Cities
United Kingdom Cambridge Cambridgeshire Museum

Polar Museum

About

The Polar Museum, part of the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, offers a captivating insight into the history, science, and art of the Arctic and Antarctic. Founded in 1920 in memory of Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his ill-fated Terra Nova expedition, it preserves and shares the stories of exploration, survival, and discovery at the Earth’s extremes. Its collections include artefacts from legendary expeditions by Scott, Shackleton, and other pioneers, alongside Inuit art, scientific instruments, maps, and personal diaries. Exhibits explore the lives of indigenous peoples, the challenges of polar travel, and the environmental changes shaping these fragile regions today. Through immersive displays and regularly changing exhibitions, the museum connects past achievements with contemporary polar research. Free to enter and located on Lensfield Road, it remains a unique destination where visitors can engage with the human spirit of endurance and the scientific quest to understand some of the planet’s most remote and awe-inspiring landscapes.

Cambridge United Kingdom
Polar Museum
Location

The Polar Museum is located on Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1ER, housed within the Scott Polar Research Institute near the city centre. It is close to other prominent university museums including the Fitzwilliam Museum and the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden. The museum is within a ten-minute walk from Cambridge railway station and is situated near central city attractions, shops, and cafes. The area also features several sculptures in the Institute’s grounds and offers convenient access to public transport and parking options nearby, including the Queen Anne car park.

Fitzwilliam Museum Fitzwilliam Museum Museum Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Museum Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Museum Whipple Museum of the History of Science Whipple Museum of the History of Science Museum Museum of Zoology Museum of Zoology Museum Museum of Classical Archaeology Museum of Classical Archaeology Museum Kettle’s Yard Kettle’s Yard Museum Cambridge Museum of Technology Cambridge Museum of Technology Museum Cambridge Science Centre Cambridge Science Centre Museum Centre for Computing History Centre for Computing History Museum Museum of Cambridge Museum of Cambridge Museum David Parr House David Parr House Museum IWM Duxford IWM Duxford Museum Bottisham Airfield Museum Bottisham Airfield Museum Museum Cambridge Arts Theatre Cambridge Arts Theatre Theatre ADC Theatre ADC Theatre Theatre Mumford Theatre Mumford Theatre Theatre Corpus Playroom Corpus Playroom Theatre Robinson Theatre Robinson Theatre Theatre West Road Concert Hall West Road Concert Hall Theatre MODO Gallery MODO Gallery Gallery Cambridge Artworks & Artspace Cambridge Artworks & Artspace Gallery GALLERIE V GALLERIE V Gallery ArtSpace5-7 ArtSpace5-7 Gallery Castle Mound Castle Mound Historical Landmark The Backs The Backs Park Cambridge University Botanic Garden Cambridge University Botanic Garden Botanical Garden Jesus Green Jesus Green Park Midsummer Common Midsummer Common Park Parker’s Piece Parker’s Piece Park Christ’s Pieces Christ’s Pieces Park Mathematical Bridge Mathematical Bridge Bridge Anglesey Abbey Anglesey Abbey Historical Landmark Cambridge Market Square Cambridge Market Square Market All Saints Garden Art & Craft Market All Saints Garden Art & Craft Market Market The Corpus Clock The Corpus Clock Tourist attractions Laundress Green Laundress Green Park