Book your place
13/08/2025
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Normal museum admission applies
Event information
Time
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Price
Normal museum admission applies
What
Summer with the Museums,
Family events
Where
Centre for Computing History

The Centre for Computing History, Unit 1, Rene Court, Coldhams Road, Cambridge CB1 3EW

Who
Families

Back in the mid 1980s, a huge project by the BBC took a snapshot of life in the UK. Using thousands of children up and down the country, they gathered information, and took photographs of their home town and villages, which were then sent to a central archive to be digitally converted.

The result was the Domesday Project, held in one (large) computer package. The talk will be an insightful look at this important project, demonstrating the hardware and software, with a personal recollection of the data gathering process. The event is free (although museum entry charges apply), but booking is essential to guarantee your place. 

The event ends at 11am but there will be opportunity to ask plenty of questions.

Tickets include admission to the museum for the whole day.

 

This event is part of Summer at the Museums 2025.

Included Events

Illustration of a squirrel with pawprints
Professor Filbert’s Plant Heroes
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Join Professor Filbert on our summer trail and search for some amazing plant discoveries

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Cultured Canines: Evolution, Emotion, Imitation. An exhibition by Allison Ksiazkiewicz. 22 July - 18 Oct.
Cultured Canines: Evolution, Emotion, Imitation
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Free

An exhibition by Allison Ksiazkewicz

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A cartoon picture of a friendly dragon
Children's Summer Holiday Crafts: Dragons
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Free

Join a free drop-in dragon craft session in the stunning surroundings of the Stained Glass Museum, Ely.

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A sheet on the floor is covered in artwork and spray cans. Children and adults gather around, actively contributing to the their piece.
Street Art Games workshop with Reprezent Project
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Free with museum admission

Enjoy a day out at the National Horseracing Museum, meet the horses, take our trail and join this pre-bookable family-friendly creative session from 11am - 3pm.

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Following the Pawprints 24 July- 29 Aug. Tues-Fri, 10am - 5pm
Following the Pawprints
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Get crafty and explore the Museum from a dog's-eye view!

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Farmland Museum logo and text "Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum Life in the Fens" with clipart of countryside objects and animals around the outside.
Life in the Fens
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Crafts are included with standard admission.

Discover weekly family fun at the Farmland Museum with hands-on crafts celebrating Fenland life -from countryside creatures to mighty farm machines. 

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Earth Scientist Julian Pahl stands front of a volcano and blue sky. The volcano is smoking slightly.
Summer of Earth Sciences: Drop In and Rock Out
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Free

Drop in and meet Earth scientist Julian Pahl, who studies lava rocks from Hawaii to investigate volcanic eruptions.

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The exterior of Great St Mary’s church, with a blooming rose bush in the foreground.
Creation Celebration!
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Free

Celebrate the natural world through crafts and stories at Great St Mary’s Church. Feel inspired to take care of nature and learn more about local habitats.

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Children work on art at a table surrounded by supplies and jars. On the left is text reading: “Crafting the Past. A Summer of Making. This summer, join us as we explore the forgotten trades and crafts of the past with FREE hands-on workshops.” Below the text, a trail of footprints leads out of the image.
Woad-Working Wonder
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Free

What job might you have had in Cambridge 300 years ago? This summer explore the forgotten trades and crafts of the past at the Museum of Cambridge.

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A bright and colourful piece of fused glass.
Children's Summer Holiday Crafts: Children's Glass Fusing Workshop
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Child: £17.50

Create and design your own stunning 10cm x 10cm fused glass piece with the Stained Glass Museum, Ely.

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A colourful collage titled 'Optics and Observations', featuring a microscope, red and green glasses, colourful lenses, opera glasses, cheerful green cartoon frogs, and a young girl looking through a toy microscope.
Optics and Observations 
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

Discover the wonders of optics and light through hands-on instruments and activities at the Whipple Museum — from microscopes to make-your-own spectacles!

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A colourful collage titled 'Optics and Observations', featuring a microscope, red and green glasses, colourful lenses, opera glasses, cheerful green cartoon frogs, and a young girl looking through a toy microscope.
Optics and Observations 
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

Discover the wonders of optics and light through hands-on instruments and activities at the Whipple Museum — from microscopes to make-your-own spectacles!

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A drawing of a kite on a tan coloured background with the words Let's Go Make a Kite!
Let's Go Make a Kite!
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Child: £7

Learn the science behind kite building and build your own kite that flies at Ely Museum.

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A cipher wheel used to code and decode top secret messages
Crack the Code
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Workshop participant: £14 | Accompanying adult: £12

Become a spy and help 'crack' these secret messages at the Centre for Computing History.

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A colourful collage titled 'Optics and Observations', featuring a microscope, red and green glasses, colourful lenses, opera glasses, cheerful green cartoon frogs, and a young girl looking through a toy microscope.
Optics and Observations
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

Discover the wonders of optics and light through hands-on instruments and activities at the Whipple Museum — from microscopes to make-your-own spectacles!

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A small brown wooden Wunderkammer box divided into six sections, each containing a miniature scene: a shell, a mannequin with a gold jewelled crown, a mannequin in a white lace dress, a minifigure viewing shells like a gallery, another viewing an art gallery, and duck cut-outs attending a bird-themed exhibition. Set on a light and dark green striped background.
Wonderkammer
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Child: £15

Make your own miniature museum in a wooden frame and fill it with wonderful miniature treasures and pictures.

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black and white printed image that a child has done using various objects
Children's Summer Holiday Crafts: Children's Printing Workshop
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Child: £6.50

Join the Stained Glass Museum for a children's printing workshop inspired by the stunning temporary exhibition by Surinder Warboys.

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Children work on art at a table surrounded by supplies and jars. On the left is text reading: “Crafting the Past. A Summer of Making. This summer, join us as we explore the forgotten trades and crafts of the past with FREE hands-on workshops.” Below the text, a trail of footprints leads out of the image.
Lost Craft Drop-in
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Free

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A close-up of the ‘HORSEPLAY’ logo. The word “HORSE” is in purple with a small horse figure incorporated into the “S,” and “PLAY” appears in red, yellow, blue, and green lettering.
Mosaic Art and badges with Nichola Eddery
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Free with museum admission

Enjoy a day out at the National Horseracing Museum, meet the horses, take our trail and join a family-friendly drop-in creative session from 11am - 3pm.

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A mum helps a young girl look down a microscope, standing on a stool. The table has a second microscope and a large screen, showing white, shell-like fragments which are tiny fossils, the size of a grain of sand.
Summer of Earth Sciences: Drop In and Rock Out
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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An optical illusion graphic of black lines against pink, blue and purple.
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11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Child: £5

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An exterior view of the concrete Centre for Material Culture building.
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2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

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An example of fossil painting featuring various fossil shapes, some painted in a bronze colour and others left in white clay. Set against a light and dark green striped background.
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10:10 AM - 10:40 AM, 10:40 AM - 11:10 AM, 11:10 AM - 11:40 AM, 11:40 AM - 12:10 PM, 12:10 PM - 12:40 PM, 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
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Paint your own plaster fossil at Saffron Walden Museum.

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Farmland Museum logo and text "Denny Abbey and the Farmland Museum Life in the Fens" with clipart of countryside objects and animals around the outside.
Life in the Fens
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Crafts are included with standard admission.

Discover weekly family fun at the Farmland Museum with hands-on crafts celebrating Fenland life -from countryside creatures to mighty farm machines. 
 

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The Great Greek Gymnasium. 31 July, 2-4pm
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Blurred image of feathered cape
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2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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A drawing of an owl in flight on a yellow coloured background with the words Wings and Talons
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10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Free with standard admission or annual pass

Come and meet some amazing birds of prey live at Ely Museum with the Raptor Foundation. 

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Children work on art at a table surrounded by supplies and jars. On the left is text reading: “Crafting the Past. A Summer of Making. This summer, join us as we explore the forgotten trades and crafts of the past with FREE hands-on workshops.” Below the text, a trail of footprints leads out of the image.
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11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Free

What job might you have had in Cambridge 300 years ago? This summer explore the forgotten trades and crafts of the past at the Museum of Cambridge.

Find out more >
Gaming characters like Mario showing that this is a tour that guides you through the history of gaming.
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2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Normal museum admission applies

During this special museum tour of the Centre for Computing History, in-house gaming experts will guide you through the history of video games from the seventies to the modern day. 

Find out more >
An optical illusion graphic of black lines against pink, blue and purple.
Agamograph Pictures
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
£5 per child

Create a unique agamograph picture with St Neots Museum.

Find out more >
A bee-shaped robot on a cartoon beach, wearing a sun hat.
BeeBot at the Beach
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Normal admission fee applies

Come and help BeeBot (a bee-shaped robot!) plan a trip to the beach while learning about algorithms at the Centre for Computing History.

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mother and son take part in creative activities
Studio Sunday Relaxed Session
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Free

Join us for our family workshop, in this session for children with additional sensory needs.

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mother and son take part in a creative activity
Studio Sunday
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

Join us in the Clore Learning Studio for a workshop for families.

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The exterior of Great St Mary’s church, with a blooming rose bush in the foreground.
Creation Celebration!
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Free

Celebrate the natural world through crafts and stories at Great St Mary’s Church. Feel inspired to take care of nature and learn more about local habitats.

Find out more >
A colourful collage titled 'Optics and Observations', featuring a microscope, red and green glasses, colourful lenses, opera glasses, cheerful green cartoon frogs, and a young girl looking through a toy microscope.
Optics and Observations
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

Discover the wonders of optics and light through hands-on instruments and activities at the Whipple Museum — from microscopes to make-your-own spectacles!

Find out more >
Individuals seated on the grass, engaged in conversation and relaxation
Play Pavilion
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Free

Play Pavilion: free family fun in August, whatever the weather.

Find out more >
A colourful collage titled 'Optics and Observations', featuring a microscope, red and green glasses, colourful lenses, opera glasses, cheerful green cartoon frogs, and a young girl looking through a toy microscope.
Optics and Observations
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

Discover the wonders of optics and light through hands-on instruments and activities at the Whipple Museum — from microscopes to make-your-own spectacles!

Find out more >
Two nurses dressed in traditional white uniforms and caps smile as they each hold two babies on their laps, making a total of four infants. The babies are dressed warmly in knitted clothing and are sitting side by side, looking in various directions. The photo appears to be black and white.
Giants, Beasts and Highwaymen
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Adult: £10 | Child: Free

Join St Neots Museum's Learning Officer on a guided family history walk.

Find out more >
Music beats using Sonic Pi software on the Raspberry Pi computer
Musical Code with Sonic Pi
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Workshop participant: £16 | Accompanying adult: £12

Calling young music makers! Come and learn how to use Sonic Pi on the Raspberry Pi to create some amazing tunes with the Centre for Computing History.

Find out more >
A white piece of fabric featuring a blue square. Inside the square is a white cut-out of a horse with a heart above it.
T-shirt printing workshops with Ricki Oultis
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Free with museum admission

Enjoy a day out at the National Horseracing Museum, meet the horses, take our trail and join a family-friendly drop-in creative session from 11am - 3pm.

Find out more >
Children work on art at a table surrounded by supplies and jars. On the left is text reading: “Crafting the Past. A Summer of Making. This summer, join us as we explore the forgotten trades and crafts of the past with FREE hands-on workshops.” Below the text, a trail of footprints leads out of the image.
Lost Craft Drop-in
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Free

What job might you have had in Cambridge 300 years ago? This summer explore the forgotten trades and crafts of the past at the Museum of Cambridge.

Find out more >
Mummified juvenile crocodile with mummy wrappings partially removed from its head and tail. A handwritten paper label sits in front of it and reads: Mummy of a crocodile one of the Egyptian Gods.
Family Open Day
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Free

Travel back in time and explore what life was like for the Ancient Egyptians with Wisbech & Fenland Museum.

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A cartoon of a boat, on a bright blue background.
Children's Summer Holiday Crafts: A day at the seaside
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Free

Join a free drop-in seaside craft session in the stunning surroundings of the Stained Glass Museum, Ely.

Find out more >
Two men stand in a town square dressed as Civil War soldiers. The man on the left holds a large gun, while the man on the right carries a long pole. A gazebo is visible behind them.
Become a Civil War Soldier
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Free

Do you have what it takes to join the New Modelled Army and fight for Parliament? Join the Cromwell Museum to find out!

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Off the Leash. 6 Aug, 2-4pm.
Off the Leash!
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

We're unleashing the hounds for an ancient dog-themed extravaganza!

Find out more >
Exterior View - MAA CMC
Exploring the MAA Centre for Material Culture: Toys and Games
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

Come along to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology's (MAA) Centre for Material Culture (CMC) for a 'deep-dive' into the collections as part of the UCM Summer at the Museums programme.

Find out more >
White butterfly on purple lavender
Lavender art
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Free

Come along to this family drop in event, learn about the lavender family and make a calming card using lavender

Find out more >