Fitzwilliam Museum
A short stroll south of Market Square along Trumpington Street, the Fitzwilliam Museum is one of Britain's great public museums — and one of its most underrated, largely because admission is completely free. Inside a grand neoclassical building that would not look out of place on the Roman Forum, you will find ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, Impressionist masterpieces, medieval armour, Da Vinci drawi
What's Inside
The collection spans antiquity to the 20th century with remarkable depth. Ancient Egyptian artefacts, Greek and Roman ceramics and armour from the medieval period sit alongside paintings by Titian, Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir and Cézanne. The upper galleries are particularly strong on Italian Renaissance and Dutch Golden Age painting.
The museum also holds drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and illustrated manuscripts, some decorated by William Blake. Special exhibitions rotate throughout the year and are typically free to enter alongside the permanent collection — making repeat visits consistently rewarding.
After working through the galleries, the glass-roofed Courtyard Café is a lovely spot for coffee and cake. It is one of the best museum cafés in Cambridge and a welcome rest before tackling the armour collection or the Egyptian rooms.
Planning Your Visit
The Fitzwilliam is about a 10-minute walk south of Market Square — head down St Andrew's Street and continue along Trumpington Street until you see the imposing columned portico on your left. It is easy to combine with a morning at the market and an afternoon at the museum without feeling rushed.
The museum is particularly popular on rainy days, so weekday mornings tend to offer the most relaxed browsing. Guided tours are available and well worth joining for context on the headline works, but the permanent galleries are also thoughtfully labelled for independent visitors.
Fitzwilliam Museum on video
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