The Lensfield Hotel
✓ Victorian-era hotel in Cambridge city centre
🏖️ 0.31 miles from Sheep's Green, River Cam (Poor water quality)
Cambridge
Museums & Galleries · Cambridge
The Polar Museum
📍 CB2 1ER
Photo: Mihai Olaru (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Exceptional collection related to Sir Ernest Shackleton
- Permanent displays on Arctic and Antarctic history
- Special exhibitions alongside permanent displays
- Online catalogues to explore the collection
- Talks for adults and family activity days
The Polar Museum is part of the Scott Polar Research Institute, a University of Cambridge centre founded in 1920 as a memorial to Captain Scott and his companions. Inside you'll find permanent displays on the history and contemporary significance of the Arctic and Antarctic, an exceptional Shackleton collection, and regular special exhibitions alongside talks and family activity days. It suits visitors interested in exploration history, as well as school and group bookings, which are free but need booking in advance. The museum is free to visit, open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, with an accessible side entrance. Based in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, it's close to Cambridge station, just 0.6 miles away, with 40 bookable places to stay within 5 miles on BritStays.
Practical details
- Open
- Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10am-4pm
- Booking
- Essential for school and group self-guided visits, which are free
- Accessibility
- Accessible side entrance available
From the attraction's own website on 5 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Disabled Access
- ✓ Gift Shop
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Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near The Polar Museum
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.1 mi
0.1 mi
Gonville Hotel
✓ Boutique hotel blending classic prestige with modern charm in Cambridge
🏖️ 0.57 miles from Sheep's Green, River Cam (Poor water quality)
Cambridge
0.2 mi
Hotel du Vin & Bistro
✓ Boutique hotel in a historic Grade II listed building
🏖️ 0.3 miles from Sheep's Green, River Cam (Poor water quality)
Cambridge
0.2 mi
0.3 mi
University Arms
✓ Edwardian-inspired interiors with bespoke furnishings throughout the hotel
🏖️ 0.56 miles from Sheep's Green, River Cam (Poor water quality)
Cambridge
0.4 mi
🎪 What's on near The Polar Museum
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
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Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 14 Nov · 16:00
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Fri 4 Dec · 18:00
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Fri 4 Dec · 19:00
Oh What a Night!
West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge · 0.8 mi
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🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to The Polar Museum into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
🚆 Or come by train
- Cambridge 0.6 miles
- Cambridge South 1.7 miles
- Cambridge North 2.3 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page