The Fitzwilliam is the University of Cambridge's art and antiquities museum and one of the best free museums in England. It opened in the nineteenth century after the seventh Viscount Fitzwilliam left his collection to the university, and it now holds a vast range of objects across two floors of galleries in a grand neoclassical building on Trumpington Street. Visitors can move from Egyptian coffins and Greek and Roman sculpture to medieval manuscripts, Asian ceramics, coins and medals, then to paintings by Titian, Rembrandt and the French Impressionists. Entry to the museum and its permanent displays is free, with special exhibitions sometimes carrying a ticket. A courtyard cafe and a shop make it an easy half-day stop, and its position a few minutes from the colleges makes it a good plan B on a wet day. Because it is a university museum, it can feel calmer than the national museums in London.
Pick two or three galleries rather than trying to see everything. The Egyptian rooms are a reliable crowd-pleaser, the Greek and Roman galleries are generous and quiet, and the European paintings include some of the finest works in the east of England. Look out for the manuscripts and the collection of ceramics, which are less famous but often the most rewarding. If you like contemporary work, check the current exhibitions, several of which are free, and note that under-18s enter ticketed exhibitions without charge.
Check the opening pattern before you go. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 5pm, and on Sundays and bank holidays from midday to 5pm, with last entry around 4.40pm. It is closed on Mondays and on a handful of dates around Christmas and New Year, so a Monday visit will not work. The courtyard kitchen serves hot food until mid-afternoon and the shop has been under refurbishment, so go for the galleries first and the extras second.
Use the Fitzwilliam as the anchor of a quieter day. It is a short walk from the Lensfield Hotel and from Parker's Piece, and combines well with Kettle's Yard for an art-focused itinerary, or with a walk south to the Botanic Garden. Groups should book ahead and UK school groups visit in the mornings, so a weekday morning can be busier than the afternoon. Weekends tend to be calm after lunchtime, and the Sunday afternoon opening is a useful fallback.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit through free permanent galleries, with optional ticketed exhibitions, a courtyard cafe and a shop.
Best time
Weekday afternoons or Sunday afternoons for calmer galleries, and any rainy day in the city.
How long
Two to three hours for a good selection, or a full morning if you like to read labels.
Tips
Remember it is closed on Mondays, pick two or three galleries, and check the exhibitions page for ticketed shows.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art and history lovers, and anyone who needs a free, high-quality indoor stop.
- Families
- The Egyptian coffins and the antiquities rooms hold children's attention, and entry to the permanent collection is free.
- Couples
- A slow afternoon of paintings followed by tea in the courtyard cafe.
- Pair with
- Kettle's Yard for modern art, or the Lensfield Hotel area for dinner.
- Time needed
- Allow half a day, or two hours for the highlights.
Good questions
Is the Fitzwilliam Museum free?+
Yes, entry to the museum and its permanent displays is free. Some special exhibitions carry a ticket, and under-18s go into ticketed exhibitions free.
When is the Fitzwilliam closed?+
It is closed on Mondays and on a few dates over Christmas and New Year. It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10am and from midday on Sundays and bank holidays.
What should I see first?+
Start with the Egyptian and Greek and Roman galleries, then the European paintings. If you only have an hour, choose one of those rooms and one exhibition.
Is there a cafe?+
Yes, the Courtyard Kitchen serves drinks and food during the day, with hot food ending in the mid-afternoon. Check times on the day because they follow the museum's hours.
Can I visit with a group?+
Yes, but groups must book ahead, and UK school groups in term time are limited to mornings. Other groups are welcome in the afternoon.
