FREE guided tour of the Museum. Join our expert guide as we uncover fascinating facts about the Museum, from our fin whale to the dodo and the beetles collected by Charles Darwin.
Spaces are limited so please book ahead.
Dates:
Friday, 9 January, 2026 - 15:00 to 15:45
Friday, 13 February, 2026 - 15:00 to 15:45
Friday, 13 March, 2026 - 15:00 to 15:45
What is an orrery? Why is the clock chiming 13? Why would you collect and display a set of plaster horses’ teeth, some green spectacles and several hundred pocket calculators?
Join us for a tour of the Whipple’s collection in 10 objects, featuring spectacular instruments, fascinating scientific stories, and links to some of Cambridge’s most famous names.
Meet at the reception point in the Main Gallery.
Explore a remarkable range of scientific instruments used to make sense of the world, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Discover objects from astronomy, navigation, surveying, drawing and calculation, including sundials, mathematical instruments, early electrical apparatus—and even a microscope once owned by Charles Darwin.
Plus, enjoy hands-on activities in the newly refurbished Learning Gallery, perfect for little ones — or book a Whipple Highlights guided tour. Afterwards, take home a treat from the Whipple gift shop to remember your visit.
Created by Jim and Helen Ede, the house combines their collection of twentieth-century art alongside furniture, textiles, ceramics and natural objects in what Jim Ede described as ‘a space, an ambience, a home’.
On this guided tour, get to know the story behind the creation of Kettle’s Yard, gain fascinating insights into some of the artworks and objects on display, and learn about the relationships between the Edes and the many artists in the collection.
Our Winter Garden is ablaze with colour from early December and is continually changing throughout the Winter months. Ornamental trees, striking-coloured stems, fragrant shrubs and beautiful bulbs, combine to create a Winter wonderland, even on the dullest of days.
Planted in 1979, it was the first winter garden to be created at a botanic garden in the UK and remains at the forefront of winter garden planting, demonstrating a wide a variety of plants to give as much winter interest as possible.
Our free Snowdrop Trail, available at the Garden’s ticket offices, will guide you to the Garden’s ‘snowdrop hotspot walking routes’ where you’ll see our snowdrops growing and discover more about snowdrop science, history, folklore and cultivation from information panels in these areas.
The Snowdrop Trail is free with normal Garden admission. There is no pre-booking required.
Explore our current exhibition in this free lunchtime tour.
Explore our current exhibition with exhibition artist Harold Offeh.
Explore our current exhibition in this free lunchtime tour.
Little Robin loves this time of year. She visits all the festive plants in the Garden and this year you are invited too! Make a rubbing of the plants and then take the trail home and make your own festive bauble.
Suitable for all ages 3+.
Children must be accompanied at all times.
