Visit Us

Following the Government announcement, museums and galleries in Cambridge will be closed to the public as part of a period of national restrictions. We plan to reopen on Tuesday 18 May. 

Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00

Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays: 12:00 - 17:00

If you would like to borrow a Museum wheelchair, please also reserve this when you book your ticket.

Visitors will be able to follow floor markings to help them move around the collection, and we are asking visitors to keep left and move in a clockwise direction, and to always keep two metres away from others. The length of an average visit is approximately 2 to 3 hours, during which time it is possible to see a wide range of objects in the collection.

Our staff will be wearing face coverings for everyone's safety, and we require our visitors to do the same. If our visitors are exempt from wearing face coverings, for whatever reason, we will issue them with a new Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard which they can wear while in the Museum and take away with them when they leave. This will be recognised by our staff who will not challenge the wearer about not wearing a face covering during their visit.

Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard discreetly indicates to people around the wearer, including our Museum staff who have been trained to recognise it and what it represents, that they need additional support, help or a little more time. Since its launch in 2016, it has now been adopted globally by major airports and venues and in the UK in an increasing number of small and large businesses and organisations. 

The Fitzwilliam Museum has been awarded the Visit Britain We’re Good to Go Industry Standard mark. This means we have followed government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, have a Risk Assessment in place and a process to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

Museums and galleries now have a legal duty to have to have systems in place to obtain contact details of everyone over 16 years old for NHS Test and Trace, and to display the QR code ​poster for the NHS Test and Trace App. In line with government guidance, please be aware that when you visit the museum, you will need to either scan the NHS Test and Trace app or provide the name and contact details for everyone in your party over the age of 16.

If you are using the Museum's Courtyard Café operated by Tate Eats, please note that everyone's contact details for NHS Test and Trace must now be collected SEPARATELY for Café patrons, and you are legally required to provide these details either through the system provided by Tate Eats or by scanning the NHS QR code. Café staff are legally required to refuse service to any prospective Café patron who refuses to do this.

Risk Assessment - PDF

Naturally the situation may change at short notice, and we will be following the latest government guidelines at all times, so please check back here before your visit for the most up-to-date visitor information.

For enquiries about existing bookings or if you do not have access to the internet to book admission tickets online please email: tickets@museums.cam.ac.uk or ring us on 01223 333230 during normal museum opening hours.

• When you arrive at the Fitzwilliam Museum, please enter through the Courtyard Entrance gates (the left side as you are looking at the front of the Museum) where our team will be there to welcome you. Your visit starts at the Courtyard Entrance and our floor plan will help guide you through the Museum. Nearly all our galleries are open, except those which are shown as closed on the plan.
   
• Please have either a paper printout of your ticket or be ready to show this on your smartphone for scanning.
   
• As you enter the Courtyard Entrance, a hand sanitising station is available, so please sanitise your hands.
   
• The only toilets on site will be the ones in the basement level at the Courtyard Entrance (the ones at the Founder’s Entrance are not in use) so we recommend you visit the facilities at the Courtyard Entrance at the start or end of your visit.
   
• Our regular visitors may notice some differences to what is on offer to families. Currently Fitz Kits, activity boxes, story starters, drawing materials and our baby play mat are not available to borrow. Free family trails continue to be available. We suggest bringing your own paper and pencils if you want to draw in the gallery.
   
• Visitors will be able to follow floor markings to help them move around the collection, and we are asking visitors to keep left and move in a clockwise direction.
   
• You will be asked to observe social distancing from others throughout the duration of your visit, and you may be asked to wait until others have moved on before proceeding into the next room.
   
• To reduce risks for all our visitors, large print label books have currently been removed from the galleries. The large print label texts are available to download in advance of your visit from our Access page.
   
• If you feel unwell at any stage during your visit, please alert a member of staff immediately so we can assist you.
   
• After your visit, you can exit the museum using the Courtyard Entrance. 

Courtyard Café & Shop

Courtyard Café

The café is open and only taking card payments at present. We are currently serving a range of cakes, pastries, wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups, hot and cold beverages. Only card payments are being accepted at present. We look forward to seeing you. 

Shop

Access guide

The Fitzwilliam Museum has worked with AccessAble to create an accessibilty guide, available online or as an app. Please follow this link to access the guide.

Visual Story

Please click here to download the Fitzwilliam Museum Visual Story to help plan your visit.

Access into and around the Museum

Currently access to the Museum is only via the Courtyard Entrance, which provides street level access through automatic double glass doors, and is accessible from the Citi bus stop directly outside the gates to the museum. The Main Entrance to the Founder's Building of the museum is currently exit only. It is reached by a flight of 18 stone steps from street level. From this entrance, visitors have either to climb 24 stairs to reach the upper galleries, or descend 16 stairs to reach the lower galleries.

Lift

Lift to all floors is located near the Courtyard Entrance and visitors can access the galleries on the ground floor, and galleries on the upper floor. The education suite with seminar room, studio, schools cloakroom and lunchroom is located on the lower ground floor, close to the Courtyard entrance. Please only use the lift if you have mobility issues or have a pushchair, and only one household or social bubble at a time.

Wheelchairs 

Available at the Courtyard Entrance for visitors' use. Please book your wheelchair ahead when booking your ticket. 

Seating

Available in many of the galleries and portable stools are available at the entrances on request.

Assistance dogs

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and dogs for the disabled are welcome at the museum.

Lavatories and baby-changing facilities

Located near both entrances on the lower ground floor, including accessible toilets. 

Cloakroom facilities

Available at the Courtyard Entrance, open 10.00am - 4.50pm Tuesday - Saturday and 12.00pm - 4.50pm Sunday. There are a very limited number of self-service lockers at the Courtyard Entrance. These are 42cmx25cmx45cm and require a £1 coin for operation (returned after use). Due to space limitations, we regret that we are unable to accept the following: Items larger than Maximum size 56x45x25cm or Maximum weight: 10kg or Suitcases, Pushchairs, Shopping trolleys, Scooters, Fold-up bicycles, Musical instruments.

In the interests of security it may be necessary to conduct bag searches. To help to ensure the safety of our exhibits visitors are not permitted to carry items on their backs. Bags and other items larger than 31x25x10cm (except wheelchairs, mobility aids and pushchairs) may not be taken into galleries, but can be taken into the Courtyard Shop and Courtyard Cafe. All items deposited in the lockers are left at the owner's risk and should be collected before leaving the museum. The Museum reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to vary or alter these conditions without prior notice.

Verbal Description & Touch Tours

Led by a member of the Museum's Education department these 'Making Sense' tours combine the opportunity to touch selected objects on display with visual description. The tours can also include audio description of paintings. If there are specific objects or paintings that you would like to find out about, this can be discussed when arranging your tour. Currently, we are unable to offer touch tours but please be in contact if you would like to organise a tour with visual description.

To find out more please contact the Outreach and Access Officer: Tel: 01223 764392 or email education@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk.

Look Think Do

Activities for schools and families designed as a starting point for looking, talking and doing together while the Museum is closed. Some of the objects featured in Look Think Do are not currently on display in the museum.

Find out more

The Fitzwilliam is a great place to bring children. Entry is always free (including special exhibitions), though you must now book a ticket in advance. You will see paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs and more. Don’t feel like you need to see the entire Museum in one day. It’s a big place and worth many visits. We do have free family trails but we suggest bringing your own paper and pencils if you want to draw in the gallery.

Before you begin:

• Bring your own drawing materials (pencils and coloured pencils only)
• Pick up a map and family trail at the entrance desk
• Help us keep the artwork safe by not touching or climbing on objects
• Always walk, don’t run.
• Please don’t eat or drink in the galleries
• Children under 14 must always be accompanied by an adult
   
• And remember, Front of House Staff & Security Guards protect you and the art; please respect their requests

Ideas for your visit:

• Sketch: Using paper and pencils, sketch what you see in the galleries.
• Imagine: As you look at paintings, imagine the sights, sounds, and smells you would experience if you stepped inside. Try striking a pose like the sculptures you see.
• Search for colours, faces, crowns, or animals; choose a culture to explore (ancient Egypt, medieval knights). Not sure where to start? Pick up a trail or Fitz Kit at the information desk and search for objects by theme.
• Play a gallery game. For example, “I spy”, or a memory game together. Look at a work of art for a few minutes. Then, turn around and describe what you saw.
• After Your Visit Discuss together each person’s favourite object or gallery. Create a work of art together when you get home.
• Come back for more!

Eating: During the reopening period our café provision will be more limited. During weekends and most school holidays the schools lunchroom is available for visitors to leave buggies but not as an eating space at this time. Visitors are welcome to enjoy packed lunches on the grass outside the museum.

Bags and Pushchairs: There is level access at the Courtyard Entrance for families with pushchairs or those who need disabled access. Buggies are allowed in all galleries, but unfortunately not back-pack style child carriers. Secure facilities for coats and bags are available at museum entrances. Buggies and pushchairs can be left in the school lunchroom during weekends and for most days during school holidays at the owners own risk. Please check at the information desks for availability.

Nursing: Unfortunately we do not have a dedicated space for breastfeeding. Many families prefer the café.

Baby-changing: Located near both entrances on the lower ground floor, including accessible toilets, except at The Founder's Entrance.

In the interests of the safety and enjoyment of all our visitors we ask you to observe the following:

1. We have a very limited supply of lockers, so do not bring anything you cannot carry with you around the museum, and only hand carry backpacks and small bags will be permitted.
2. Our staff will be wearing face coverings for everyone's safety, and we require our visitors to do the same. If our visitors are exempt from wearing face coverings, for whatever reason, we will issue them with a new Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard which they can wear while in the Museum and take away with them when they leave. This will be recognised by our staff who will not challenge the wearer about not wearing a face covering during their visit.
3. Hand sanitiser is available on arrival and at various points throughout your visit.
4. Only use the lift if you have mobility issues or have a pushchair and only one household or social bubble at a time.
    
5. Umbrellas may not be taken into the galleries. The Museum does not accept responsibility for items left in the lockers.
    
6. Please do not smoke anywhere in the Museum buildings.
    
7. Sketching is allowed in the galleries provided the galleries are not too busy. When sketching, please be aware of other visitors and make sure there is no risk to people or works in the gallery. No pastels, ink or liquid colour, including oils, may be used.
    
8. In accordance with government guidelines, if you are feeling unwell, or are living with someone who is displaying symptoms of Covid-19 please delay your visit. You can find out more about the current guidelines on the gov.uk website.

Please do not:

1. Get too close or touch any picture, its frame, glass, or label or any other object.
2. Use a mobile telephone for making or receiving calls. Phones and tablets are permitted for photography and messaging, but please keep mobiles on silent and use earphones for audio material. (Full photography policy below).
3. Bring food and drink for consumption in the Museum.

Read also our Policy on Photography in the galleries

We regret that from time to time some galleries are closed to the public for refurbishment or redisplay - we are sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Long-Term Closures

Gallery 1 

Gallery 2 (British art 1801-1900)

Gallery 32 (Rothschild Gallery of Medieval & Renaissance art)

Gallery 34 (Fans)

Short-Term Closures

On Tuesday 8 June and Thursday 10 June the Faculty of Education with our Learning Department will be holding sessions in the following galleries between 10.00 and 12.30 and may need to close the galleries temporarily:

Gallery 3, 5, 19, 20 and 31.

The Founder's Entrance will reopen on 24th May. 

In addition, individual pictures and objects are sometimes sent on loan to other museums. It is also necessary from time to time to change the contents of a display or remove items for conservation. If you are planning to visit the Museum to see a particular item, please check in advance that it is on view by contacting: reception@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk.

Access to study rooms and research visits

The main focus of the Fitzwilliam Museum at present is on the safe reopening of gallery spaces for public visits. The University is working towards reopening its workplaces by the autumn, and protocols for safe working in non-public areas of the museum are in the process of being developed. Our study rooms will remain closed until those protocols are in place. Once we are in a position to open study rooms and allow research visits behind the scenes, our priority will be to facilitate visits that had been booked in prior to the necessary closure of the museum (provided that the proposed visitor is in a position to come to the museum), with new visits to be fitted in around those within safe working practices.

Guided tours of the Museum are not currently available.

For any enquiries about group bookings please contact us here.