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 bequest of Sir Richard Fitzwilliam, it now houses more than 500,000 treasures from around the world.

From its grand neoclassical façade and marble staircase to galleries filled with 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 and civilization.

Unlike many large UK museums, the Fitzwilliam sits within the University of Cambridge, with a research-driven mission and curatorial approach. It is a vital place for scholars and students of art and history. Every object is carefully catalogued and conserved, integrating education, research, and public engagement.

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