The Centre for Computing History

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

I attended one afternoon in February specifically for an event. Were it not for the event I wouldn't know it was there.

It's fun!

So much nostalgia there and so well laid out with themed rooms. In one room you're invited to rummage through the drawers for hidden treasures.

I managed to play Tetris on a NES and got my arse kicked at the arcade version of Street Fighter II. I maintain that I was was great at that in my day!

The negatives:
1. Cambridge is horrible to drive around and this isn't easy to get to. There is plenty of parking
2. A staff member more interested in his vape to see to customers

Wow! This was like a whistle stop tour of my career, from my first microcomputer in 1979, the Commodore Pet 8k with a built in green screen and cassette tape recorder. I found it incredibly nostalgic and loved all the old computers. What a collection! Who know the essential role played by Lyons Corner Tea Shops in the birth of office computing? I certainty didn't. Lots of 'hands on' exhibits.

I was very impressed by their focus on women pioneers in computing.