The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitzwilliam Museum might genuinely be the best museum I’ve visited in the UK and that’s a huge claim considering I’ve been to the Ashmolean in Oxford and most of the major museums in London. But this one completely stole the spotlight. The vibe, the artistry, the atmosphere… the whole place has an aura that’s almost infectious. You walk in and immediately feel the need to pause and take everything in. The café is excellent, the staff are welcoming, and the layout is thoughtful and easy to navigate. Everything feels carefully curated and immaculately presented. If I had one minor critique, it’s that the entire first section was mostly plates and ceramics. If you come from an ethnic family, you might get a few jokes about that! But moving further in, the breadth of the collection really shines. I especially appreciated the Nigerian section on the top floor—you don’t see African art well-represented in many UK museums, so it was refreshing to see it given proper space and respect. Overall, it’s a solid 10/10. An unforgettable experience and absolutely worth a visit for anyone coming to Cambridge.

The Fitzwilliam Museum is Cambridge’s cathedral of culture, a world-class collection housed in a grand neoclassical edifice that promises—and delivers—profound artistic immersion. Entering beneath its portico and ascending the monumental marble staircase prepares you for the treasures within: exquisite Egyptian sarcophagi, luminous Italian Renaissance altarpieces, and vibrant Impressionist canvases, all displayed with scholarly clarity. My foremost advice is to accept its vastness and choose a focus. Attempting to see everything leads to fatigue. Instead, select a wing—Antiquities or European Painting are perfect starts—and explore it deeply. Always check the schedule for ticketed temporary exhibitions, which are consistently brilliant. While entry to the permanent collection is free, a donation is a worthy investment in this institution. Strategically, visit in the morning when energy and light are best, and use the basement café as a restorative pit stop. The Fitzwilliam isn’t just a museum; it’s a vital counterpart to the university’s scientific and literary legacy, asserting that Cambridge’s genius is also visual, ancient, and beautifully preserved. It is, without doubt, one of the city’s essential experiences.

This is a wonderful place to enjoy historical artifacts and art pieces. The building is beautiful, and the interior is impressive. The museum staff were helpful and kind to tourists. You will see many tourists, as entrance is free, though some galleries may require a fee. The atmosphere inside was excellent. There is also a nice cafe in the museum where you can relax and reflect on your visit. Be aware that the museum shop offers a variety of gifts at rather high prices, but they are worth a look. I highly recommend this place to tourists visiting Cambridge, and I am sure they will leave with many memorable impressions.

The Fitzwilliam Museum was much bigger than I expected and definitely worth visiting. There’s a surprisingly large collection of drawings and artworks, and you can easily spend hours exploring without getting bored. I also bought a ticket for the ancient exhibition. It was quite small, but well-curated and genuinely interesting. Overall, a great experience and absolutely worth the trip. I’d recommend it to anyone spending time in Cambridge.

A true oasis of culture and beauty in the heart of Cambridge. Whenever I have a bit of time I like to walk in and get a good dose of inspiration. The museum never disappoints. The staff are lovely, helpful and friendly. I like the new, more modern display mixing various periods under different themes, it's refreshing. There are always fascinating temporary exhibitions too. The café and gift shop are also excellent. All in all, the Fitzwilliam museum is a must if you have more than several hours in Cambridge.

This is a fantastic museum and if you’re interested in art, it would be a reason enough to come to Cambridge, even if you have nothing else while you’re here. There’s a lot of nice impressionist paintings as well as other realist and pointillism from around the same time. As you could see in the photos, the Holdings for armory, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, ceramics are very extensive. I’ve got a big gift shop in a very nice little café on site as well. It’s really nice.

The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge is truly a gem—and completely free! Founded in 1816 from the personal collection of Richard Fitzwilliam, it has grown into a world-class museum with stunning collections of art, antiquities, manuscripts, and decorative arts. The building itself is beautiful, with grand galleries and a light-filled central hall. Highlights include works by Turner, Monet, and Van Dyck, as well as fascinating Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts. Every corner has something to surprise you, from delicate miniatures to imposing sculptures. Whether you’re an art lover, history enthusiast, or just curious, it’s easy to spend hours exploring. A perfect cultural stop in Cambridge, and a must-see for both locals and visitors.

Cambridge's main Egyptian exhibition is "Made in Ancient Egypt" at the Fitzwilliam Museum, focusing on the lives, skills, and everyday items of ancient Egyptian craftspeople, featuring unique objects like receipts and sick notes alongside jewelry, pottery, and sculptures, running from late 2025 into 2026. This major show highlights the makers – from stonemasons to weavers – rather than just pharaohs, revealing untold stories through rare artifacts. Key Details: Location: The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. Focus: The daily lives and work of ancient Egyptian artisans, showing their techniques and tools. Highlights: Includes objects never before seen in the UK, like ancient paperwork (sick notes, orders) and everyday craft items. Tickets: Available via Cambridge University Museums, with free entry for members, students (Fitz List), under-18s, and concessions. Related Events: Special late-night events with art, music, and workshops inspired by the exhibition are also held.

The Fitzwilliam Museum offers a well rounded and varied collection. It is sure to please most museum visitors regardless of interests. If you're a fan of the work of Georges-Pierre Seurat, you're sure to enjoy the 1884 Neo-Impressionism painting, "The Couple" (original title: Un dimanche après-midi sur l'île de la Grande Jatte). Does it somehow look familiar? This was a study for A Sunday on the Island of la Grande Jatte! "This work is one of many that Georges-Pierre Seurat made in preparation for a much larger painting. The woman's stiff posture is accentuated by her tightly buttoned jacket and the exaggerated bustle of her skirt, which echoes the curve of her parasol. Given that the area of Paris depicted here was known for prostitution, it has been suggested that the woman is a sex worker on the arm of a male client." Give yourself several hours if you plan to take in the entire collection. If you are fortunate enough to live nearby and can visit often, take your time and you're sure to fall in love with one of the many wonderfully curated items found within the museum walls.

One of the first places I ever visited in the UK, and although I didn't go in with any expectations, I left with memories that will last a lifetime. I don't think everyone will be as thoroughly entertained as I did to it still being a museum. It is still looking at history, and if you don't find that exciting or interesting at all, then this review won't change your mind. However, if you're even the tiniest bit curious about history, give it a try. Not only is the museum a highlight of Cambridge, but the diversity of different exhibits from different periods makes it one of my favorite museums in Europe. There's not much to say but tons to see, so I've included five pictures but don't let me ruin the surprise. See yourself all the things this place has to offer.

The Fitzwilliam is like a miniature version of the National Gallery in London. It's filled with fantastic art and historic pieces. Best of all, it's free! Pay a visit if you're in an artsy mood.

Cambridge, being a university town, also has a plethora of museums to investigate. with a Sunday afternoon in town, I ended up at the Fitzwilliam. I actually found it more enjoyable than the British Museum. I did briefly stop by the British Museum while in London the day prior and visited to kill some time before my ticket to the Churchill War Rooms, but it was just as I remembered from my first trip to England 12 years ago, and honestly a bit underwhelming on this return trip. the Fitzwilliam Museum has, however, what I feel is a more diverse and eclectic array of collected items representing cultural history from all over the globe, in contrast to the British Museum. put it this way - if you were able to condense The Met here in New York to a smaller size, it would be similar to the Fitzwilliam. ancient Egypt, medieval weapons, Japanese pottery, Renaissance paintings, and plenty more. somewhat eclectic mishmash but it's all well-curated and explained. it's a very spacious and grandiose museum - even with several school groups (on a Sunday!) and tourists it doesn't feel packed. you can even find some quiet corners here and there. admission is free though donations are accepted.

Saw an ex-girlfriend across the museum hall and was thinking if I should say hello, there's just so much history between us. Big like a museum you would expect to find in London. All sections and exhibitions are free. Easy to spend a few hours here. Mainly paintings, some quite renowned. Top destination if in Cambridge. Cafe inside.

Unhappy with myself for not feeling well this morning, and only getting a glimpse of this local gem, because I didn't leave the hotel until 4 PM. I made the most of my 30 minutes by looking at armor, the beautiful fan collection, and some porcelain pieces. I would love to have seen more. My only problem was that they began shuffling everyone out of the exhibits at 4:45, and closed the gift shop at 4:50. I was out the door at 4:55. Too bad for them. I could've dropped a lot of quid in there.

Amazing. The collections, performances, educational opportunities. We were there 5 times in a one month stay.

An interesting museum, well worth a look around. Beautiful architecture with plenty of roaming space so you never seem to be crowded in. Paintings by many artists, both well known and not quite so known. At times, during the year, specialised exhibits. Keep your eyes open for your own interest.

The Fitzwilliam Museum With tombs from ancient Egypt, French Rococo furniture, English portraits and about everything else imaginable, this museum is truly a treasure trove. Stairs in the entrance hall sweep you upward into the company of white, flawless statues, and take care to climb up further to the gallery where your nose can get as close as it likes to tiny and wonderful paintings. There is however no clear course through the museum which makes navigation difficult and always concerns me that I've left something out. With petty criticisms aside, I can only recommend the Fitzwilliam as a model for all museums. Big, bright, well-maintained and packed with really serious artefacts gathered from all over time and space. Watch out around the Ming Vases though - make sure your shoelaces are tied.

It's such a shame that the Fitzwilliam museum is often overlooked by the students and the tourists. It is a fabulous museum which boasts lots of art from major artists such as Picasso and Monet, and also has strong egyptology section and artefacts from the classical world. Everything there is well presented and not stuffy in the slightest. There is also something new to discover too - I have been several times but only just discovered a special room dedicated to fans, which are beautiful! They also do free music concerts on a saturday afternoon, which is worth checking out. And the tea room is marvellous there.

This is an awesome place to take young kids for an outing. Using the Park and Ride is the best way to get there, no parking issues and the stop is right outside. My 3 and 1 year old also loved the sculpture garden, so we had done two cool things before we even walked through the museum doors. The building itself is very cool, and the exhibitions are beautifully presented. Temporary exhibitions that we really enjoyed included drawings from Quentin Blake, and a room of striking Chinese porcelain. Permanent collections worth seeing include a impressive collection of Turner paintings and the French Impressionist collection. The cafe is great, very good quality food and totally set up for kids. Overall a great experience with friendly and helpful staff, I highly recommend it. Oh, and admission is free :)

This museum is hee-oo-ge, housed in a beautiful building (classical mixed in with modern), set in lovely Cambridge, and it's freeeeeeeeeee. That all sounds good to meeeeeeeeee. So much to see that we couldn't possibly pack it into one visit, but I'd definitely recommend the Treasured Possessions exhibition - it's crammed with lovely little trinkets and oddities.

We like scrumping figs off the fig tree by the entrance: tip, use an umbrella handle to pull the branches closer to you. Also, it's fun for kids to look for the fossilized shells in the stairway. The kids' packs are great.

Your experience will depend on your level of interest in their permanent collections. They have a good sections in Egyptology, arms and porcelain. Temporary exhibits too. I challenge you though to get through this place without one admonishment from a guard. It's as if they don't want you in there. The price is right though (free.)

This is a fantastic museum, it will keep anyone from children to OAPs entertained for an afternoon. There is an extensive collection of Antiquities including items from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Cyprus and more. They also have manuscripts and books from the renaissance. A collection of medievel coins, medals and tokens will capture your eye as you wander through the fantastic architecture. There is also a large collection of art which is great to peruse. They frequently have special exhibitions and events. You should check out the website to see what is up and coming. The Japanese pottery exhibition in September was stunning. Occasionally courses are also held at the museum - for example a Life Drawing class etc. I have never attended a course but have heard good reports about them.

I think it is just beautiful!!!and the building, and the museum. I saw great arts of English, European artists as well antiquities from Egypt, China, Cyprus. I think it is a great place for all ages, it is a brilliant family day out, good place to take somebody who just visiting Cambridge or UK. Loads to see loads to learn. Perfect for educational purposes as well as for simple relaxation.

Love the Fitzwilliam, as a child i used to come here on school trips, especially remember the egyptian collection with fondness, and have been back since and its a really impressive collection, Lots of other lovely items of interest here aswell as paintings and sculptures, well worth visiting, the building itself is very grand.

A wonderful, old fashioned (in the most positive sense of the word) museum with a wide ranging collection. Stroll past mummies in the recently refurbished Egyptian galleries, admire Greek statues and urns, examine suits of armour and delicate fans, and explore the large and varied art collection. The shop is an excellent place for presents, and the cafe is good, if a little expensive. Free entry makes this a great place for wet weekends, and keep an eye out for children's activity sessions.

The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, is a little treasure trove. Containing many artefacts from art including works by Monet, Degas, Van Gogh and Titian to name but a few. There are also many great finds from the Egyptian era along with some amazing armour in the armoury. This truly is one of the greatest museums in the world which has made world headlines recently due to the fact that a tourist visiting the museum slipped whilst doing up a shoe lace and landed on two priceless vases, which have now been beautifully an d painstakingly restored, to the point I could not see any sign of the repairs the last time I visited.

Brilliant art work and history, walked around here for at least a couple of hours without realising it! Cafe inside and gift shop. Both a little over priced but that iis normal of the usual coffe and gift shops inside a museum.

We love that museum! There are a lot of things to discover and you can really lose yourself in there. Before you get in, don't forget the sculptures in the garden. The museum houses art exhibits as well as porcelain, furniture, antiquities and much more. I really like the collection of Egyptian antiquities. It is not a vast collection but the things they have are well chosen. We've been there twice in three months and will probably come back again, if we get the chance.

The Fitzwilliam Museum has the double advantage of retaining the intimacy of a smaller gallery whilst still having a collection of international quality, with it's Medieval, Renaissance, and Impressionist rooms of particular brilliance. It's big enough to ensure that you can visit several times and not feel that you've completely exhausted it, particularly since there are frequent new exhibition as well as the permanent collection (I was particularly impressed by the range of the latest exhibition on Britain in the Age of Enlightenment, which managed to draw together diverse topics such as travel and politics in one relatively small but very successful room.) The architecture is also utterly awe-inspuring, from the Neo-Classical white facade to the opulence of the entrance with its sweeping staircase and dome. Don't forget to also check out the courtyard cafe, wich is particularly good for afternoon tea.