The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is a free geology museum at the University of Cambridge, holding rocks, fossils and minerals collected since the 18th century. This guide covers opening hours, admission, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning a visit.
This guide was last checked in August 2026.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 10am–4pm. Closed Sundays, Good Friday, and over Christmas and New Year. |
| Ticket prices | Free. No booking required except for groups. |
| Address | Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ |
| Nearest transport | Central bus station and the U bus stop are both about a 5-minute walk away. |
| Typical time needed | Around 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. |
Sedgwick Museum opening hours: when to visit
The Museum is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Saturday, 10am to 4pm. It is closed on Sundays, and closed on Good Friday and over the Christmas and New Year period.
The Museum does open on some bank holidays: in 2026, it’s open on 6 April, 4 May, 25 May and 31 August. Booking isn’t required for individual visitors, only for groups, which must be arranged in advance.
Sedgwick Museum ticket prices: how much does entry cost?
Admission is free for all visitors, with no ticket or booking needed except for group visits. The Museum also offers a free identification service for rocks, fossils or minerals that visitors bring in.
Opening hours and admission details were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026. Check the official site for current details.
Since admission is already free, the Museum isn’t part of any paid city sightseeing pass. It’s one of several University of Cambridge museums that are free to visit, including the Polar Museum a short walk away.
How to get to the Sedgwick Museum: transport guide
The Museum is a 5-minute walk from Cambridge’s central bus station, and the U bus stop is also about 5 minutes away. Park and Ride buses stop close by. From the rail station, it’s roughly a 20-minute walk into the centre of town.
Cycle racks are available directly outside the Museum. To find the entrance, come through the archway on Downing Street, turn left, and head towards the large stone steps beside the dinosaur sculpture.
Parking at the Sedgwick Museum
The nearest car park is the Grand Arcade car park, located directly opposite the Museum and accessible from Corn Exchange Street via Downing Street. It has blue badge spaces and is the recommended option for visitors with restricted mobility.
Given the central location, walking, cycling or public transport are recommended over driving where possible.
How long to spend at the Sedgwick Museum
Most visitors spend around 45 minutes to 1.5 hours exploring the galleries. Since the Museum is compact and self-guided, with staff on hand to answer questions, the visit can be as brief or thorough as you like.
Accessibility at the Sedgwick Museum
A lift within the Department of Earth Sciences provides access to the Museum, though it’s not suitable for large buggies or wheelchairs (the lift measures 105cm by 80cm, with a 69cm-wide door). A folding wheelchair is available to borrow for visitors whose own chair won’t fit; you must be able to self-transfer or be accompanied by someone who can assist. A ramp leads to the door beneath the Museum staircase.
There’s one visitor toilet on-site, plus an accessible toilet within the Department of Earth Sciences (museum staff can provide access). Baby-changing facilities are available in both. Public toilets, including a Changing Places toilet, are a 5-minute walk away at the Lion Yard shopping centre.
Inside the Sedgwick Museum: what to see
The Woodwardian Collection, the Museum’s founding collection, holds around 9,400 rocks, fossils, minerals and archaeological artefacts amassed by Dr John Woodward between about 1690 and 1725, still kept in his original 18th-century collector’s cabinets. Contributors included Sir Isaac Newton and Sir Christopher Wren, and the collection likely contains the earliest collected dinosaur material that can still be traced within any collection.
Beyond the Woodwardian Collection, the Museum displays extensive palaeontology and mineral collections, along with rotating exhibitions; current shows include “Everest at 70” and “Gravel Hunters.” The Gallery Plan, available on the official site, is worth checking before a visit to plan a route.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Weekday mornings tend to be quieter than Saturday afternoons. |
| Crowds | School groups sometimes visit on weekday mornings during term time; early afternoon can be calmer. |
| Layout | The Museum is compact, so a self-guided visit rarely takes more than 90 minutes. |
| Entry process | No booking or ticket is needed for individual visitors; simply walk in during opening hours. |
| On-site logistics | There’s no café on site; the Whale Café at the nearby Museum of Zoology is open to the public. |
Frequently asked questions about the Sedgwick Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Sedgwick Museum free? | Yes, admission is free for all visitors. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Sedgwick Museum? | No, booking is only required for groups; individual visitors can just walk in. |
| Is the Sedgwick Museum open on Sundays? | No, it’s closed on Sundays, as well as Good Friday and over Christmas and New Year. |
| Is the Sedgwick Museum wheelchair accessible? | Partly. A lift and ramp provide access, though the lift can’t accommodate large wheelchairs; a folding wheelchair is available to borrow. |
| Is there parking at the Sedgwick Museum? | The nearest option is the Grand Arcade car park, opposite the Museum, which has blue badge spaces. |
Things to do near the Sedgwick Museum
- Polar Museum, Cambridge: Another free University of Cambridge museum, covering polar exploration.
- Museum of Zoology: A University of Cambridge natural history museum with a café open to the public, a short walk away.
- Fitzwilliam Museum: The University of Cambridge’s main art and antiquities museum, a short walk from the Sedgwick Museum.
- King’s College Chapel: A landmark Cambridge college chapel with a famous fan-vaulted ceiling, a short walk away.
Alternative attractions to visit
- Museum of Natural History, Oxford: Oxford University’s equivalent natural history museum, with a strong geology and palaeontology collection, about a 1.5-hour drive away.
- Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford: An anthropology and archaeology museum next door to Oxford’s natural history museum, also about 1.5 hours away.
- History of Science Museum, Oxford: A museum of scientific instruments in Oxford’s Old Ashmolean building, roughly a 1.5-hour drive away.
- Ashmolean Museum, Oxford: A large university museum of art and archaeology, also about 1.5 hours away — see my Oxford travel guides for more on planning a visit.
- The British Museum: A major museum with extensive geological and archaeological collections, about an hour away by train in London.
More East of England travel
Other East of England travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Ely Cathedral visitor guide: When to visit and what you should know before you do.
- Framlingham Castle visitor guide: Prices, hours, accessibility and key visitor information.
- Plan your visit to Colchester Castle in Essex: All you need to know before you go.
- Visiting Hedingham Castle in Essex: Key information on opening dates, ticket prices and more.
- What to know before visiting RHS Garden Hyde Hall near Chelmsford.
