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Department of Physics

Educational Outreach
 

The Cavendish Museum is now closed to group tours.

The collections are being prepared for their move to the Ray Dolby Centre and we cannot accommodate group visits.  The information below is left for reference only.  School and educational groups are encouraged to view the Outreach programme of events and contact the Outreach Office with any questions.


Important general information

The Cavendish Museum is embedded in a working research and teaching laboratory and access is strictly limited.

Visits are by prior arrangement only and subject to staff availability.

We regret that we are unable to accommodate any visits from third party organisations such as, tour operators and language schools.

The museum displays are only suitable for children aged 15 or over that are studying for an examination in physics and all children must be under adult supervision.

We do not offer tours of the working laboratories.

  • School students who are interested in finding out more about physics at university should visit our large offer of more insightful opportunities on this outreach site.

Please see the relevant section below if you are interested in visiting as an individual or in a group.

Groups

As of September 2023, the department is being prepared for the move to the Ray Dolby Centre and the museum is closed to groups.

More than 4 people constitutes a group visit and MUST be booked in advance according to the predominant age of the visitors in the group (i.e. school /student groups or adult visitors). 

Requirements for all groups

  • Groups must book at least 2 months in advance and booking is dependant on staff availability. 
  • Groups who arrive without confirmed permission of either Dr Humphrey-Baker or Mrs Hope-Coles will necessarily be turned away.
  • Groups cannot wait on site - they must arrive and leave promptly.
  • There is no parking for coaches or minibuses on the Cavendish site but they may drop off vistors and return later to collect.

Groups of visitors aged 15-19 (student groups):

  • We only offer tours of the museum to groups of students who are aged 15+ and who are studying for an examination in physics because of the level of the material presented in the museum.  For activities for students aged 11-19 please see our wide range of outreach programmes.
  • Physics groups aged 15-19 should arrange a visit to the museum through museumtours@phy.cam.ac.uk
     
  • Total on site group size must be smaller than 25 and accompanied by at least one teacher or adult.  (No waiting on site)
     
  • Generally, visits arranged for school physics classes may visit the museum for free (we cannot take bookings from third party organisations), however donations to the upkeep and development of our collections are very gratefully received.
     
  • Please note that the tour is a history of physics discoveries made at the Cavendish and is quite technical, so fluency in English is required for those attending.
  • For a virtual tour of what is on display in our collection follow the link to cambridgephysics.org, the outreach portal to a virtual view of the Cavendish.

Adult Groups

  • All adult groups, professional or amateur, with a serious interest in physics or cognate discipline should contact museumtours@phy.cam.ac.uk to discuss visits and booking.
  • Groups should be aware that there may be a per head charge for the visit to cover staff time and the maintenance and development of our collection and display.
  • For a virtual tour of what is on display in our collection follow the link to cambridgephysics.org, the outreach portal to a virtual view of the Cavendish.

Individual visitors

Visits are by prior arrangement only and all visitors must call reception (+44 1223 337200) before travelling, to avoid disappointment.

The Cavendish Museum is open to groups of 4 or smaller for unfacilitated visits between the hours of 10am and 4pm (with last admission at 3pm), Monday to Friday. Visitors should enter at reception and ask for further information. Please see here for information about our location and how to get to the Cavendish Laboratory.

  • We strongly recommend that the museum displays are only suitable for children over the age of 15 who are studying for an examination in physics and all children must be under adult supervision.
  • Currently there is no parking on the Cavendish site and we recommend that visitors use the public transport provided in the U bus service (timetable).