Where to Find Culture in Cambridge?

You don't need to stray far from Market Square to find Cambridge's 2 main theatres, but there are other popular venues off the beaten path that showcase innovative and high-quality arts.

Head to Cambridge University's ADC Theatre on Park Street to catch student productions and rising stars before they're famous and at a fraction of the cost. Don't miss the acting-themed cocktails either. Meanwhile, the modern and edgy Cambridge Junction is more than worth the short drive or bus ride from the city centre for its live music and contemporary dance shows. Parking is ample, but consider the park and ride service for an eco-friendly and cost-effective journey.

Just down the road from the Corn Exchange sits the Cambridge Arts Theatre, the second of the city’s historic theatres. Founded in 1936, many prominent British actors have trod its boards including Sir Ian McKellan, Zoë Wanamaker and John Cleese. World-class touring productions make up most of the programme, with a diverse range including dramatic plays and West End musicals.

Theatre buffs should attend one of the pre- or post-show talks for the chance to chat with directors, cast members and stage crews. You’ll learn extra tidbits about the production, and you might even hear a few industry secrets, too. Just make sure you book in advance by contacting the box office.

Another of Cambridge’s famed college choirs, Trinity College Choir has recently been voted amongst the best choirs in the world. Made up of 30 students, the group’s repertoire showcases Catholic and Protestant hymns during termtime. Outside of school, their versions of classical songs have moved audiences the world over, and you’ll be pleased to know that many of them are available on music streaming platforms.

Concerts put on throughout the year include Evensong on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, as well as performances at the River Cam, the college’s Great Court and religious events. You can find out when they’re appearing next on their website, along with details on how to book tickets.

Museums and art galleries cluster in the centre of Cambridge, many of which are free for visitors. Gallerie V on St John’s Street is an incredible collection of art from the country’s youth, while the Huntington Art Gallery features local artists in their studio within Cambs Lock.

Part of the University of Cambridge, Kettle’s Yard is the place to go for modern and contemporary pieces in a wide range of mediums. For a small fee you can explore the fantastic permanent collection in the house, curated over 16 years by an art-loving couple. To see as much of Cambridge’s art as possible, book a tour offered by companies like Cambridge Art Tours and Ace Cultural Tours.

A jewel in both Cambridge and the university’s crown, the free-to-enter Fitzwilliam Museum is a spectacle even before you step inside. Built in 1821, the Neo-classical architecture cuts an imposing figure on Trumpington Street with its grand portico and is worthy of a photograph or 2.

Inside is a treasure trove of over half a million works of art, spanning centuries of the world’s history. From fascinating Ancient Egyptian relics to crumbling manuscripts from the Middle Ages to famous works of the 20^th century, you could spend all day here and still have more to see. Make sure you check out the detailed guided tours or the monthly make and play sessions if you’ve little ones in tow.

From art inspired by video games to multimedia meditations on war, temporary exhibits at the Ruskin Gallery are designed to entertain and provoke thought. Digital and interactive artworks are particularly prominent, and the area beneath the central space is reserved for unique photography exhibits.

The gallery is located inside the Anglia Ruskin University, just a 10-minute walk from Market Square. The displays change regularly, so make sure you check their website before you visit. It’s free to enter too, though note that it’s only open during weekdays.  

The University of Cambridge's portfolio of museums spans everything from prehistoric fossils at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences to arctic explorations at the Polar Museum. Those who prefer the great outdoors can marvel at over 8,000 plant species at the Botanic Garden, while animal lovers can discover one of the UK’s most complete dodo skeletons at the Museum of Zoology.

Most of the museums have free entry, as well as special exhibits and displays at no extra cost. Entertaining events for the kids include crafts, storytelling and STEM sessions, making these university museums a fabulous and free day out in Cambridge.

A must-visit culture hotspot while in Cambridge is the university’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, found on Downing Street in the centre of town, only 5 minutes away from the main bus station. Two million years of history is reflected in over 1 million artefacts, arranged in many intriguing permanent displays and rotating exhibitions. Pride of place is given to an important collection of art from Fiji, while other exhibits include masks, statues, textiles and ceremonial objects from Papua New Guinea, West Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

One of the best ways to experience the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is by undertaking an illustrative themed trail on several exciting topics.

This quiet, off-the-beaten-track University of Cambridge museum has a remarkable collection of hundreds of plaster replicas of Roman and Greek statues inspired by the countries’ heroes and legends. The star of the show perhaps is the Peplos Kore, a vividly painted copy of a statue from the Acropolis in Athens. We also love the Roman sculpture Farnese Hercules standing at an awesome 3.15 metres. Make sure you take a selfie with him.

You’ll find a host of temporary exhibitions too, as well as lunchtime talks centred around the university’s research into the Classics. We recommend taking the intriguing Queer Antiquities self-guided tour to learn about sexual identity and identification in Greece and Rome.