The Centre For Computing History
The Centre For Computing History
The Centre For Computing History
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Centre for Computing History is a hands-on interactive museum of computers and game consoles that date back to the early fifties! From Pong to Pokémon, experience the evolution of computing. The displays include the huge computers of the 1950s and 60s, the home computers of the 80’s and much more and almost everything is switched on and useable.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- anteallachleicesterLeicester, United Kingdom1,711 contributionsA fabulous place to visit.Attended an event here at the weekend. This was the first time visiting and we were astonished at what good value for money it was. This place is huge with so many different exhibits. My husband has had an interest in computers all his life and thoroughly enjoyed seeing hardware he’d used at school and throughout his working life. I enjoyed reading all the displays illustrating the history of computing. Plenty of hands-on displays too and a very cheap tuck shop. With free parking as well this place is a must see for techies and non-techies like myself.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 6, 2023
- RiShaLondon, United Kingdom540 contributionsBetter than I expected!Came here recently with friends. Staff are friendly, there are lots of interactive elements that allow you to try out different computers and softwares, and lots of learn too! It was a better experience than I initially expected, so it was a pleasant surprise to spend more time than planned! Great value for the visit, and a really cool experience as museums goVisited November 2023Traveled with friendsWritten November 18, 2023
- LindfieldSeagullHaywards Heath, United Kingdom31 contributionsBrilliant place to visitWe spent a great few hours here. The adults relived our childhoods seeing BBC, Acorn and Spectrum computers and the young really enjoyed the history of gaming. Friendly staff, really informative displays and fun. Well worth the visit.Visited February 2024Traveled with familyWritten February 10, 2024
- Andrew N8 contributionsMust visit!The museum is excellent, loads of interactive displays, many of the computers are usable. Fun features like the 80s classroom and video game consoles were a nice touch. Friendly staff, fun gift shop and cute cafe. We went on a Saturday and it was pleasantly busy, we did not have to queue to try the things we wanted.Visited April 2024Traveled with friendsWritten April 20, 2024
- Haystacks31Lincolnshire, United Kingdom105 contributionsSurprising FindWe came across this while looking at places to visit on Google. My partner likes his old games consoles so we decided to visit. Was quite a long walk from where we were staying and first impressions of the industrial estate made us question our decision to visit. However, we were very surprised. The museum is full of retro computers and games consoles, many of which you can play on. Theres lots of information about the history of computer programming as well as the consoles themselves. It was £12 each to get in which seemed a lot initially but there is so much to see, it’s definitely worth it. Theres also a basic snack bar and seating area if you fancy a cuppa and a bag of crisps or bar of chocolateVisited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 6, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
648 reviews
Excellent
507
Very good
111
Average
26
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Cruiser591268
1 contribution
Oct 2022
Because I am unable to walk due to an operation, I bought my 12 and 10 year olds to the computer museum during half term so they could get out the house somewhere where I could sit down and watch. However, I was not allowed in unless I paid £10 to sit down. I was clearly unable to participate and it was clear I wasnt mobile, but there was no facilitating me unless I paid. Im pretty shocked at this and this museum needs a serious review of their policy towards mobile restricted people and/ or carers. The people at the desk had no clue at all and not the capacity to think in real terms and just insisted on a charge for me to enter the building. After all the effort to get there I had to take three disappointed children home. Not impressed. The place is overpriced anyway and half the games dont work.
Written November 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are sorry you weren't able to visit in the way you intended. However, as a self-funded museum I'm afraid we do charge for admission into the building and for their own safety all children under 14 must be accompanied while visiting. We are unable to supervise your children while you sit down. We have plenty of places to sit throughout the museum though so you could have supervised them throughout their visit without additional discomfort. Our carers policy is well documented at the front desk and reduced price admission is available where clear criteria are met. Our senior management team includes a disabled parent and she assures us that all our policies are well considered and do not require review. If you choose to return to the museum, staff will be more than happy to provide guidance on where seating - and working games - can be found, once you have paid the appropriate admission charge. We take great pride in our machines, and there has never been a time when half of them do not work.
Written November 14, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
anteallachleicester
Leicester, UK1,711 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Attended an event here at the weekend. This was the first time visiting and we were astonished at what good value for money it was.
This place is huge with so many different exhibits. My husband has had an interest in computers all his life and thoroughly enjoyed seeing hardware he’d used at school and throughout his working life. I enjoyed reading all the displays illustrating the history of computing.
Plenty of hands-on displays too and a very cheap tuck shop.
With free parking as well this place is a must see for techies and non-techies like myself.
This place is huge with so many different exhibits. My husband has had an interest in computers all his life and thoroughly enjoyed seeing hardware he’d used at school and throughout his working life. I enjoyed reading all the displays illustrating the history of computing.
Plenty of hands-on displays too and a very cheap tuck shop.
With free parking as well this place is a must see for techies and non-techies like myself.
Written November 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matt
7 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
Had a great time visiting, even with the covid restrictions. All the computers are available for use (with plastic coverings). I love that you can use all of the old computers. My favourite exhibit is definitely the megaprocessor though, such a great way to see a computer working.
Written June 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen R
Chinley, UK460 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
What a mixed bag. Really impressive range of computers but many switched off and some simply not working (was hoping to go on the Spectrum 48k to relive my childhood but could not advance beyond the first screen).
3 arcades in the entrance room which were occupied (and still occupied by the same people when we left a couple of hours later!
A huge thing with flashing lights also in the entrance room which apparently shows how a computer works but has left me none the wiser!
History of the development of computers sort of crammed into the back left hand corner of the main room; quite fascinating but seems more like an afterthought with the focus being the machines themselves.
The boys enjoyed it but I have to say that I spent most of the time in the cafe area as the strobing screens were giving me a head ache; all too much crammed into too small a space. Just wish this one could merge with a similar museum in Sheffield which has the space and tech but not the history!
Cafe ideal. Don’t look for lunch as it is drinks, crisps and chocolate bars, but at £1 for a cup of tea, probably the cheapest cafe in Cambridge! Also has around 10 parking spaces.
3 arcades in the entrance room which were occupied (and still occupied by the same people when we left a couple of hours later!
A huge thing with flashing lights also in the entrance room which apparently shows how a computer works but has left me none the wiser!
History of the development of computers sort of crammed into the back left hand corner of the main room; quite fascinating but seems more like an afterthought with the focus being the machines themselves.
The boys enjoyed it but I have to say that I spent most of the time in the cafe area as the strobing screens were giving me a head ache; all too much crammed into too small a space. Just wish this one could merge with a similar museum in Sheffield which has the space and tech but not the history!
Cafe ideal. Don’t look for lunch as it is drinks, crisps and chocolate bars, but at £1 for a cup of tea, probably the cheapest cafe in Cambridge! Also has around 10 parking spaces.
Written April 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaisieHexagon
10 contributions
Dec 2021
Inside an unassuming building hidden away in an industrial estate is a mind-boggling array of fascinating technology from through the ages. The information boards are really well done, interesting without being overwhelming and the layou and theming of the centre is well done. The most impressive thing is quite how many of the exhibits are usable, eye-opening for youngsters and a grean nostalgia trip for those of us of a certain age! The staff are happy to talk and knowledgable about the machines. All in all a really good and highly recommended day out!
Written December 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Disco I
3 contributions
Aug 2021
A hidden gem. Great fun for young and old alike. Don't be fooled by the location and dull exterior - inside you will find an amazing collection of computers and consoles inside. The attention to detail is staggering with some impressive displays highlighting the contributions made by some of the pioneers of computing. I was only there for a couple of hours but could have easily spent most of the day reading about the history - and playing on all the consoles! Definitely worth a second visit. It's just a shame that this isn't in the more tourist area of the city rather than an industrial estate on the edge of town or it would be even more popular.
Written August 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Foxxie52
Boston, UK62 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We were visiting family down South and Cambridge was the halfway point between our home in Lincolnshire and theirs in Kent. A quick Google told me about this place and as my husband is a computer geek I knew he would love it. I fully expected to be bored out of my mind for the whole time we were there though. I was greatly mistaken.
The musuem is in an out of the way location but it had free parking which was a bonus. I bought a family ticket as it was myself, my husband and our two daughters (8 and 9).
The museum is an interesting mix of old and new. As someone who was brought up before computers (just, I'm a Xennial), I found it weird that there could be a "history" to what still feels like "modern tech". However, I was fascinated by the exhibits and then vaguely threatened that things I played with in my youth now feature in a museum and I am now officially old!
I loved the nostalgia of seeing an old Betamax machine and remembering Teletext (Teletext was awesome! Why did we get rid of it?! I used to love playing Bamboozle). The children were surprisingly interested in the computer games and especially enjoyed playing the old tennis game on one of the earliest consoles. I completely lost my husband and had to ask the front desk if they had seen him as he was so engrossed he totally left us behind.
I spent a lot of time in the museum suddenly yelling things like "oh wow, Lemmings! I loved that game!" and "Look! A floppy disk!" The nostalgia brought great delight and while I was going around feeling old and fantasizing about the days I owned a Nokia 3210, the children were happily playing on all the different consoles. To my surprise they enjoyed the really old games like the text based adventures and Pacman. I thought they would laugh at the old graphics but they thought it was great. I appreciated how hands on the whole museum is with the children actively encouraged to touch and play.
I would recommend this place to families with older children (8 upwards). The kids had to be dragged away at the end. A real hidden gem if you have a few hours to kill in Cambridge.
Be aware that computers (especially old ones) put out a lot of heat. It got very hot in the museum at times. Leave your outside coat in the car.
The musuem is in an out of the way location but it had free parking which was a bonus. I bought a family ticket as it was myself, my husband and our two daughters (8 and 9).
The museum is an interesting mix of old and new. As someone who was brought up before computers (just, I'm a Xennial), I found it weird that there could be a "history" to what still feels like "modern tech". However, I was fascinated by the exhibits and then vaguely threatened that things I played with in my youth now feature in a museum and I am now officially old!
I loved the nostalgia of seeing an old Betamax machine and remembering Teletext (Teletext was awesome! Why did we get rid of it?! I used to love playing Bamboozle). The children were surprisingly interested in the computer games and especially enjoyed playing the old tennis game on one of the earliest consoles. I completely lost my husband and had to ask the front desk if they had seen him as he was so engrossed he totally left us behind.
I spent a lot of time in the museum suddenly yelling things like "oh wow, Lemmings! I loved that game!" and "Look! A floppy disk!" The nostalgia brought great delight and while I was going around feeling old and fantasizing about the days I owned a Nokia 3210, the children were happily playing on all the different consoles. To my surprise they enjoyed the really old games like the text based adventures and Pacman. I thought they would laugh at the old graphics but they thought it was great. I appreciated how hands on the whole museum is with the children actively encouraged to touch and play.
I would recommend this place to families with older children (8 upwards). The kids had to be dragged away at the end. A real hidden gem if you have a few hours to kill in Cambridge.
Be aware that computers (especially old ones) put out a lot of heat. It got very hot in the museum at times. Leave your outside coat in the car.
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ReviewerEm
Epsom, UK88 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
An absolute hidden gem!
The centre is crammed full with computers and gaming consoles through the ages. So much to read, learn and most importantly play. The biggest attraction is the interactivity - most consoles are set up for visitors to try. We also loved the old arcade machines including street fighter, pac man etc. We spent the whole day here.
Thank you to the staff who were knowledgeable and helpful.
Highly recommended and we will certainly be back.
The centre is crammed full with computers and gaming consoles through the ages. So much to read, learn and most importantly play. The biggest attraction is the interactivity - most consoles are set up for visitors to try. We also loved the old arcade machines including street fighter, pac man etc. We spent the whole day here.
Thank you to the staff who were knowledgeable and helpful.
Highly recommended and we will certainly be back.
Written August 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanne B
4 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
This really is an interesting and fun museum. I’m not particularly interested in computers or computer games but we went as my teenage daughter had been before and loved it. Although the museum looks a bit underwhelming at first, it gives a fascinating walk through the history of computing: the people behind the developments and the different models of computers over the years. We spent a lot of time playing with old computers and even more playing old video games. We only allowed 2 hours but we could have spent double that time there and not been bored. I think we’ll have to go back.
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Haystacks31
Lincolnshire, UK105 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We came across this while looking at places to visit on Google. My partner likes his old games consoles so we decided to visit. Was quite a long walk from where we were staying and first impressions of the industrial estate made us question our decision to visit. However, we were very surprised. The museum is full of retro computers and games consoles, many of which you can play on. Theres lots of information about the history of computer programming as well as the consoles themselves. It was £12 each to get in which seemed a lot initially but there is so much to see, it’s definitely worth it. Theres also a basic snack bar and seating area if you fancy a cuppa and a bag of crisps or bar of chocolate
Written May 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will you be open on Monday and Tuesday 29/30th October 2018?
Written October 21, 2018
Hi, I am afraid not :( But we will be for the rest of that week.
Written October 22, 2018
Can you confirm you are open this Sunday, 12 July?
Written July 8, 2015
Hi ,
Yes we are open Wednesday through to Sunday every week without fail. :)
See you soon!
Jason
Written July 8, 2015
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