Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology image

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Tourist attraction Museum Gift shop Research institute

One of the Top rated Gift shops in Cambridge


Address

Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3DZ, United Kingdom

Website

maa.cam.ac.uk

Contact

+44 1223 333516

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (286 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Sunday: 12 to 5 PM
  • Monday: Closed

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (39) interesting (15) visit (14) Cambridge (13) world (11) good (10) items (10) history (10) floor (10) nice (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Stuart W. 1 year ago on Google • 352 reviews
    An antidote to shopping. A visual feast of culture with the Canadian totem rising over two floors being a highlight. We also enjoyed the colour display which provided a good insight into the scientific and cultural importance of colour all wonderfully curated. Oh, and there’s a shop, selling some very beautiful but reasonably priced craft items.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 heimdal o. 2 years ago on Google
    The staff here were very kind and helpful and the museum itself great . I came specifically to see Indigo Jones screen from Winchester Cathedral which was fantastic so pleased to have seen this . I love the Cathedral itself and could visualise this in situe. But there is so much more of interest from all over the world . The gold Cross and pins found in a Anglo Saxon village burial in Trumpington of a teenage girl was amazingly only found in 2011 . The cross identified her as from an important family and as a Christian convert . They are beautiful and our ancestors such talented craftsmen . The Haida Totem Pole from British Columbia was gigantic . If I had bumped into this in the dark I would have swam back to the UK in no time . The pecalang of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman was frightening looking too as it was meant to be I presume as a guardian of a village Temple . These were just my favourite picks but having said that it's not right to choose really as all the displays were fantastic . Well worth the time most educational .
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ray H. 1 year ago on Google
    Great experience to visit there. A well-organized musuem, got to see a wide range of archeological collections, all over the world. A must-visit place when you're in Cambridge, obviously.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Francesco M. 3 months ago on Google • 165 reviews New
    In this museum, you can learn a lot about Cambridge's history thanks to all the archeological items that are shown on the ground floor. The other two floors instead have a quite big collection of different things from around the globe. A place that should be visited if possible.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jude Y. 2 months ago on Google • 26 reviews New
    Good experience. It is a Must-visit place If you are a lover of museum
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ozcan 1 year ago on Google
    Very interesting museum to visit with your little ones.. From Mayan culture to American Indian, Egyptian to Japanese many things can be seen. Children can optionally get a paper with some objects to find in each floor of the museum and they like it so much. Also colouring figures with crayons were nice. Toilets were clean and spacey to go in with your child..
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 River Z. 1 year ago on Google
    The oldest potatoes that I ever saw. I like the arrangements of antiques based on regions, then based on years. Thanks to staffs, the smiles on their face are shining.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Julia B. 1 year ago on Google • 208 reviews
    A really beautiful museum with a lot to see. Worth a visit. It's free of charge soo just go there and take a peek. Really cool sculptures!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Eliza M. 6 months ago on Google • 105 reviews
    I went here on a Saturday morning. I definitely recommend stopping by.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel W. 2 months ago on Google • 320 reviews New
    This is another great museum from the group museums owned and managed by the University of Cambridge situated in the heart of Cambridge. The museum is free entry for visitors and the museum details about the history of Cambridge and has also has lots of items collected from around the world from different countries and cultures. The museum is divided into 3 floors with the History of Cambridge and the archaeological finds made on the ground floor and the various items from around the world from different cultures on the first floor and second floors. The History of Cambridge details about Cambridge and the local area from the Roman Period through to the Medieval period where there some interesting and intriguing Roman Pottery to see along with bits of Tiles from Religious sites from the Medieval period. On the ground floor there is also some exquisite Jewellery to see aswell which is in very good condition. The first and second floors charter Anthropology and Archaeology from around the world from the different cultures with the items on show being various clothing and jewellery and Sculptures with the stand out feature being the Totem Pole, which blends in very well with the rest of the other items but also very commanding and is in very good condition with the detail on it absolutely exquisite. The first and second floors have endless informative amounts of information about the items on show and their meaning in the applicable cultures giving a full idea of how those cultures function allowing you to respect the values and beliefs of the people from those countries and cultures. There is a gift shop on site selling various wonderful souvenirs at reasonable affordable prices. Overall this is a great and thoroughly intriguing museum with a treasure trove of interesting and wonderful items to see. Another great museum to visit.

  • 5/5 Valentina A. 8 months ago on Google • 88 reviews
    I was so expressed how beautiful is the architecture and lots of interesting staff there. Good time to spend with the kids and not just for kids. Nice garden outside where you have a time off in the shade.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Helen P. 8 months ago on Google • 59 reviews
    Such an interesting museum with so much to see and learn about. As a wheelchair user, the museum was completely accessible and all the museum staff were friendly, helpful and professional. Great gift shop area with lots of different things to buy as mementos. Highly recommend a visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Victor H. 4 years ago on Google
    A must-see if you come to Cambridge. A small and cozy museum full of amazing pieces.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 alice i. 1 year ago on Google
    I visited on my own for the first time, too gain a feel of how child friendly the museum is. I will be returning today with my 5 year old. The colouring station upstairs will enable adults to explore the exhibits while still keeping an eye on the children. Some hand on exhibits would be lovely for example a hat dress up station (using fake feathers) I would have loved to have visited the book archive. GN toilets, gift shop. Staff are friendly and helpful. Free!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 craig k. 1 year ago on Google
    Little door but open a wonder of the world , full of fantastic object , very kind and helpful staff , fun activities for kid treasure hunt Many thanks
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mantvydas �. 2 years ago on Google
    A quite small museum, but packs some nice variety of historical displays, and exhibitions. Unique, and interesting museum, plus the entrance is for free to visit, and explore with your families, and friends.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Árpád V. 5 years ago on Google
    Very good exhibitions all the family learned about culture and history of Cambridge and different parts of the earth. Kids can do colouring,word sourcing and other fun activities. They really enjoyed. Free entry food and drinks not allowed. I do recall for anyone. Good place to soak up some knowledge of archaeology.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Raul G. 2 years ago on Google
    My experience here was pleasant. The museum is quite smaller than I was expecting but there's a nice collection with diverse objects from all over the world. Not surprising, there were ex-colonies in the past. Clean, organized and with a staff very friendly. Definitely a must visit if you're in Cambridge.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Richárd V. 2 years ago on Google
    Great exhibition, friendly staff and well-organised and kept museum. It's not large, therefore we took it easy and completed in about 1.5-2 hours. Toilets are open and little museum shop can be found on the ground floor. On the second floor there's a large table set up for kids with pencils, crayons and colouring books that our little son enjoyed a lot. I can recommend!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jub's J. 11 months ago on Google
    Fabulous museum! I loved it all, but the first floor was my favorite. Love looking at all the local finds that have been found while digging in the area. Staff here was very friendly and helpful. Small little gift shop with just enough items! Free admission!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Edin H. 1 year ago on Google
    Extremely interesting museum display with many different cultures.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Priti P. 5 years ago on Google
    Excellent place............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................amazing museum
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paul S. 5 years ago on Google
    Fantastic. A great selection. Fascinating.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Bjorn de N. 5 years ago on Google
    I was fairly intrigued by their collection, however, I did not feel like it was complete yet. I'd love to have had more of those information stands/plates around the museum. On the other hand, the collection was quite extensive and I believe it to be a very interesting and captivating museum. Definitely a must-see when visiting Cambridge!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Eliot C. 6 years ago on Google
    A fairly small collection, but from a great range of different cultures. Information could be presented more clearly.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Ben W. 5 years ago on Google
    Open according to website. Closed according sign on door. Waste of a 2hr drive.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 DT M. 2 years ago on Google
    Can't believe they had artifacts from Captain James Cook's early voyages! It was fascinating! Make sure to book during the pandemic. Online usually sold out but if you pop in, they will try and sort you in a slot that is cancelled by others.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Benomaly (. 2 months ago on Google • 139 reviews New
    Brilliant museum. Excellent curiosities. The architecture around the back is beautiful with a little courtyard. Small gift shop and very friendly staff. Highlight is the totem pole which is huge.

  • 5/5 Zena J. 2 months ago on Google • 89 reviews New
    Incredible collection from all around the world. Slightly daunting how varied and large some of the artefacts are. Seems efforts are being made to return some of the collections, but would be nice to see more. Also a local history exhibit on the ground level with very detailed explanations, you don’t have to be knowledgeable in the field for it to be interesting. Some kids activities too. Free entry.

  • 4/5 Mary C. 1 year ago on Google
    Like a mini Pitt Rivers in Oxford but with less investment and not as child friendly. Toilet facilities are very poor the cleaner has removed the surfaces of the taps to the point they look unhygienic let's hope conservation team a little gentler! The huge kayaks and totem poles are really fascinating and the labelling generally insightful.

  • 5/5 Max V. 2 years ago on Google
    Personally, love these temples of knowledge where you may wander for hours surrounded by the presence and stories of entire populations that are no more. It's like looking back to who we were and it gives me hints about who we are now.

  • 4/5 Stephanie w. 10 months ago on Google
    A wonderful little museum to look round - some stunning pieces of history. The totem pole is amazing!!

  • 5/5 Paolo C. 2 years ago on Google
    A fantastic place to spend an hour or two looking at artefacts from all over the world.

  • 5/5 Nobody A. 7 months ago on Google
    A fascinating visit, introduced by a warm, welcoming and informative lady on reception. With interesting local finds on the ground floor and artefacts from further afield on the upper floors, you could spend a good hour or two here. Being a free museum, it is well worth a visit.

  • 5/5 Chris B. 7 months ago on Google
    Peacefull place to visit Plenty to look at.

  • 2/5 Gudrun G. 3 months ago on Google • 5 reviews New
    Second and third floors are basically the history of British colonisation with no mention I could see about whether things like sacred indigenous artifacts would ever be returned to their homeland. Also I got told off for giving my 18m old a small rice cake so not exactly inclusive to people with very small children. Nice building though 🤷🏻‍♀️

  • 5/5 Franek D. 5 years ago on Google
    Very nice, but the openinhours are not long

  • 4/5 Roul D. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful and surreal

  • 5/5 Jess S. 2 years ago on Google
    Very informative, its amazing how ordinary we are now compared to the ancient ingenuity and craftsmanship. Thank you "colonial masters" for preserving these treasures for prosperity!

  • 4/5 marika m. 5 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) A nice museum. Interesting for both adults and children. This allowed us to intelligently occupy our morning on a rainy day. (Original) Un joli musée. Intéressant aussi bien pour les adultes que pour les enfants. Cela nous a permis d'occuper intelligement notre matinée un jour de pluie.

  • 5/5 L C. 4 years ago on Google
    One of the best museums I’ve visited.

  • 4/5 MrYourYoDog 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing place to be with history they are very nice and are good with keep there place clean

  • 5/5 Tommaso G. 4 years ago on Google
    I really like all the exhibits here and the exhibitions but I would love it if you updated your displays and added an audioguide

  • 4/5 William M. 4 years ago on Google
    Brilliant museum enjoyed walking around could have spent more time lift to all floors.

  • 4/5 Bev T. 4 years ago on Google
    Really interesting. Had some lovely artifacts in there and lots of information to read, videos to watch and the curators were fountains of knowledge. To top it off its free. What more could you ask for.

  • 5/5 l s. 4 years ago on Google
    Very nice museum. Worth a visit

  • 4/5 Pete W. 4 years ago on Google
    Interesting and calm place to spend an hour or so. I particularly enjoyed the first floor with its collection of artifacts from around the world.

  • 4/5 Peini 3 years ago on Google
    It’s nice place to visit with family and friends.

  • 5/5 Vasilis P. 3 years ago on Google
    Interesting, free and does not need too much time if you are not too much into museums.

  • 4/5 Peng-Fan C. 3 years ago on Google
    A good place to spend one hour or two exploring the wonders of the different people's living around the world.

  • 4/5 Artūras 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent place to visit and delve yourself into wide range of cultural relics

  • 5/5 Blind A. 3 years ago on Google
    Really nice museum. Its best if you book your tickets online before coming in

  • 5/5 Kasia N. 3 years ago on Google
    Such an interesting place

  • 5/5 Bill M. 3 years ago on Google
    Probably my favourite museum in Cambridge: so much to see, very informative! Great place to spend a few hours on the weekend or over the holidays :).

  • 5/5 Isaac F. 4 years ago on Google
    Great place to go and my kids even enjoyed the day!

  • 5/5 Adrian D. 4 years ago on Google
    Compact but a lot of exhibits.

  • 5/5 Dana A. 5 years ago on Google
    Great collection and nuanced and thorough annotations.

  • 1/5 Nonono O. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Hi I got a gamil a year ago stating that I am very biloiji> :( (Original) Hoi ik heb een jaar geleden een gamil gekregen waarin stond dat ik heel biloiji ben >:(

  • 5/5 grace 4 years ago on Google
    Really interesting! Lots of interesting info about Cambridge in particular

  • 4/5 Maggie A. 4 years ago on Google
    Fun experience, interesting reads and loved that they highlighted some of the Pacific Islands.

  • 4/5 Pilampa T. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Free to show little things (Original) ฟรีของแสดงน้อยไปนิดนึง

  • 3/5 david g. 4 years ago on Google
    good

  • 5/5 Gauresh A. 4 years ago on Google
    Archaeological place

  • 5/5 M M. 5 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) A piece of history. (Original) Un trocito de la historia .

  • 5/5 Louise B. 5 years ago on Google
    Really good exhibits

  • 5/5 Mohit M. 5 years ago on Google
    Great place. It’s small but lot of collection. Worth a visit

  • 3/5 Agista J. 5 years ago on Google
    Like the other museum in UK, this museum is also free! You can learn the past history and archaeological artefact that are found in UK. It’s both entertaining and educative. My favourite reading is in the Jurassic era. Some of the artefact were donated or founded in the coast of UK and the others came from global donation. I like it!

  • 4/5 Jonghan J. 5 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Small but exciting. Free admission (Original) 작지만 들를만 함. 무료입장

  • 5/5 Robert C. 5 years ago on Google
    A small enough place but packs a lot in. I heard a guide say they only have 0.05% items on display at any 1 time which is a bit of a shame. They divide sections into different countries and give some background on it and the people/tribes/ethnic groups from there. It's showing its age but there was a sign stating they will be upgrading soon so hopefully it gets a good facelift

  • 5/5 Margarita F. 4 years ago on Google
    We were there for Twilight at the museum and we had a great time!!! Everybody was very very polite and friendly! Great place for the children to come in contact with a part of history!

  • 3/5 Tomáš �. 5 years ago on Google
    Nice exposition, although I wouldn't have had anything against more 'anthropology' focus.

  • 5/5 Szep K. 5 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Excellent museum free of charge. (Original) Vynikající muzeum zdarma.


Call +44 1223 333516 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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