adjustments to our regular activities, with The Saturday Art Club now running afternoon as well as morning sessions, and the Early Years Club moving to Saturday mornings. The holiday workshop programme ranges from puppet making through tribal story telling, and includes a workshop for 12 to 16 year olds, on graffiti art.

Conservatory Gallery & Business

6 Hills Avenue, Cambridge, CB1 7XA
Tel: 01223 211311    Fax: 01223 214588
E-mail: info@artsviews.co.uk
Web: www.businessarts.co.uk

The Conservatory Gallery is open every Saturday and the first Sunday in each month from 11 - 5 p.m. throughout the year, when a mixed collection of artworks can be viewed in the three rooms, hallway and conservatory. There are also four or five special exhibitions a year, when the gallery opens on Thursdays and Fridays as well as Saturdays and Sundays. Visitors are also welcome at any time by appointment. As well as paintings and ceramics, the gallery also features hand-made jewellery and scarves, and a wide selection of artists' cards. Sculpture is displayed in the garden throughout the summer. There is also a large collection of framing samples to choose from and we specialise in hand-stained or polished wooden mouldings. Art classes are held in the gallery (or sometimes on location) on Thursday mornings throughout term time, led by watercolorist Judith Di. (Some University museums may be closed during holidays).