Summer at the Museums
22 July – 3 September 2017
www.museums.cam.ac.uk/summer
FUN FAMILY DAYS OUT FOR ALL AGES Hands-on Activities • Trails • Time Travel & Storytelling • @CamUnivMuseums University of Cambridge Museums
Discover summer adventure and fun on your doorstep From hands-on crafts and old-fashioned games, to computer wizardry and storytelling, this guide has over 120 fun, low cost, family-friendly events for all ages to choose from. So this summer, forget the long-haul flights and book in for an adventure on your doorstep.
Contents Family Events & Activities
3
Day-by-day listings of drop-in and bookable events and activities
Other Things to Do
24
Additional fun things happening this summer
Making the Most of Your Visit 26 Useful information, tips and advice
Museum Information 4
Address and contact information
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FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Family Events & Activities Day-by-day listings of drop-in and bookable events and activities
Saturday 22 July
Monday 24 July
Summer Holiday Weekend Fun National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art
Knights and Dragons Great St Mary’s Church
Drop-in at weekends over the summer holidays for a chance to groom a pony. In addition to being able to brush and cuddle the Museum’s friendly inhabitants, you’ll also learn more about their welfare and nutrition.
Hunt for dragons and design your own shield with a personal coat of arms. 1-4pm Age 6+ £2, drop-in
11am-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Sunday 23 July Summer Holiday Weekend Fun National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Drop-in at weekends over the summer holidays for a chance to groom a pony. In addition to being able to brush and cuddle the Museum’s friendly inhabitants, you’ll also learn more about their welfare and nutrition. 11am-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Tuesday 25 July Polar Play & Storytime The Polar Museum Stories of the Polar Regions with a craft-making session. 10-11am Ages 4-8 Free, pre-book: www.polarplayandstoryjuly.eventbrite.co.uk
Tea-Light Aquariums Stained Glass Museum, Ely Inspired by the Museum’s Underwater Scene glass panel, create your own aquarium-themed jam jar lantern. 10.30am-12.30pm/1.30-3.30pm All ages £3.50 per child, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
3
All Saints Church Tile Stamping
Seaside Holidays Saffron Walden Museum
Help the Church fill in some of its missing floor tiles. Design your own stamp to print onto a tile and take home.
Be inspired by the Museum’s exhibition, Completing the Look: 300 Years of Fashion Accessories, and design and create your own seaside holiday accessories to take home.
12.30-2.30pm All ages Free, drop-in
Discover the UL: Historical Printing University Library Discover historical printing at the University Library and have a go at different printing techniques using everyday items. 2.30-3.30pm Ages 6+ Free, pre-book: events@lib.cam.ac.uk
11am-1pm/2-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Thursday 27 July Coloured Glass Fusing Stained Glass Museum Learn how to cut glass then create your own kiln-fired glass artwork. 10am-12pm/2-4pm Ages 7+
Wednesday 26 July Saxon Wisbech Wisbech & Fenland Museum Travel back in time and discover Saxon Wisbech. Dress up as a Saxon and see replica objects that would have been used. Make a warrior-style helmet, write your name in runes and have a go at traditional spinning.
£12 per child, pre-book: 01353 660347
Shiny Shields and Mystical Mirrors St Neots Museum Visit the Museum’s Treasure for the Gods exhibition then make your own shield or mirror. 11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
10.30am-2.30pm All ages 50p per child, drop-in
Archaeology Day Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey Take a fantastic journey through the history of Denny Abbey. Dig through the past and discover the amazing stories of the site. 11am-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
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FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Up Close and Personal Centre for Computing History Personal computers have revolutionized our lives – but how did they become personal in the first place? Join the computing experts on this guided tour to find out more. 2-3pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Board Game Bonanza Burwell Museum & Windmill Wizard chess, real Snakes and Ladders and Burwell Monopoly… play your favourite and find a game to suit everyone.
Build your own Adventure Game Centre for Computing History Twine is a tool for creating interactive online stories. Learn to use it to build tales of dragons, spaceships or spies which your friends can then play. 11am-12.30pm
2-5pm
Ages 9+
All ages
£12 (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Friday 28 July Ammonite Suncatchers Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences We don’t know what the weather has in store this summer but the Sedgwick Museum can help you brighten up your windows with an ammonite suncatcher. After making your own, try hunting down some of the ammonites in the Museum. 10am-1pm All ages Free, drop-in
Shiny Shields and Mystical Mirrors St Neots Museum Visit the Museum’s Treasure for the Gods exhibition then make your own shield or mirror. 11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Be a Bee Cambridge University Botanic Garden Enter the world of the bee… crawl into a giant flower and join in with games and crafts to discover what makes bees our stripy superheroes. 2-5pm All ages
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Children free, normal adult admission charges apply, drop-in
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Saturday 29 July Museum Opening Weekend Norris Museum Help the Museum celebrate its opening after a major redevelopment and enjoy a fun-filled, jam-packed festival across the town. See the new galleries, meet people from history, print your own t-shirt, try out craft activities and don’t miss the parade at 2pm. 10am-4pm
Summer Holiday Weekend Fun National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Drop-in at weekends over the summer holidays for a chance to groom a pony. In addition to being able to brush and cuddle the Museum’s friendly inhabitants, you’ll also learn more about their welfare and nutrition. 11am-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
All ages F ree (some activities may have a small charge), drop-in
Saturday 29 July India Unboxed Family Festival Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology Join the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for a day-long family festival both inside and outside the Museum. Inspired by their latest exhibition Another India, get hands-on with workshops, contribute to a large-scale artwork, follow the Museum trail and enjoy music and performances throughout the day. 10.30-4pm All ages Free, drop-in Find out more: http://www.museums.cam.ac.uk/summer
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FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Monday 31 July Toying with Science Whipple Museum of the History of Science Discover the science that toy makers use to make gadgets and games exciting, unusual and experimental. Play with science toys from the past and present and make your own to take home. 11am-1pm/2-4pm All ages
Sunday 30 July
Free, drop-in
Museum Opening Weekend Norris Museum Help the Museum celebrate its opening after a major redevelopment and enjoy a fun-filled, jam-packed festival across the town. See the new galleries, meet people from history, print your own t-shirt, try out craft activities and don’t miss the parade at 2pm. 10am-4pm All ages F ree (some activities may have a small charge), drop-in
Summer Holiday Weekend Fun National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Drop-in at weekends over the summer holidays for a chance to groom a pony. In addition to being able to brush and cuddle the Museum’s friendly inhabitants, you’ll also learn more about their welfare and nutrition.
Aesop’s Forest: Don’t Do That! Museum of Classical Archaeology What have the badly behaved birds been up to in the Museum? Find out with storyteller Marion Leeper. 1-2pm Ages 3-5 Free, pre-book: www.aesop-dontdothat.eventbrite.co.uk
Clay Creatures Great St Mary’s Church
(Please note: this event takes place at Michaelhouse, Trinity Street, Cambridge) Set out on a quest for gargoyles around Cambridge and sculpt your own terrifying clay creature. 1-4pm
11am-4pm
Ages 6+
All ages
£2, pre-book: 01223 747284/01223 747273 heritage@gsm.cam.ac.uk
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
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Aesop’s Forest: the Scared Lion Museum of Classical Archaeology
Gruesome Gargoyles All Saints Church
An interactive tale for brave children and nervous animals with storyteller Marion Leeper.
Transform yourself into a gruesome gargoyle with a colourful mask then have a go at making a miniversion using air dry clay.
3-4pm Ages 3-5
12.30-2.30pm
Free, pre-book: www.aesop-scaredlion.eventbrite.co.uk
All ages Free, drop-in
Tuesday 1 August Polar Animals: Museum Children’s Tour The Polar Museum with Museum of Zoology Ever felt overwhelmed by all the exciting things in a museum? Don’t know where to look first? This tour of the Polar Museum with friends from the Museum of Zoology will help you find out all about polar animals that live in extreme environments and the creatures that lived there long ago.
Wednesday 2 August Family Engineering Morning Cambridge Museum of Technology Join the team from Cambridge University Engineering Department and work with your family to design, build and test a rocket and a towering chimney.
10-11am
10am-12.30pm
Ages 7-13
Ages 8+
Free, pre-book: www.childrenstour1st.eventbrite.co.uk
Child £1.50, adult £3.50, pre-book: info@museumoftechnology.com
Family Art Week: Big and Small The Fitzwilliam Museum
Indian Accessories Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology
Be amazed by the tiny details in the From Kabul to Kolkata exhibition and use your inspiration to paint some small and big creations. Drop-in for a henna tattoo, special family tours, and an Indian dance demonstration.
Get inspired by the amazing objects in the Another India exhibition and make your own accessories to take away.
11am-3pm All ages
10.30am-12pm All ages Free, drop-in
Free, drop-in
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FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Electronics Lab – Build an Electronic Dice Centre of Computing History A workshop for budding electronics engineers or anyone interested in learning to solder. Come and build yourself an electronic dice that will revolutionise the way you play board games. 11am-1pm Ages 8+ £26 (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
Family Art Week: Indian Coins The Fitzwilliam Museum Check out the Indian coins in the Elephants, Deities and Ashoka’s Pillar exhibition then make your own embossed coin inspired by India. Drop-in for special family tours, coin handling, henna tattoos and more. 11am-3pm All ages Free, drop-in
Thursday 3 August Conducting Carrots Centre for Computing History Have a go at playing with an ingenious device called Makey Makey that connects everyday items to a computer. Learn about the principles of circuits, resistance and conductivity. 11am-12.30pm Ages 7+ £12 (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
Ancient Beasts Ely Museum Design your own ancient beast and learn more about mythical creatures at this hands-on craft session. 11am-12.30pm Ages 5-11
Country Fun and Games Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey Enjoy an old-fashioned country games tournament. Try your hand at wellie wanging, Maypole dancing, plough racing and more. 12-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
£3, pre-book: 01353 666655 admin@elymuseum.org.uk
Family Art Week: Patterns The Fitzwilliam Museum Discover amazing patterns in the From Kabul to Kolkata exhibition then have a go at making your own with wax resist and inks. Drop-in for special family tours, Indian musical performances and henna tattoos. 11am-3pm All ages Free, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
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Gift for the Gods St Neots Museum Create a clay votive ornament inspired by those in the Treasure for the Gods exhibition. 11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Friday 4 August Country Fun and Games Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey Enjoy an old-fashioned country games tournament. Try your hand at wellie wanging, Maypole dancing, plough racing and more. 12-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Family Crafts Norris Museum Get hands-on with some special artefacts from the Museum and try out some family-friendly crafts and games. 10am-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
Design a Game Controller Centre for Computing History
Family Art Week: Animals of India The Fitzwilliam Museum
Can you use Playdoh to create a game controller for Space Invaders? How about using bananas for playing Minecraft? Do this and more using amazing Makey Makey devices.
Search for animals in the From Kabul to Kolkata exhibition then use what you have found to make your own Indian animal mask. Drop-in for family tours, special activities with the Museum of Zoology, Indian storytelling performances and henna tattoos.
2-3.30pm Ages 7+ £12, (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
11am-3pm All ages Free, drop-in
Evacuees in Burwell Burwell Museum & Windmill
Gift for the Gods St Neots Museum
Hop on the London-Burwell Express to the year 1940 and experience an afternoon as a wartime evacuee.
Create a clay votive ornament inspired by those in the Treasure for the Gods exhibition.
10
2-5pm
11am-3pm
All ages
Ages 4-11
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
£3.50, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Saturday 5 August
Tuesday 8 August
Family Saturday: Shadow Art Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Be a Bee Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Get creative with the shadows of the plants around you to make your own art.
Enter the world of the bee… crawl into a giant flower and join in with games and crafts to discover what makes bees our stripy superheroes.
11am-3pm
2-5pm
All ages Children free, normal adult admission charges apply, drop-in
Monday 7 August Experimenting Whipple Museum of the History of Science Become a real scientist for the day. Try out experiments and investigate everyday curiosities inspired by chemistry sets and at-home experiment kits. 11am-1pm/2-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
All ages
Children free, normal adult admission charges apply, drop-in
Discover the UL: Historical Printing University Library Discover Historical Printing at the University Library and have a go at different printing techniques using everyday items. 2.30-3.30pm Ages 6+ Free, pre-book: events@lib.cam.ac.uk
Stained Glass Crafts All Saints Church Explore the Church and its amazing windows then make your own stained glass window to catch the light at home. 12.30-2.30pm Ages 5+ Free, drop-in
Fantastic Beasts Great St Mary’s Church Search the Church for real and imaginary beasts and create your own ‘chimera champion’. 1-4pm Ages 6+ £2, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Meet the Romans Museum of Classical Archaeology Learn about the ancient Romans with crafts, hands-on activities, dressing up and more. All ages 1-4pm Free, drop-in
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Wednesday 9 August Family Engineering Morning Cambridge Museum of Technology Join the team from Cambridge University Engineering Department and work with your family to design, build and test a rocket and a towering chimney. 10am-12.30pm
Knight for a Day Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey Explore the lives of these medieval superheroes at this fun, interactive event. 12-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Ages 8+ Child £1.50, adult £3.50, pre-book: info@museumoftechnology.com
Indian Animals Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology with Museum of Zoology Explore the textures, colours and patterns on display in the Another India exhibition. Then use your ideas and inspiration from the Museum of Zoology handling collection to create a colourful animal to take away.
Do you know Arduino? Centre for Computing History Get hands-on with Arduino boards and experiment with controlling all sorts of things in the physical world around you. 11am-12.30pm
10.30am-12pm
Ages 10+
Ages 3-6
£12, (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
Free, drop-in
Birds In Fenland Wisbech & Fenland Museum Find out about the Fenland’s feathery friends. Make your own barn owl pencil holder, a model swan or duck collage. 10.30am-2.30pm All ages 50p per child, drop-in
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Thursday 10 August
Make Like an Egyptian Ely Museum From amulets to animals, mummies to masks, try out some Egyptian-themed crafts. 11am-12.30pm Ages 5-11 £3, pre-book: 01353 666655 admin@elymuseum.org.uk
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Blinding Binding St Neots Museum
Summer Crazes and Comics Burwell Museum & Windmill
Have a go at making and decorating your own book inspired by ancient journals.
Experience summer 20th-century style. Bounce on a space hopper, learn how to tie-dye, show off your 20th-century dance moves and draw cartoons with a comic book artist.
11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Knight for a Day Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey
2-5pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Explore the lives of these medieval super heroes at this fun, interactive event. 12-4pm All ages
Friday 11 August
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Why is the Owl Wise? Museum of Classical Archaeology with Museum of Zoology Ever wondered why Athena has her owl and Poseidon has his dolphins? Join the Museum of Zoology and explore the Museum of Classical Archaeology for animals that are much more than they appear…
Family Crafts Norris Museum Get hands-on with some special artefacts from the Museum and try out some family-friendly crafts and games. 10am-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
1-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
Up Close and Personal Centre for Computing History Personal computers have revolutionised our lives – but how did they become personal in the first place? Join the computing experts on this guided tour to find out more. 2-3pm All ages
Dots and Dashes Centre for Computing History How did we communicate before there were computers? This workshop explores how Morse Code was used to send messages across the Atlantic. 11am-12.30pm Ages 7+ £12, (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
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Blinding Binding St Neots Museum Have a go at making and decorating your own book inspired by ancient journals. 11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Big Trak Challenge Centre for Computing History Don’t get bored during the school holidays – try programming some Big Trak robots and watch them move in response to your simple commands. 2-3pm Ages 5+ £12, (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
Saturday 12 August Summer Holiday Weekend Fun National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Drop-in at weekends over the summer holidays for a chance to groom a pony. In addition to being able to brush and cuddle the Museum’s friendly inhabitants, you’ll also learn more about their welfare and nutrition.
Dusk Patrol Cambridge University Botanic Garden
11am-4pm
Enjoy this rare opportunity for a family night time walk around the Garden. Have a go with bat detectors and look out for the wildlife that comes out when the sun goes down.
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
8.30-10pm Ages 8+ (children must be accompanied by an adult) £5 per person, pre-book: 01223 331875 (booking opens 20 July)
All ages
Sunday 13 August Summer Holiday Weekend Fun National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Drop-in at weekends over the summer holidays for a chance to groom a pony. In addition to being able to brush and cuddle the Museum’s friendly inhabitants, you’ll also learn more about their welfare and nutrition. 11am-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
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FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Museum Sunday with the Cambridge Museum of Zoology Wisbech & Fenland Museum Join experts from the Museum of Zoology as they help you discover more about the wildlife of the local Fens. Enjoy hands-on activities and crafts, and find out more about the animals that make Cambridgeshire their home. This one-off event is part of a regular line-up of Museum Sunday openings taking place between 30 July and 3 September. Enjoy talks, tours and more. 12-4pm
Tuesday 15 August Tile Stamping All Saints Church Help the Church fill in some of its missing floor tiles. Design your own stamp to print onto a tile and take home. 12.30-2.30pm All ages Free, drop in
All ages Free (donations welcome), drop-in
Monday 14 August Toying with Science Whipple Museum of the History of Science Discover the science that toy makers use to make gadgets and games exciting, unusual and experimental. Play with science toys from the past and present and make your own to take home. 11am-1pm/2-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
Tall Towers Great St Mary’s Church Find out about Great St Mary’s amazing tower and work together to build towering structures.
Journey to the End of the World Museum of Classical Archaeology Become a Roman merchant for the afternoon and set sail for India in search of treasures to bring back to ancient Rome. There’ll be crafts and activities to enjoy along the way. 1-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
Wednesday 16 August Teddy Bears’ Picnic Norris Museum Bring along your teddy and listen to special teddy bear stories told by storyteller, Marion Leeper. Meet some very old teddies and enjoy teddy themed activities at the Museum. 10am-12pm (story starts at 10.15am) Ages 5 and under Free, drop-in
1-4pm Ages 6+ £2 per child, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
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Indian Animals Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology with Museum of Zoology Explore the textures, colours and patterns on display in the Another India exhibition. Then, use your ideas and inspiration from the Museum of Zoology handling collection to create a colourful animal to take away. 10.30am-12pm
Jester Around Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey Try not to giggle as you find out about the life of a professional joker. Follow the joke trail and have a go at making your own juggling balls. 12-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Ages 6+ Free, drop-in
Family Engineering Morning Cambridge Museum of Technology Join the team from Cambridge University Engineering Department and work with your family to design, build and test a rocket and a towering chimney. 10am-12.30pm Ages 8+ Child £1.50, adult £3.50, pre-book: info@museumof technology.com
Stone Age Day Saffron Walden Museum Celebrate the opening of the Museum’s latest exhibition Life in the Ice Age and enjoy a special visit from a Stone Age Man. He’ll be setting up camp in the Museum grounds and revealing what life was like in the Stone Age. 11am-1pm/2-4pm
Thursday 17 August Bee Adventure Cambridge University Botanic Garden Let Vital Spark Theatre lead you on a 45-minute imaginary Garden adventure with a busy, buzzy theme. 10.30/11.30am Ages 2-5 £5 per child, pre-book: 01223 331875 (bookings open 20 July)
Piers, Parasols and Punch & Judy Ely Museum If you do like to be beside the seaside then join the Museum for some traditional Victorian seaside-themed fun. 11am-12.30pm Ages 5-11 £3, pre-book: 01353 666655 admin@elymuseum.org.uk
All ages Small charge may apply, drop-in
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FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Money, Money, Money St Neots Museum Be inspired by the Museum’s amazing Kimbolton Coin Hoard and get ready to design and emboss your own coins. 11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Traffic Cops with Scratch Centre for Computing History Jester Around Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey Try not to giggle as you find out about the life of a professional joker. Follow the joke trail and have a go at making your own juggling balls. 12-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
The traffic is out of control and the Centre needs some traffic cops to help deal with the problem. Learn how to use the visual programming tool Scratch to control lights and buttons then have a go with a real-life, full-size traffic light system. 1-5pm Ages 7+ £26 (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
Aesop’s Forest: Don’t Do That Museum of Classical Archaeology
Victorian Crafts and Inventions Burwell Museum & Windmill
Find out what some badly-behaved birds have been up to in the Museum with storyteller Marion Leeper.
Try your hand at some traditional crafts and pastimes including silhouettes and moving toys, then create your own Victorian-style inventions.
1-2pm Ages 3-5 Free, pre-book: www.aesop-dont-do-that.eventbrite.co.uk
2-5pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Aesop’s Forest: the Scared Lion Museum of Classical Archaeology A tale for brave children and nervous animals with storyteller Marion Leeper. 3-4pm Ages 3-5 Free, pre-book: www.aesop-scared-lion.eventbrite.co.uk
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
17
Friday 18 August
Saturday 19 August
Family Crafts Norris Museum
Crystal Charms Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
Get hands-on with some special artefacts from the Museum and try out some family-friendly crafts and games.
(entrance to event under the Museum steps)
10am-4pm
Explore the Museum’s amazing mineral collection and create your own mineral charm to be added to a necklace or to hang in your window.
All ages
10am-12pm
Free, drop-in
Ages 10+ £5 per child, pre-book: www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk/tickets
Electronics Lab: Pong Console Centre for Computing History Ideal for budding electronics engineers or anyone interested in learning to solder. Build a Pong Console to take home and impress your friends with. 11am-1pm Ages 8+ £30 (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446 www.computinghistory.org.uk
Summer Holiday Weekend Fun National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Drop-in at weekends over the summer holidays for a chance to groom a pony. In addition to being able to brush and cuddle the Museum’s friendly inhabitants, you’ll also learn more about their welfare and nutrition. 11am-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Money, Money, Money St Neots Museum Be inspired by the Museum’s amazing Kimbolton Coin Hoard and get ready to design and emboss your own coins. 11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Sunday 20 August Summer Holiday Weekend Fun National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Drop-in at weekends over the summer holidays for a chance to groom a pony. In addition to being able to brush and cuddle the Museum’s friendly inhabitants, you’ll also learn more about their welfare and nutrition. 11am-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
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FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Monday 21 August Experimenting Whipple Museum of the History of Science Become a real scientist for the day. Try out experiments and investigate everyday curiosities inspired by chemistry sets and at-home experiment kits. 11am-1pm/2-4pm
Building Books University Library What does animal skin have to do with early writing? How did people keep their pages together before glue? Find out about the amazing properties of parchment and build your own small book using traditional techniques. 2.30-3.30pm Ages 5-12 Free, drop-in
All ages Free, drop-in
Tuesday 22 August
Meet the Greeks Museum of Classical Archaeology
Polar Play & Storytime The Polar Museum
Pack your bags and get ready for a journey back in time to ancient Greece. Try out crafts, hands-on activities and a trail along the way.
Listen to stories of the Polar Regions followed by hands-on craft making.
1-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
10-11am
Jewelled Light Great St Mary’s Church
Ages 4-8 Free, pre-book: www.polarplayandstoryaugust.eventbrite.co.uk
Explore the Church’s stained glass windows and make a sparkling sun-catcher. 1-4pm Ages 6+ £2 per child, drop-in
Gruesome Gargoyles All Saints Church Transform yourself into a gruesome gargoyle with a colourful mask and have a go at making a miniversion using air dry clay. 12.30-2.30pm All ages Free, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
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Wednesday 23 August The Adventures of Colonel Carrot Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Hear about the adventures of Colonel Carrot and his vegetable knights. Storyteller Marion Leeper tells adventure stories inspired by the drawings of Charles Darwin’s children. 10-11am/11.30am-12.30pm Ages 3-7 Free, pre-book: www.sedgwickmuseum.org
Stories on Indian Scrolls Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology Find the scroll in the Another India exhibition, then add to the Museum’s ever-growing storytelling scroll with your own incredible characters and adventures. 10.30am-12pm All ages Free, drop-in
Mexico Wisbech & Fenland Museum Discover Mexico without having to board a plane. Make your own Aztec mask and a Mexican-style plate.
Family Engineering Morning Cambridge Museum of Technology
10.30am-2.30pm
Join the team from Cambridge University Engineering Department and work with your family to design, build and test a rocket and a towering chimney.
50p per child, drop-in
10am-12.30pm Ages 8+ Child £1.50, adult £3.50, pre-book: info@museumoftechnology.com
All ages
Build your own Adventure Game Centre for Computing History Twine is a tool for creating interactive online stories. Learn to use it to build tales of dragons, spaceships or spies which your friends can then play. 11am-12.30pm Ages 9+
Once upon a time in the Garden Cambridge University Botanic Garden Spread out a picnic blanket and join us for 30 minutes of our favourite stories about bees, flowers and other pollinators. 10.30/11.30am Ages 3-5 Children free, normal adult admission charges apply, pre-book: 01223 331875 (bookings open 20 July)
£12 (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446, www.computinghistory.org.uk
Shell Creatures Saffron Walden Museum Get crafty and make your own sea creatures out of shells. Use one of the Museum’s shells or bring any that you’ve collected from the beach. 11-1pm/2-4pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
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FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
A Royal Day Out Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey
A Royal Day Out Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey
Follow the regal-themed trail and then join in crafts and create something fit for a King or Queen.
Follow the regal-themed trail and then join in crafts and create something fit for a King or Queen.
12-4pm
12-4pm
All ages
All ages
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Get Fit with the Micro:bit Centre for Computing History Forget expensive fitness gadgets and turn the BBC micro:bit into your personal trainer. Learn to code this device to become your fitness assistant, helping you count the number of steps you’ve taken or even design your own exercise routine.
Back to School Already? Burwell Museum & Windmill Visit the Museum’s Looking Back at Burwell Schools exhibition then take a trip back in time to a 1950s classroom. Enjoy school-themed crafts and games for the whole family plus bike servicing and marking subject to availability.
2-3.30pm
2-5pm
Ages 10+
All ages
£12 (accompanying adult £8) pre-book: 01223 214446, www.computinghistory.org.uk
Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Thursday 24 August Marvellous Mosiacs St Neots Museum A special craft activity where you can make a Roman-inspired mosaic decorated box. 11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Friday 25 August Family Crafts Norris Museum Get hands-on with some special artefacts from the Museum and try out some family-friendly crafts and games. 10am-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
Eco-Friendly Pets Ely Museum Be eco-creative with Re-imagine Resource Centre at Ely Museum. Learn ways to be eco-friendly with your pets then make a dog and dog house to take home. 11am-12.30pm Ages 5-11 £4, (includes eco-tastic goody bag) pre-book: 01353 666655, admin@elymuseum.org.uk
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
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Monday 28 August Family Bank Holiday Weekend National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art
Marvellous Mosiacs St Neots Museum A special craft activity where you can make a Roman-inspired mosaic decorated box.
The Museum will be running all sorts of family friendly activities across the weekend. Keep an eye on their website for updates. 10am-5pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Sunday 27 August Family Bank Holiday Weekend National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art The Museum will be running all sorts of family friendly activities across the weekend. Keep an eye on their website for updates. 10am-5pm All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
Denny Time Machine Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey Take a trip back in time with re-enactors, the Companie of the Silver Arrow. Enjoy demonstrations of medieval pastimes and traditional crafts, and learn how to dye fabric with natural dyes.
Take a trip back in time with re-enactors, the Companie of the Silver Arrow. Enjoy demonstrations of medieval pastimes and traditional crafts, and learn how to dye fabric with natural dyes. 10.30am-5pm All ages Event admission charges apply, drop-in
Tuesday 29 August Polar Animals: Museum Children’s Tour The Polar Museum with Museum of Zoology Ever felt overwhelmed by all the exciting things in a museum? Don’t know where to look first? This tour of the Polar Museum with friends from the Museum of Zoology will help you find out all about polar animals that live in extreme environments and the creatures that lived there long ago. 10-11am
10.30am-5pm
Ages 7-13
All ages
Free, pre-book: www.childrenstour29th.eventbrite.co.uk
Event admission charges apply, drop-in
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Denny Time Machine Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
Stained Glass Crafts All Saints Church
Building Books University Library
Explore the Church and its amazing windows then make your own stained glass window to catch the light at home.
What does animal skin have to do with early writing? How did people keep their pages together before glue? Find out about the amazing properties of parchment and build your own small book using traditional techniques.
12.30-2.30pm Ages 5+ Free, drop-in
11am-12pm Ages 5-12
Thursday 31 August
Free, drop-in
Heads Up St Neots Museum
Heads Up St Neots Museum
Be inspired by the Celtic stone head in the Museum’s Treasure for the Gods exhibition, and try carving your own version out of soap.
Be inspired by the Celtic stone head in the Museum’s Treasure for the Gods exhibition, and try carving your own version out of soap.
11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
11am-3pm Ages 4-11 £3.50, drop-in
Friday 1 September Family Crafts Norris Museum Get hands-on with some special artefacts from the Museum and try out some family-friendly crafts and games. 10am-4pm All ages Free, drop-in
Saturday 2 September Family Saturday: Sensational Scents Cambridge University Botanic Garden Rate the smells of the plants the Garden team have collected then make your own pot-pourri to take home using fantastic smelling flowers. 11am-3pm All ages Children free, normal adult admission charges apply, drop-in
FAMILY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
23
Other Things To Do Additional fun things happening this summer
Daily Demonstrations from the Retraining of Racehorses National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Drop-in to a demonstration in the Museum’s Peter O’Sullevan Arena and find out how a horse is retrained after it has finished racing. 11am/2.30pm during normal opening hours All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in. Demonstrations take place outside and are subject to change, please ensure you dress appropriately.
Indian Pattern Path Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology From paintings to pots, patterns are everywhere in India. Follow shapes and squiggles to discover the Indian designs in the Museum’s collection and beyond. Pick up a free trail from reception. Available during normal opening hours
Flower Power Trail Cambridge University Botanic Garden Follow the new Flower Power trail around the Garden to meet fabulous flowers and discover the groovy creatures that pollinate them. Available during normal opening hours Ages 5+ Children free, normal adult admission charges apply, drop-in
The Victorian Sweetshop Museum of Cambridge Hunt for objects and pictures around the Museum and learn about the history of sugar, sweets and dentistry. Try out the different sweet challenges or play in the vintage sweetshop. Includes a free sweet treat for all children. A vailable during normal opening hours from 25 July All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
All ages Free, drop-in
Museum Detectives Centre for Computing History Use your detective skills to find objects around the Museum using a picture trail, follow the clues to spot the iconic machines on display, or learn more about some amazing inventors and their creations. Available during normal opening hours All ages Normal admission charges apply, drop-in
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OTHER THINGS TO DO
Fitz Highlights Fitzwilliam Museum Pick up a free activity trail and discover some Museum highlights and favourites chosen by children FOR children. Created by pupils from King’s Hedges school, this special guide features portraits, paintings and some unusual curiosities… A vailable from Museum entrance desks during normal opening hours Ages 5+ Free, drop-in
SummerDaze If you are keen to get out and about this summer, the Children and Young People’s Participation Service (ChYpPS) will be offering up a fun-packed programme of free activities. Join the team along with Cambridge museums on Wednesday afternoons at parks and community centres across Cambridge city. For more information about SummerDaze and to see the full programme visit: cambridge.gov.uk/chypps facebook.com/chypps 01223 457873 chypps@cambridge.gov.uk
Friday 8 September
Family Film Screening: The Jungle Book (1967) The Fitzwilliam Museum Forget the back-to-school blues and enjoy an evening of classic cinema with the family. The Fitzwilliam Museum have joined forces with pop-up cinema company Venture Cinema to bring you Disney’s classic animated version of The Jungle Book on the big screen. So bring a blanket, pack some snacks and join us on the Museum’s lawn for some old-school entertainment. 7.30-9pm All ages Free, pre-book. Bookings will open at 9am on 14 August 2017 – please check www.museums.cam.ac.uk/summer for updates
OTHER THINGS TO DO
25
Making the Most of Your Visit Useful information, tips and advice
Access
Visiting with Younger Children
The museums and collections welcome all visitors and each organisation is accessible by wheelchair. Further information can be found on individual websites. If you have any questions about access, please email info@cam.ac.uk or phone Susan Miller on 01223 746406.
Children of all ages are welcome across our organisations. To help you plan your visit, you’ll find age ranges listed alongside specific activities. Please see Museum Information for details on: Baby changing Buggy parking
Opening Times Opening days and times may vary so if you are planning on dropping in, it’s always an idea to double check museum websites before setting out.
Eating & Drinking Many of the venues listed offer refreshments, snacks and light meals. This is indicated by the Museum Information.
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Shop
Travel Parking facilities are limited at many venues. We recommend considering public transport. If coming into Cambridge, Park and Ride buses run until 8.30pm and up to three children travel free with each full price adult. Park and Ride: www.cambridgeparkandride.info
For further details please see individual websites.
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MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT
A series of exhibitions, events & digital encounters in Cambridge Summer / Autumn 2017
#IndiaUnboxed www.museums.cam.ac.uk/india-unboxed
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT
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Museum Information Addresses, contact information and venue facilities
All Saints Church
Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey
Cambridge, CB5 8BP www.visitchurches.org.uk 01223 324442
A10, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9PQ www.dennyfarmlandmuseum.org.uk 01223 860988
Burwell Museum & Windmill
Fitzwilliam Museum
Burwell, CB25 0HL www.burwellmuseum.org.uk 01638 605544
Cambridge, CB2 1RB www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk 01223 332904
Cambridge Centre for Computing History
Great St Mary’s Church
Cambridge, CB1 3EW www.computinghistory.org.uk 01223 214446
Cambridge, CB2 3PQ www.gsm.cam.ac.uk 01223 741716
Cambridge Museum of Technology
Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology
Cambridge, CB5 8LD www.museumoftechnology.com 01223 500652
Cambridge, CB2 3DZ www.maa.cam.ac.uk 01223 333516
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Museum of Cambridge
Cambridge, CB2 1JE www.botanic.cam.ac.uk 01223 336265
Cambridge, CB3 0AQ www.museumofcambridge.org.uk 01223 355159
Ely Museum
Museum of Classical Archaeology
Ely, CB7 4LS www.elymuseum.org.uk 01353 666655
Cambridge, CB3 9DA www.classics.cam.ac.uk/museum 01223 330402
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MUSEUM INFORMATION
National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art Newmarket, CB8 8EP www.palacehousenewmarket.co.uk 01638 667314
Norris Museum St Ives, PE27 5BX www.norrismuseum.org.uk 01480 497314
UL Millstein Exhibition Centre Cambridge, CB3 9DR www.exhibitions.lib.cam.ac.uk 01223 333030
Whipple Museum of the History of Science Cambridge, CB2 3RH www.hps.cam.ac.uk/whipple 01223 330906
Wisbech & Fenland Museum The Polar Museum Cambridge, CB2 1ER www.spri.cam.ac.uk 01223 336540
Saffron Walden Museum Saffron Walden, CB10 1JL www.saffronwaldenmuseum.org 01799 510333
Wisbech, PE13 1ES www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk 01945 583817
The following museums are closed for redevelopment but will be joining in with events and activities at other venues:
Kettle’s Yard
www.kettlesyard.co.uk
Museum of Zoology Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Cambridge, CB2 3EQ www.sedgwickmuseum.org 01223 333456
St Neots Museum St Neots, PE19 1AE www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk 01480 214163
www.museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk
Key: Refreshments Baby changing Buggy parking Shop
Stained Glass Museum Ely, CB7 4DL www.stainedglassmuseum.com 01353 660347
MUSEUM INFORMATION
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The fun doesn’t stop here… With a FREE family offer throughout the year, the University of Cambridge Museums are great places to visit at any time. Whether you’re looking to learn something new, a day out close to home, or a fun way to spend a rainy day, our Museums are a great place to start.
Enjoy from a range of… Half-term and holiday drop-in and bookable activities
Family First events on the first Saturday of the month at the Fitzwilliam Museum and Botanic Garden
s Twilight at the Museum with torch-lit after-hours adventure in February
cks and Activity pa to ils special tra lore xp help you e
Pop-up events and activities across the City and region
To find out more about what’s on offer throughout the year, visit our website www.museums.cam.ac.uk or follow us on @CamUnivMuseums University of Cambridge Museums