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Travel bucket list idea:

Last updated: 27 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Annabelle Thorpe

World-class art without world-class crowds, the Fitzwilliam houses a spectacular collection of artworks, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts and sculpture.

Galleries filled with paintings by the French Impressionists open into rooms of sculpture from Ancient Greece and Rome, while the manuscripts collection includes autographed music by Handel and Purcell and handwritten drafts by Thomas Hardy and Virginia Woolf.

It’s particularly welcoming to families, with trails and activities to get kids involved and interested.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Cambridge is about 1.5 hours by car from London. There are excellent train connections from London King’s Cross, taking approximately 50 minutes.

Check the website to see if tickets must be booked in advance. There are only guided tours for groups, but you can download a map from the website.

The museum’s own Courtyard Café is a pleasant space with a spectacular glass ceiling, offering light lunches and snacks all day.

When to do it

The museum is open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday.

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Cambridge

Cambridgeshire , United Kingdom (UK)

Exterior view of historic Cambridge college with green lawn in front

A picturesque, charming city steeped in learning, architecture and history. It’s home to two world-class art museums and one of the world’s oldest and most famous universities.