Tickets and Booking

 

Is the Museum free to visit?

Although entry to the Museum, our collection and our displays is free, you can choose to make a donation at one of our cash and contactless donation points in the Museum or online. The vital income generated through your donations helps us deliver all areas of our work, and every donation makes a big difference.

 

Are exhibitions free to visit?

Although entry to the Museum, our collection and displays is free, our exhibitions have a separate cost and a ticket is required. 

 

Do I need to book a ticket?

Booking a ticket is only required for our exhibitions. General admission to the Museum, our collection and displays is free and no tickets are required for individuals and groups of fewer than 10 – you’re welcome to just turn up. 

I am a Friend or Marlay Group Member, do I still need to book an exhibition ticket?

No. If you are a Friend or Patron your membership subscription benefits include unlimited free entry to our exhibitions without needing to book. Please ensure you have your membership card with you so our Box Office team can scan the QR code at the exhibition entrance. For our busiest exhibitions, you may be asked to join a queue during peak times.

 

Can I book a group visit to the Museum and/or an exhibition?
To help us manage capacity and provide the best possible experience for all visitors, groups of 10 people or more need to book in advance. A £5pp charge applies to all groups of 10 people or more excluding UK school, university and HEI groups. If you would also like to visit our exhibitions with a group, additional charges will apply. For full details, head to our Visit us page.

 

Why are is there a charge to visit an exhibition?

Like many cultural organisations, we are facing rising costs and ongoing funding challenges. The introduction of paid entry for our exhibitions follows a model already widely adopted by museums and galleries across the sector. It enables us to continue delivering the ambitious, high-quality exhibitions our audiences expect, while keeping entry to our permanent galleries, displays and collection free for everyone.

We remain committed to making our exhibitions as accessible as possible and under our new ticketing model, entry will remain free for Members, under 18s, visitors receiving financial support, and for students and 18–25-year-olds through our new Fitz List scheme. A ‘Pay What You Can’ option will also be  available to all visitors on the last Sunday of every month. 

 

Can I get an exchange or refund on my exhibition ticket after I have booked it?
Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the exhibition date is cancelled or rescheduled. If you have bought exhibition tickets and then decide to buy Friends Membership either before or on the day of your visit, you can receive a refund relative to the level of the Membership you bought. Exhibition tickets purchased before registering for Fitz List are not eligible for refunds. View our full terms of sale here.

Will I receive a physical exhibition ticket?

Visitors booking online will receive an e-ticket via email to present on a mobile device or print at home. Visitors booking in person will receive printed tickets. 

How far in advance do I need to book tickets?

We recommend booking your tickets in advance online to avoid disappointment. Some exhibition tickets might be available to buy in the Museum on the day of your visit, but we cannot guarantee this. 

 

Where can I book an exhibition ticket on the day?

Walk-up tickets are subject to availability and can be booked at the Courtyard Entrance (step-free access) or Founder’s Entrance on arrival. You may need to wait during busy times and book a later time slot. 

How can I attend an exhibition if it’s sold out on a particular day?
Becoming a Member will ensure that you can see the exhibition, even if it’s sold out. Find out more and join here.

 

Can I buy exhibition tickets as a gift for someone?

We don’t sell gift tickets for exhibitions but you are welcome to purchase tickets to gift to someone else. Our standard refund and exchange policy will apply. View our full terms of sale here.

 

Are exhibition tickets timed?

Yes – exhibition tickets grant entry within a 30-minute time slot. You will not be able to enter the exhibition before the time on your ticket but are welcome to stay in the exhibition for as long as you like (within Museum hours). We suggest you allow one to two hours to see most exhibitions. Once you leave the exhibition, re-admission is not permitted. Last entry for exhibitions is usually one hour before the Museum closes. 

 

Will there be queues to buy a ticket and enter an exhibition?

We always do our best to help everyone as efficiently as possible but for very popular exhibitions you may need to queue to buy your ticket. 

Please only go to the entrance of the exhibition at the time slot on your ticket. If you arrive earlier than your time slot, you may be asked to queue if your tickets are valid for the next time slot. Anything earlier than this, you will be asked to return at the time on your ticket.

For busy exhibitions, everyone may be asked to queue at the exhibition entrance (all ticket holders and Members). This is so we can stagger entry into the first room of the exhibition, so it is not overcrowded. This queue moves quickly. 

I’m a museum professional. How do I book tickets?

NMDC, ICOM and Museums Association members and staff from organisations as part of our reciprocal entry agreements can book free tickets in-person for our exhibitions. Tickets are subject to availability and you may need to wait during busy times. 

Ticket Pricing and Concessions

 

What concessions are available for exhibition tickets?

Friends and Marlay Patrons enjoy free unlimited entry to all exhibitions without needing to pre-book. Find out more and join here. Half price concession tickets are available for National Art Pass (Art Fund) holders. 

Free tickets are available for Under 18s, Concessions (those in receipt of Universal or Pension Credit, Income Support, JSA, ESA or PIP) and the companion of a disabled visitor.

Free tickets are also available for everyone who is part of Fitz List Find out  more and sign up here.

What is Fitz List?

As a university museum, we are committed to providing opportunities for children, young people and students to engage with our collection, exhibitions and programmes. To support this, we’ve introduced Fitz List, a free scheme for 18–25-year-olds and students of any age worldwide. By signing up, you’ll get free tickets to paid exhibitions, discounted tickets across many events, exclusive digital and content and more. Click here to find out more.

 

What is the Pay What You Can scheme?

Although we are offering a wide range of exhibition ticket types and concessions, we recognise that some people may still face barriers to visiting our exhibitions. That’s why, on the last Sunday of every month, we run a Pay What You Can scheme, available when booking tickets online or in person. Pay What You Can allows visitors to choose to pay a lower amount than the standard ticket price — or nothing at all — depending on their circumstances. 

All exhibition tickets are subject to availability, and we recommend booking online in advance to guarantee entry at your preferred time. Pay What You Can is made possible by visitors who choose to pay the full price when they can. If you're able, please consider selecting a full-price ticket — it helps us keep prices affordable, provide concessions and support initiatives like this.

Why do exhibition ticket types have two prices – with and without a donation?

All paid exhibition tickets have two prices. These are:

• A price which includes an addition donation of at least 10% of the original price. Not only does the additional donation help the Fitzwilliam as a charity, it allows us to claim Gift Aid if you are also a UK taxpayer. If you complete a Gift Aid declaration as part of your booking, we can treat the whole value of the ticket as a donation and claim 25p in every £1 to support more areas of our work. 
• A price without a donation.

What you pay?

• Standard: £14.50
• Standard + donation: £16 (£1.50 more)
• National art pass: £7.25
• National art pass + donation: £8 (75p more)

What the Museum gets?

• Standard: £14.50 
• Standard + donation: £20 (£5.50 more)
• National art pass: £7.25 
• National art pass + donation: £10 (£2.75 more) 

 

I’m a member of staff at the University of  Cambridge. Am I eligible for a discount?

At this time, we are unable to offer a discount to University of Cambridge staff, however we will keep this under review. 

I’m an alumni of the University of Cambridge. Am I  eligible for a discount?
We are unable to offer a discount for University of Cambridge alumni, but we invite you to explore our range of ticket concessions and membership options, which provide excellent value and benefits.

Visitor Experience and Accessibility

Where can I find more information about visiting the Museum and your guidelines?

You can find comprehensive details about planning your visit, including accessibility information, museum guidelines, and visitor tips, by visiting our Visit us page. For more, read our Visiting Guidelines.

 

How do I enter the Museum?

You can enter the Museum via the Founder’s Entrance (step access) or the Courtyard Entrance (step-free access) where you will be greeted by a member of our visitor experience team.

Where can I find information about accessibility?

We provide full details of our accessibility and facilities on our Visit us page. If you have any special access requirements, please contact us: fitzmuseum-access@cam.ac.uk or 01223 332900 and we'll be happy to help.

Do you offer companion tickets?

A complimentary companion ticket is available for an individual accompanying a disabled visitor. When booking an exhibition or event ticket online, please select one free companion ticket.

Will you be giving out maps?

Museum maps are available at both entrances.

Is everything open?

Sometimes we have to close gallery spaces for refurbishment and redisplays. These can be temporary or long-term closures and we encourage you to check our Galleries page before visiting to avoid disappointment.

Is photography allowed?

You may take photographs in the Museum galleries for non-commercial, personal use only. Full details of our photography and filming policy are available.

What events are taking place?

We have a range of exhibition-related talks and events taking place at the Museum, you can view our what’s on programme.

Education and Press

How do I book a school visit?

For school bookings and information about group bookings, please visit our Visit us page. 

 

I am a member of the press and would like to make a request, how can I get in touch?

For media enquiries about the Museum or our exhibitions, or to request images and footage for press use, please contact our Press team (press@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk).