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.
Book your free tickets here!
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.
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.
Each artwork will be for sale in the galleries. Selected works will also be available through Sotheby’s modern and contemporary sales opening in June 2026.
Encompassing painting, sculpture, photography, and ceramics this special exhibition will include work by celebrated contemporary artists Rana Begum, Antony Gormley, Jennifer Lee, Veronica Ryan, Megan Rooney and Caroline Walker and many others; as well as renowned 20th Century artists such as Ben Nicholson and Lucie Rie.
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.
Don't miss our Board Games Night! Games will be freely available to play throughout the museum and you can also bring your own.
Eat, drink and play together and also take part in a tournament of hungry hippo-sized proportions.
Attendees at the event will also have 10% off at the Museum gift shop on the evening!
And there's a bar!
Games available include:
Canopy, Birdwatchers, Ecosystem, Planet, Hive, The lost words, Tucano, Don't be a Dik Dik, Snakes and ladders (Of course), Nature Fluxx, It's Bananas, and more.....
From the domestic to the divine, this exhibition at The Fitzwilliam Museum reveals the untold stories of Ancient Egyptian craftspeople through their creations, from jewellery to sculpture, including spectacular objects never before shown in the UK.
Enjoy a bespoke guided walk around the Cambridge University Botanic Garden enjoying the beautiful sounds of spring, with staff from the Garden and the Museum of Zoology.
How do I book a place on a Touch Tour?
This tour is now fully booked. If you are interested in joining the waitlist in case of cancellations, please email: info@museums.cam.ac.uk
Free, booking required.
Join us for five inspiring talks in one day. Speakers from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science will share insights from their research and expertise for the Cambridge Festival 2026.
Drop in anytime – all talks are free and will take place in the Learning Gallery at the Whipple Museum.
What's On
Linnaeus and Clouds
