Cambridge’s museums are always excellent, but become even more exciting under cover of darkness!
On Wednesday 19 February, University of Cambridge Museums’ annual Twilight at the Museums is back. Fifteen local museums open their doors after dark, welcoming explorers of all ages to wander the darkened galleries by torchlight. Offering free drop-in and bookable activities, along with outside entertainment and refreshments, there’s plenty for all the family to enjoy. Many of the venues are only a short walk apart, meaning that – between 4.30pm and 7.30pm – you can wander through whichever Twilight events take your fancy.
At the Museum of Classical Archaeology, you can uncover The Secrets of the Statues, before heading down the road to the University Library to find out more about the world of trailblazing women. If you happen to be in the Downing Street area, there’s plenty for you to see; Whipple Museum of the History of Science has some illuminations and projections on show from sundown, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology’s masks and headdresses are dazzling after dark and the Sedgwick Museum has a fantastic collection of fossils. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also an array of animals to discover at the Museum of Zoology.
A selection of stories, interactive theatre and sensory activities will take you on a journey through light and dark at The Fitzwilliam Museum, or there’s the illuminated Glasshouses at Cambridge University Botanic Garden just down the road. There, you can find out more about the seriously strange side of plants.
The Museum of Cambridge is hosting some spookily haunted happenings on Castle Street, with Kettle’s Yard offering clay-clad sensory fun in an especially themed trail just next door.
Down the road you’ll find a UV torch trail at All Saints Church, or you could head to Great St Mary’s Church for an atmospheric twilight discovery.
If you plan on wandering a bit further, how about ‘shining a light’ on the Cambridge Museum of Technology’s marvellous machines? There’s also a chance to learn about light’s mysterious qualities with some hands-on science at the Cambridge Science Centre.
There are additional activities at the Polar Museum on Lensfield Road, as well as more events at venues further afield. The Cromwell Museum, Chatteris Museum, The Norris Museum, Wisbech & Fenland Museum and the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art are all offering events for you and your family to enjoy.
Susan Miller, University of Cambridge Museums Events administrator, says: “Twilight is one of our most popular family events and it’s easy to see why! It’s an evening that brings the whole city to life and the atmosphere is always brilliant. The event offers a great opportunity to explore our museums in a fun, out-of-the-ordinary context. This year, we would love to encourage families to seek out somewhere new – we have some real treasures to discover. We are proud to offer such a rich variety of activities for free.”
Twilight at the Museums is set to be a fun-filled evening of after-hours exploration. You can download a copy of the what’s on leaflet from the University of Cambridge Museums’ website.
