The Fitzwilliam Museum is the University of Cambridge’s museum of art and antiquities, and one of the UK’s most important public museums. Founded in 1816 from the donation of Sir Richard Fitzwilliam’s private collection, it now holds over 500,000 precious artworks and historical objects from around the world.

From its grand neoclassical façade and marble staircase to the rich collections within—Egyptian mummies, French Impressionist paintings, European medieval icons, Chinese porcelain, and Classical Greek sculpture—the Fitzwilliam spans millennia and five continents, a distilled timeline of art history and civilization.

Unlike many large UK museums, the Fitzwilliam is part of the University of Cambridge, with an academic mission and curatorial approach rooted in research. It’s a vital site for scholars and students of art and history. Every object is carefully catalogued and conserved, and the museum integrates education, research, and public engagement.

For visitors to Cambridge, this is more than a museum—it’s a cultural bridge linking past and present, connecting the world through art and ideas. If you only visit one museum in Cambridge, make it the Fitzwilliam.