Explore the galleries of the Whipple Museum with your torch and find out more about the history of science. Discover the solar system, follow the family trail and experiment with light and shadows.
Please note that due to maintenance work this event will have no lift access and the upper gallery will be closed.
This is a drop in event, no booking required.
This event is part of Twilight at the Museums 2026.
While the spectacular Trumpington Cross can dazzle us with its garnets and gold, there are other objects in the Museum made from less ‘precious’ materials which sparkle and shine with a beauty all of their own.
Bring a torch, grab a trail, and seek out these twinkling treasures.
Free, drop-in event. No booking required.
This event is part of Twilight at the Museums 2026.
From plates and perfume bottles to teapots and tableware, take a closer look at intricately detailed, technically innovative and visually striking enamelled art objects and find out how this skilled artform was elevated to new heights.
Opening Times
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm | Sundays and Bank Holidays: 12 – 5pm
This display reveals the treasure of the Plowden songbook, a rare manuscript of 77 songs in Persian, Urdu, Classical Hindi and Punjabi, brought to life through detailed illustrations of musicians, dancers, singers and courtesans.
Opening Times
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm | Sundays and Bank Holidays: 12 – 5pm
Celebrating a career lasting nearly seven decades, our exciting display brings together a lifetime of the artist’s work.
Discover the connections between art across time and explore Bowling’s works and his artistic influences, from Titian to Turner and his contemporary Aubrey Williams to Tracey Emin.
Opening Times
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm | Sundays and Bank Holidays: 12 – 5pm
Bringing together paintings, drawings, textiles, ceramics and more, including rarely seen examples from our own collection, this exhibition offers a fresh perspective on one of the world’s most influential thinkers on art, craft and design.
Opening Times
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm | Sundays and Bank Holidays: 12 – 5pm
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.
Join us for the very first Little Stars session – a relaxed morning at the Whipple Museum. We’ll have picture books, drawing materials, and sensory play resources. We’d also love to hear what you’d like to see in future activities for little ones at the museum.
There’s no need to book, just drop-in. All welcome, especially suitable for families with babies and young children.
The day will include a discussion in the galleries around evolving performance practices.
This event is held in collaboration with Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge.
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.
