Visit Us

Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00

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

CLOSED: Mondays, Good Friday, 24-26 & 31 December and 1 January

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Fitzwilliam Museum closure
In response to the impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and so as to protect the health and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and community, we have made the decision to close The Fitzwilliam Museum and its grounds from today, Tuesday 17 March, until further notice.

While the Museum is closed – our learning and event programmes are cancelled or postponed until the end of April, when we will review the situation. We will however be sharing original stories, activities and films on our social media channels. Please follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We very much hope our contributions will offer a welcome break from the news, and perhaps even some pleasure and comfort in this very difficult time. And, as ever, we look forward to reading your thoughts and responses.

Our office hours continue as 9am–5pm, Monday – Friday, with staff working remotely to continue our creative planning for the future. If you have bought a ticket to an upcoming event, you will contacted about a refund.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support of our beloved Fitz. We are determined to reopen as soon as we can, safely and responsibly. In the meantime, please look after yourselves and each other. That is what we are all going to try to do. I want to leave you with this painting from our collection - my favourite at the moment - as the first of many beautiful images we will share during our closure.

Luke Syson
Director and Marlay Curator

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Free Admission to the Museum's collections and to exhibitions. Visitors' donations help keep the galleries open and are much appreciated.

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. 

Courtyard Café & Shop

Courtyard Café

The Café serves an all-day menu including afternoon tea, sandwiches and light lunches and is a pleasant location to meet friends or take a break while visiting the Fitz. Located in the covered Courtyard area of the museum near the Courtyard Entrance it is open: Tuesday - Saturday: 10.00 - 16.30, Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays: 12.00 - 16.30. View Menu online

T: 01223 764402  E: events.fitzwilliam@tate.org.uk

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

There are two entrances to the Museum: The Main Entrance and the Courtyard Entrance.

Visitors with restricted mobility or with pushchairs should use 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 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.

Wheelchairs 

Available at the Courtyard Entrance for visitors' use. 

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 both entrances, each open 10.00am - 4.50pm Tuesday - Saturday and 12.00pm - 4.50pm Sunday. There are self-service lockers at the Courtyard Entrance. These are 42cmx25cmx45cm and require a £1 coin for operation (returned after use). There is a manned service at the Main Entrance. 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 cloakrooms 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.

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

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Look Think Do

Activities for schools and families designed as a starting point for looking, talking and doing together while the Museum is closed.

Find out more

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The Fitzwilliam is a great place to bring children when the Museum is open. Entry is always free (including special exhibitions). 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.

Before you begin:

• Pick up a map 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, 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: A children's menu is available in the café. During weekends and most school holidays the schools lunchroom is available for all visitors, particularly families, to eat packed lunches and leave buggies. Please check at the information desks for availability.

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.

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

1. Please do not bring into the Museum any large items (including large bags and backpacks), cycles or animals (except guide and assistance dogs).
2. Please use the coin operated lockers at the South Entrance for coats and personal items. The main entrance also provides a manned bag check. Umbrellas may not be taken into the galleries. The Museum does not accept responsibility for items left in the lockers or bag check.
3. Please do not smoke anywhere in the Museum buildings.
4. 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.

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 2

Gallery 11 (Arts of the 20th Century) will be used for temporary exhibitions for the foreseeable future

Short-Term Closures

Wednesday 18 March (14.15 - 15.15) - Gallery 11

Wednesday 25 March (14.15 - 15.15) - Gallery 11

Tuesday 31 March (14.15 - 16.30) - Galleries 12 & 13

Tuesday 31 March (13.00 - 14.00) - Gallery 1

Wednesday 1 April (14.15 - 15.15) - Gallery 11

Thursday 2 April (12.00 - 14.30) - Galleries 1-5

Wednesday 8 April (14.15 - 15.15) - Gallery 11

Satuday 18 April (12.30 - 16.00) - Gallery 3

Sunday 20 September (13.00 - 16.00) - Gallery 1

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.

Guided tours of the Museum may be arranged through Visit Cambridge and Beyond

Tel: 01223 791501
Fax: 01223 457588
tours@visitcambridge.org

Prices for a guided tour are £6 per person with a minimum charge of £90 for groups of 15 or more. Groups are also asked to give a minimum of £20 donation.

Saturday Tours of the Museum

One-hour introductory tours of the Museum’s collections on Saturdays at 14.30 from the Courtyard Entrance.

£6 per person; tickets may be bought from the Guide at the Museum or booked in advance via Cambridge Tourist Information Centre.