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Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

 

MAA seeks to create and maintain a safe and accessible space for all.

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is free to all visitors, however donations are always appreciated to support our ongoing work. The length of an average visit is 60-90 minutes. Click here to find out more about your visit.

On this page, you can find information about our available facilities and how you can prepare for your visit to MAA. We are also listed on the AccessAble website, which has more information about visiting the museum.

We are committed to making our website and mobile applications accessible to all. Click here to read our Accessibility Statement


Further information

If you have any questions about accessibility, or would like to make a suggestion, please email us at admin@maa.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can phone us on +44 (0)1223 333516. Our reception desk is in operation from Tuesday to Sunday.

If you require assistance or information during your visit, please talk to our front of house staff, who you can find around the museum or at the front desk.


Access into and around the museum

The main entrance on Downing Street is fully accessible to wheelchair users and there is a lift for visitors, which has a capacity of 10 people or 800kg. If the lift is out of order for any reason, we will update here and via our Twitter page, and endeavour to fix this as soon as possible.

There are three floors in the museum: the Clarke Gallery (ground floor), dedicated to the archaeology of Cambridge, the World Cultures Gallery (first floor), and the Andrews Gallery (third floor/mezzanine), dedicated to world cultures.

Our temporary exhibitions are held in the Li Ka Shing Gallery, on the ground floor, with some temporary displays located on the first floor.

Main entrance

The main double-door, on Downing Street, is fully accessible from street level. This door is fully automatic. The main doors open onto the front desk area where you will be greeted by a member of our friendly front of house team. The front desk acts as a contact point for all queries on your arrival. Gallery attendants on each floor are able to assist in additional queries.

From the front desk, the ground floor gallery opens out to display archaeological objects from the local Cambridgeshire area. Adjoining the main gallery space is the Li Ka Shing Gallery for temporary displays. Temporary displays will sometimes incorporate audio visual interactives which are highlighted by members of staff, and/or by signage. All ground floor exhibits are on one floor with no steps.

Lift

To the left of the front desk is the museum’s lift which takes visitors to the first and second floors. There is a hand-rail on one side of the lift.

Signage detailing what is on each floor can be found in the lift next to the buttons, which light up when pressed. There are two sets of doors to the lift and both sets will open when it arrives at the desired floor. Gender neutral, accessible toilets can be found on both the first and second floors, adjacent to the lift.

Stairs

Stairs to all floors are accessed via a single automatic glass door on the ground floor, and via a double swing door on both the first and second floors. All doors from the stair well are positioned on a landing and no door opens out immediately on to a step.

There is a banister along the main stairwell, however there are some areas on the inside bends where the banister is interrupted.

Parking

There is no general visitor parking at the Museum. Limited blue badge parking is located in the Grand Arcade car park (Corn Exchange St, Cambridge, CB2 3QF) and on Trumpington Street, a quarter of a mile away.

Click here for directions to and a detailed map of the museum’s location.


Facilities

Baby changing facilities are available. The museum does not have a restaurant or café, but there is one at the Museum of Zoology on the other side of Downing Street.

There is an outdoor courtyard with benches and a green area next to the museum, accessed via Downing Street or by the exit of the museum.

Toilets and baby-changing facilities

We have two sets of gender-neutral toilets. One set is on the first-floor landing, and the other is on the second floor landing, both of which are immediately adjacent to a wheelchair-accessible lift.

In each set of toilets, there are two cubicles, one of which is wheelchair accessible. Both cubicles have sinks and paper towels on which to dry your hands. There are emergency alarms in both wheelchair accessible toilets.

The nearest Changing Places toilet is in the Grand Arcade car park, on Level -1 of the South (Lower) car park, across the road on Downing Street.

Seating

Seating is available in all galleries, both with and without armrests. Please ask any of the gallery attendants located on each floor if you need assistance.

Seating is cleaned and sanitised regularly. Please ensure that you maintain social distancing when using the benches.

Cloakroom facilities

We have no cloakroom facilities available at the museum. Please do not bring any large items, such as suitcases, scooters, fold-up bicycles and musical instruments, into the galleries.

Assistance dogs

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and dogs for the disabled are welcome at the Museum.


Food and drink

The Museum does not have a restaurant or cafe on site (and eating and drinking is not permitted in the Museum as this can attract pests that could potentially damage the artefacts) but there are several open spaces nearby for picnics in good weather and our team will be happy to tell you about other local places to eat, including The Whale Cafe at the nearby Museum of Zoology which is open to the public. Breastfeeding and bottle feeding is welcomed in all Museum spaces.


Information for blind and visually impaired visitors

Large print guides are available in each gallery. Please ask our gallery staff for further assistance.


English as a second language

We have 'Top 9' trails of the museum available in six languages:

Museum top 9 (English)

Los 9 objetos más curiosos del museo (Español)

博物館前十大展品 (繁體中文​)

博物馆“十最” (简体中文)

Top 9 del museo (Italiano)

Top 9 do museu (Português)


Lost property

The Museum will keep any items left behind at the front desk for two weeks, after which we will take them to be donated.


Invisible disabilities

MAA staff and volunteers understand that not every disability is visible. We would like all our visitors to feel safe and comfortable in out museum. This includes being able to use an accessible cubicle if you need to.

We have installed 'Not Every Disability is Visible' signs in each of our toilets. We hope this helps to raise awareness of the Crohn's and Colitis UK campaign. For official information on the campaign, please click here.


Quieter times at MAA

Visit our 'What's On' page to see our upcoming events and quieter times.


Visiting with an autistic child

We have prepared a visual story to download or print off, to help know what to expect and ease the anxiety which often accompanies a visit to somewhere new and unfamiliar.

Click here to read more about visiting MAA with an autistic child.

Two million years of human history. One million artefacts. Countless astonishing stories.