Between two busy days in London, I had a free day to explore from my base in Letchworth. I often stay there or in Stevenage which are both convenient for the East Coast Main Line. Where to go? I took the local Great Northern train bound for Cambridge, ready for a day of discovery. It’s a fair step into the City, so I took the Stagecoach bus to the central bus station at Drummer Street. I had decided on a day of discovery of the University museums, all but one free, peppered with glances through the cloisters of various colleges and finishing with Evensong at King’s.
First stop: the Cambridge University Museum of Zoology. Walking through its hallowed halls, I was greeted by the silent majesty of towering skeletons and intricate dioramas. The specimens, preserved with meticulous care, told stories of evolution, adaptation, and wonder. From the enormous polar bear to the delicate flutter of butterfly wings, each exhibit sparked a sense of awe that only a museum of this calibre can inspire.
Next, I wandered over to the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, where curiosity met craftsmanship. Ancient astrolabes, intricately designed telescopes, and early scientific instruments transported me to a time when the cosmos was a puzzle waiting to be solved. The quiet atmosphere was a perfect contrast to the bustling streets outside, allowing a leisurely exploration of humanity’s quest for knowledge. Globes on the top floor were a delight.
A short stroll brought me to the Fitzwilliam Museum, a treasure trove of art and antiquities. Marble sculptures, Renaissance paintings, and gleaming silverware dazzled the senses. I lingered before works by masters long gone, imagining the hands that created them and the worlds they once knew. The Fitzwilliam’s grandeur is matched only by its welcoming sense of curiosity—it invites you to linger, to learn, to dream. Good café too for a late lunch.
My cultural journey continued with the Polar Museum, a stark and fascinating reminder of human endurance in the world’s most extreme climates. Arctic expeditions, frost-bitten relics, and tales of survival left me both chilled and inspired. The bravery of explorers past seemed almost tangible as I moved from one display to the next.
I had a choice of Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, or the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, both closing at 5pm, and chose the Sedgwick where the deep past unfolded beneath my feet. Fossils of prehistoric creatures, shimmering minerals, and geological maps offered glimpses into Earth’s immense history. Walking among these relics, I felt a profound connection to the vast timeline of life on our planet.
I had managed to visit five of the seven University museums in the time available. You might prefer to visit the Museum of Classical Archaeology, with its casts of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. The Botanic Garden is open daily but has an admission charge of £8.
By late afternoon, it was time for something truly magical: Evensong at King’s College Chapel. The soaring Gothic architecture and ethereal choral harmonies created an experience that transcended the ordinary. Exiting via the famous Backs, I paused to watch the gentle undulations of the River Cam, and the young people punting along it, even in December. A short walk brought me to Queens’ College, where I caught the Whippet bus back to the station for my return train.
Cambridge in winter time has revealed itself as a city of intellect, history, and beauty in a single day. Five museums and one transcendent Evensong had made the visit a perfect tapestry of learning and wonder, mostly in the warm and for free on a bracing winter’s day.
