Through the lions on Trumpington Street
A row of Corinthian columns rises straight off the pavement. This is the Founder’s Building, begun by George Basevi and finished by C.R. Cockerell. It exists because Richard, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam, left his collection and library to the University of Cambridge in 1816.
Stone lions guard the steps. Beyond the doors, the entrance hall is a well of coloured marble with a grand staircase climbing to the painting galleries. It feels more like a small national museum than a college collection, and it is laid out like one.
What’s on the walls and in the cases
The range is the point here. In one visit you move from Egyptian tombs to European armour without leaving the building. Look for:
- Egyptian antiquities: painted coffins, sarcophagi and grave goods
- Greek, Roman and Near Eastern pieces: sculpture, pottery and inscriptions
- Paintings: Old Masters including Titian and Rubens, then British and French works through to the Impressionists
- Applied arts: Chinese, Japanese and Korean ceramics, plus European porcelain
- Armour and weapons
- Coins and medals: one of the university’s major specialist collections
- Illuminated manuscripts, shown in rotating displays because they are sensitive to light
Allow two to three hours to see it properly. If you have only one hour, choose between upstairs, for the paintings, and downstairs, for the antiquities.
Beating the weekend crush
Weekends are the problem. The busiest stretch runs from 11am to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday the doors don’t open until 12:00, so that crowded stretch covers the whole of Sunday opening.
Here is how the week plays out:
- Monday: closed. This catches out plenty of day-trippers.
- Tuesday to Saturday: open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Saturday: be at the steps for 10am. You get a clear hour before the busy period starts.
- Weekdays: the easier choice if your trip allows it.
General admission is free. Some temporary exhibitions are ticketed, and the official website lists current shows and any charges. Donation boxes sit near the entrance, and many visitors leave something on the way out.
Check the signs in each gallery before taking photos, as rules can differ for loaned works. Go to the special exhibition first, while you are fresh, then explore the permanent rooms.
Getting there and what’s around it
The museum is at Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1RB. From Cambridge railway station it is about a 20-minute walk, heading northwest on Hills Road and Lensfield Road. From King’s Parade, walk south past Pembroke and Peterhouse. The museum stands right next to Peterhouse.
Street parking nearby is scarce. The city’s Park & Ride buses are the practical option if you arrive by car. Along Trumpington Street, look down at the stone channels running beside the kerb. They carry water from Hobson’s Conduit, and it is easy to step into one while looking up at the portico.
Nearby, and all walkable:
- Peterhouse: Cambridge’s oldest college, next door
- Polar Museum (Scott Polar Research Institute): a few minutes away on Lensfield Road
- Cambridge University Botanic Garden: roughly 10 minutes south
- King’s College Chapel: about 10 minutes north along King’s Parade
Frequently asked questions
When is the quietest time to visit the Fitzwilliam Museum?
Avoid weekends between 11am and 5pm, which is the busiest period. The calmer options are Tuesday to Friday, or Saturday between the 10am opening and 11am. On Sunday it only opens at 12:00, so all of Sunday falls in the busy window.
Is the Fitzwilliam Museum open on Mondays?
No, it is closed on Mondays. From Tuesday to Saturday it opens 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Sunday from 12:00 to 5:00 PM.
How long should I spend at the Fitzwilliam?
Allow two to three hours to see both the paintings upstairs and the antiquities downstairs. With one hour, pick just one of the two.
How do I get to the Fitzwilliam Museum from Cambridge station?
It is about a 20-minute walk via Hills Road and Lensfield Road to Trumpington Street. Parking nearby is limited, so drivers usually use the Park & Ride buses.
What else is near the Fitzwilliam Museum?
Peterhouse is next door. The Polar Museum on Lensfield Road is a few minutes away. The Botanic Garden and King's College Chapel are each roughly a 10-minute walk, the garden to the south and the chapel to the north.
Plan your trip to Cambridge
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