Thought museums were more of a rainy-day pastime? Check out the extensive programme of free summer events at Cambridge’s many museums and you may be pleasantly surprised. Cambridge University Museums are encouraging everyone to explore their breathtaking galleries and fascinating artefacts (from ancient dino bones to retro computers) through exciting, interactive means. You could take the kids on a Roman Holiday, study old black & white photos or make your own heraldic shield…
Pick up a Museum Passport and collect stamps from every venue you explore on your Grand Tour of these magical worlds. Events are free, drop-in and for all ages unless otherwise stated.
1 August
Anglo Saxon Adventure, Ely Museum: Meet the Anglo-Saxons, who lived in Britain in the 5th century and shaped much of our modern way of life. Join in activities and crafts. 11am-4pm
3 August
All About That Fungus, Whipple Museum: Fun-guys and gals, come and examine fungi models and make your own to take home. 11am-1pm
5 August
Towers and Rockets, Museum of Technology: Design and build your very own rocket under the watchful eye of experts. Ages 7+. Pre-book. 10am-12.30pm
Create with Clay, Saffron Walden Museum: Make clay figurines inspired by the ancient Egyptians, local history and the rest of the museum’s collection. 11am-1pm, 2-4pm
Pirates Ahoy! Denny Abbey: Set sail on a search for buried pirate treasure (why do they always bury it?) and make your own pirate cutlass. Avast! 12-4pm
6 August
Get Creative with Science, Polar Museum: Science-themed story time, followed by a drawing workshop with artist Emma Stibbons. Ages 4-8. 10-11.30am
Build a Bug, Centre for Computing History: Get soldering at this workshop for aspiring engineers and create a crawling micro-bug. Ages 7+. £22. 11am-1pm
Viking Vessels, Ely Museum: Discover more about this famous seafaring race and make your own Viking long boat. £3. 10.30am-1pm
Roman Holiday, Burwell Museum (& other dates): Jump aboard the time-travelling bus and visit the Romans! See how they spent their summers and get involved with some Roman games, crafts, trails and challenges. £2. Pre-book. 2-5pm
7 August
Boxing Clever, St Neots Museum (& other dates): Make a bird box and a marble puzzle, and find out about life underground during the First World War. £3. 11am-3pm
CSI Classics, Museum of Classical Archaeology: Become a detective for the day and help solve crimes at the museum. With storyteller Marion Leeper. Ages 7-11. Pre-book. 2-4pm
10 August
Fantastic Beasts, Great St Mary’s Church: Scour the church for real and imaginary beasts, then create your own chimera champion. 11am-2pm
12 August
Glass Fusing Workshop, Stained Glass Museum, Ely Make a colourful glass panel at the Stained Glass Museum: it will be fired and ready to collect the following week. Ages 8+, £12. 2-4pm
13 August
Photographs Through The Ages, Museum of Cambridge (& other dates): Raid the dressing-up box and take a Victorian ‘selfie’ using costumes and studio backdrops, inspired by this collection of old photos. Ages 5+, £2. 10.30am-12pm, 2-3.30pm
Pop Goes the 60s, Burwell Museum: Experience the swinging 60s with costumes, crafts, lava lamps and space-age experiments, then do some disco dancing at the Burwell ‘cavern’. £2 per child. 2-5pm
14 August
Postcards from Around the World, Museum of archaeology & anthropology: Become an explorer and discover exciting new places. Get arty and make crafts inspired by other cultures. 11am-1pm
17 August
Clay Creatures, Great St Mary’s Church: Hunt for gargoyles around Cambridge, find the Green Man of St Mary’s and make a clay creature. 11am-2pm
18 August
Family Fun Day, March & District Museum: A day of fun, family activities in the Fens. 10.30am-3.30pm
19 August
Design it! Wear it! Norris Museum, St Ives: Design and print a T-shirt to take home and wear, with textile artist Ricki Outis. £2.50. 11am-3pm
Make Your Own Dino Feet, Saffron Walden Museum: Take inspiration from Jurassic World and the museum’s fossil collection and create your own stompy dinosaur feet. 11am-1pm, 2-4pm
20 August
Corn Dolly Delight, Farmland Museum (& 19 August): Learn this traditional country craft and make your own corn dolly to take home. 12-4pm
24 August
Outdoor Drawing, CU Botanic Garden: Spend time amongst the plants and flowers and pick up drawing tips from wildlife artist John Wiltshire. Ages 5-12. 1.30-4.30pm
26 August
Who Ate Harriet? Denny Abbey (+ other dates): Harriet is a hen. Was a hen. Someone ate her. Who? Piece together the clues and solve this poultry mystery. 12-4pm
27 August
Gadget Hack, Centre for Computing History: Love taking things apart to see how they work? Find out what goes on inside phones, laptops and music players. Age 7+. Pre-book. 11am-1pm
Fun in the thrifty 40s! Burwell Museum: Go back to wartime Britain and play with traditional 1940s toys, experience the blackout and more. £2. 2-5pm
28 August
Tall Tales of the Fen Tiger, Sedgwick Museum: What is the Fen Tiger? Does it exist? Examine the myth of this local legend and make up some of your own at an interactive storytelling workshop. Age 5-7. Pre-book. 10.30am-12pm
