What to do in Cambridge when it rains
Cambridge swaps punting for museum-hopping when it rains — free collections, chapel interiors and snug tearooms abound.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- The Fitzwilliam Museum Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1RB, UK
- University Museum Of Zoology David Attenborough Building, Downing Pl, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
- Kettle's Yard Castle St, Cambridge CB3 0AQ, UK
- Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences University Of, Downing Pl, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK
- Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, UK
- The Centre for Computing History Rene Ct, Coldham's Rd, Cambridge CB1 3EW, UK
- The Polar Museum Lensfield Rd, Cambridge CB2 1ER, UK
- Cambridge Science Centre The Trinity Centre, Science Park, Cambridge CB4 0FN, UK
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Kettle's Yard Castle St, Cambridge CB3 0AQ, UK
- Ruskin Gallery East Rd, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
- All Saints Garden Art & Craft Market All Saints Garden, Trinity St, Cambridge CB2 1TQ, UK
- Cambridge Contemporary Art 6 Trinity St, Cambridge CB2 1SU, UK
- Heong Gallery, Downing College, Cambridge Cambridge CB2 1DQ, UK
- Castle Fine Art, Cambridge Unit 52, Grand Arcade, St Andrew's St, Cambridge CB2 3BJ, UK
- Cambridge Artworks & Artspace 5 Green's Rd, Cambridge CB4 3EF, UK
- Cambridge Contemporary Crafts 5 Bene't St, Cambridge CB2 3QN, UK
Historic houses
Tour the grand historic interiors — opulent rooms and not a drop of rain.
- Newton's Apple Tree Porters Lodge, Trinity St, Cambridge CB2 1TQ, UK
- Great St Mary's The University Church, Senate House Hill, Cambridge CB2 3PQ, UK
- Trinity College Great Gate Trinity College, Cambridge CB2 1TQ, UK
- Xu Zhimo Memorial Stone King’s College Bridge, River Cam, Cambridge CB2 1TL, UK
- Blue plaque commemorating first ARM silicon 110 Fulbourn Rd, Cambridge CB1 9NJ, UK
- New Court St John's College, Cambridge CB2 1TP, UK
- Trumpington Hall 20 Grantchester Rd, Trumpington, Cambridge CB2 9LH, UK
- Worsted Street Roman Road Stapleford, Cambridge CB22 3AE, UK
Bookshops
Lose an hour in the city's bookshops — the best kind of shelter.
- Waterstones 22 Sidney St, Cambridge CB2 3HG, UK
- Heffers Bookshop 20 Trinity St, Cambridge CB2 1TY, UK
- Forbidden Planet Cambridge 28-30 Burleigh St, Cambridge CB1 1DG, UK
- Cambridge University Press Bookshop 1-2 Trinity St, Cambridge CB2 1SZ, UK
- FOPP 37 Sidney St, Cambridge CB2 3HX, UK
- TGJones 14-15 Market St, Cambridge CB2 3PE, UK
- The Works 31-33 Fitzroy St, Cambridge CB1 1ER, UK
- The Haunted Bookshop 9 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ, UK
Tearooms
Find a snug tearoom and wait it out over a pot of tea and something baked.
- Scotsdales 120 Cambridge Rd, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB22 5JT, UK
- Fitzbillies 51-53 Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1RG, UK
- Cambridge Ice Arena Newmarket Rd, Cambridge CB5 8AA, UK
- West Hub West Hub, JJ Thomson Ave, Cambridge CB3 0US, UK
- Marks & Spencer 6-11 Sidney St, Cambridge CB2 3HH, UK
- Aromi Caffe and Pizzeria 1 Bene't St, Cambridge CB2 3QN, UK
- Bill's Cambridge Restaurant 34-35 Green St, Cambridge CB2 3JX, UK
- Marks & Spencer 5 Market Hill, Cambridge CB2 3NJ, UK
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 40 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.