Welcome to the Polar Museum.
Discover Polar adventure and exploration on your doorstep. From penguins to paintings, sleeping bags to sextants, Inuit art to explorers’ diaries – come find out about exploration, science and survival at the extreme ends of the earth.
Collection Highlights
- Fossil ferns from approximately 140 million ago
- Snow googles used by Ernest Shackleton on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1914-16 (Endurance) – given to him by Harald Nilsen.
- An unopened tin of pemmican taken from the hut of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09 (Nimrod).
- A folding camera, manufactured by A.E. Staley & Co. and used by Robert Falcon Scott at the South Pole, 1912, on the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13 (Terra Nova).
Free Entry
Contact Us
Website: www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum
Call: 01223 336540
Email: museum@spri.cam.ac.uk
Family Visits
Visiting with a buggy
Buggies are welcome but cannot be left unattended, please contact the Museum before your visit with any questions.
Activities
Audio guides are available at the information desk, with one tour aimed at adults and one at younger visitors. A small charge applies.
Gallery trails: Discover the Polar regions with a Pack-a-polar suitcase trail, an Explorer trail and other activities for children.
Research Enquiries and Image Permissions
Researchers wishing to consult the Museum’s collections should email museum@spri.cam.ac.uk to make an appointment.
To request permission to use images of the Museum’s collection, please contact the Picture Library at the Scott Polar Research Institute.
Opening hours
Getting here
Accessibility
If you would like advice or information about visiting the Museum with special access requirements, please contact the Museum team on 01223 336540 or email museum@spri.cam.ac.uk.
Physical Access
The Museum is on the ground floor of the Scott Polar Research Institute. The Museum is accessible via a ramp via the side entrance to the Research Institute, reached via the car park. Inside the Museum, there is plenty of space and smooth floors. All areas are accessible by wheelchair.
Visibility impairments
The Museum is well-lit, and information on exhibits is large and clear. Large print labels are available on request: please ask at the information desk.
Hearing impairments
The Museum is generally quiet and peaceful, though there is some traffic noise from Lensfield Road, particularly at peak times.
Assistance dogs
are very welcome.
Disabled parking
A limited amount of onsite parking near the entrance to the Institute is available for blue badge holders. Please contact the Museum in advance to arrange this. Parking immediately outside the Museum on Lensfield Road is free for blue badge holders.
Changing Places Toilet
The closest Changing Places toilet is located in the Grand Arcade car park. Locate more Changing Places toilets in Cambridge.
Additional Access Information for the Polar Museum
Visit the AccessAble website
