The Fitzwilliam Museum

The museum was founded in 1816 by the bequest of the VIIth Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion to the University of Cambridge and contains magnificent collections of works of art and antiquities of national and international importance. These include antiquities from Ancient Egypt, Sudan, Greece and Rome, Roman and Romano-Egyptian, Western Asiatic and Cypriot Art; applied arts, including sculpture, furniture, clocks and rugs; coins and medals; illuminated manuscripts and printed books; paintings, drawings and prints.
Over the years, the collections have grown through bequests, gifts and purchases and, as a result, The Fitzwilliam Museum is one of the principal art collections in Great Britain.

Relax in the peaceful University Botanic Gardens, where a huge collection of plants offers all-year interest.

Boating

Punts, rowing boats and canoes can be hired from the boatyard at Mill Lane, either to go along the Backs or up river to Grantchester. Boats for the Backs only are on hire from Quayside. But beware: punting is more difficult than the nonchalant experts make it look and you may prefer to take advantage of a chauffeured punt. Let an expert do the work on a chauffeurpunt - just sit back and watch glorious college architecture glide by. The boatyards are open from Easter to early October.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

With a framework of mature trees and shrubs, this paradise of plants comprises diverse, superbly landscaped settings including: the Rock Garden, representing the alpine plants from the mountains of every continent; the Lake and Water Garden, teeming with bird life; tropical rainforest, the alpine house and seasonal displays in the Glasshouses; and the historic Systematic Beds, displaying 1600 hardy representatives of more than 80 families of flowering plants.

The Garden also boasts many important plant collections including lavenders, hardy geraniums, British native plants displayed on the Ecological Mound, and the finest collection of trees in the East of England. The Garden looks wonderful all through the year.

After discovering the remarkable use of berry, bark and foliage in the beautiful Winter Garden, you can warm up in the Glasshouses and travel from the tropics to the desert in search of cacti, carnivorous plants, orchids and the extraordinary Jade Vine, in glorious flower in March.

The Herbaceous Borders, Scented Garden and Dry Garden are colourful highlights of summer, but don't miss the jewelled carpet of spring bulbs and early alpines in the Woodland Garden and Rock Garden or the foliage fireworks of the Autumn Colour Garden. The Genetics Garden has been newly-planted to demonstrate how genetic variation gives rise to the plant diversity all around you.

Last but not least, do not forget to explore the great gift shops, art galleries and bookshops in and around King's Parade and Trinity Street.

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