The Centre for Computing History

The Centre for Computing History The Centre for Computing History The Centre for Computing History is a friendly and accessible museum with a strong focus on learning.
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Its core purpose is to use, for the benefit of everyone, its collections, displays, learning programmes, and events to explore the social, cultural and historical impact – the lived experience - of developments in computing over the past 80 years. Future generations will wonder how this massively important and transformative cultural development happened, so while 80 years is short in terms of hum

an evolution, through hands-on and inclusive experiences we explore how these powerful devices became an inextricable part of all our lives and changed our world.

This week's features something rather special from our 'Z80 at 50' exhibit - our CAT Computer Prototype! 💻🐱This rare i...
18/06/2026

This week's features something rather special from our 'Z80 at 50' exhibit - our CAT Computer Prototype! 💻🐱

This rare item is not usually on display, it is believed to be the only one in existence!
It features a Sharp Z80 CPU, and is comprised of three boards, the keyboard, main board, and printer section.

This prototype computer was worked on by Nine Tiles, a Cambridge company who wrote the BASIC for Sinclair computers, on behalf of a Hong Kong Technology company. Our team is hoping to be able to read the ROMs so we can see what secrets are held within...

Fancy seeing more Z80-powered machines? 🔍 Come along to the museum and take on our challenge: can you find all of our labelled Z80 computers?

⏰ We're open Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–5pm.

Summer Workshops Are Here! 🌞Join us this summer at the Centre for Computing History! From coding and robotics to electro...
16/06/2026

Summer Workshops Are Here! 🌞

Join us this summer at the Centre for Computing History! From coding and robotics to electronics and digital discovery, our interactive workshops are packed with hands-on activities designed to inspire and engage.

This summer's workshops include:

🐛 Let's Code the Code-A-Pillar!
🤖 Build-a-Bot: Introducing Q-B
🕵️ Pico Spy
⚡ Electronics Lab: Beat the Buzzer

Perfect for curious young minds who love to build, create and discover!

🎟️ Book your place today: https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/pages/30677/What-s-On/

More exciting workshops will be announced soon! 👀

Bring Dad to the museum for FREE this Father's Day! 👾This Father's Day (Sunday 21st June) we are offering one free admis...
14/06/2026

Bring Dad to the museum for FREE this Father's Day! 👾

This Father's Day (Sunday 21st June) we are offering one free admission for Dad with the purchase of at least one full-price ticket.

🎟 For family tickets, the total ticket price will be adjusted so that one Dad receives free admission. For example, a family group such as 2 parents and 2 children, 1 parent and 2 children, or 1 parent and 1 child will receive a discount equivalent to one adult ticket so Dad can visit for free.

We look forward to welcoming you and celebrating this Father’s Day! 😄

✍️ This offer is only valid for Sunday 21st June 2026, and is non-transferable. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotions, discounts, or concession tickets.

🎹 TWO WEEKS to go until Synthesized! 🎹Expect homemade synths, classic Yamahas, drum machines, guitars, experimental setu...
14/06/2026

🎹 TWO WEEKS to go until Synthesized! 🎹

Expect homemade synths, classic Yamahas, drum machines, guitars, experimental setups, and LOTS of cables 🎸

📅 Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th June 2026
📍 The Centre for Computing History, Cambridge
🎟️ Book your tickets now via the links below:

Saturday: https://bit.ly/Synthesized-Saturday
Sunday: https://bit.ly/Synthesized-Sunday

Annual Pass holders can enjoy 50% off their Synthesized ticket! Simply add your pass number in the additional notes box when booking.

Don't miss this unique celebration of synthesizers, music technology and electronic creativity!

Happy Pride Month! 🌈June is Pride Month, and we're celebrating the many LGBTQ+ people whose ideas and creativity have he...
13/06/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

June is Pride Month, and we're celebrating the many LGBTQ+ people whose ideas and creativity have helped shape the history of computing.

From pioneering computer scientists to innovators whose work powers technology we use every day, LGBTQ+ individuals have made lasting contributions to our digital world. In this carousel, we're highlighting just a few of their stories.

At the Centre for Computing History, we're passionate about exploring the people behind the technology and sharing a history that reflects the diversity of those who have shaped it.

Whether you're joining the celebrations at Cambridge Pride today or celebrating elsewhere, we wish you a happy Pride. ✨🏳️‍🌈

This week's is our Acorn ARM Evaluation System for the BBC Micro! 🖥️Featuring one of the first production RISC process...
11/06/2026

This week's is our Acorn ARM Evaluation System for the BBC Micro! 🖥️

Featuring one of the first production RISC processors, the ARM Evaluation System formed part of the development programme that led to the Acorn Archimedes and its early Arthur operating system.

The system was supplied in the standard BBC Micro "cheese wedge" case 🧀 and connects to the BBC via the TUBE port on the underside of the machine.

Our example is fitted with the additional 2MB Memory Expansion card, giving developers even more room to experiment with Acorn's groundbreaking ARM technology.

Did you use a BBC Micro or Acorn computer back in the day? Let us know in the comments! 👇

Last Wednesday, we were delighted to welcome software engineer and computer archaeologist Neil Fraser to the Centre for ...
10/06/2026

Last Wednesday, we were delighted to welcome software engineer and computer archaeologist Neil Fraser to the Centre for Computing History for a fascinating talk for students from visiting schools on programming the Apollo Guidance Computer! 👨‍🚀💻

While Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history on the Moon, Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit, known as the "world's loneliest man". Despite having one of the most advanced computers of its time at his fingertips, NASA hadn't provided any games to pass the time!

Students from Robert Barclay Academy and Wickham Market Primary School had the unique opportunity to play Noughts and Crosses on the Apollo Guidance Computer using the first bare-metal program written for the system in over 60 years.

A huge thank you to Neil for sharing his expertise and giving the students such a memorable hands-on experience with a piece of computing history. 🌙✨

Tech for Good & Rare Prototypes at Cambridge Wide Open Day 2026!The Centre for Computing History is delighted to be team...
08/06/2026

Tech for Good & Rare Prototypes at Cambridge Wide Open Day 2026!

The Centre for Computing History is delighted to be teaming up with St John's Innovation Centre for this year's Cambridge Wide Open Day on Wednesday 17 June 2026.

Join founders, innovators, researchers and community leaders for Tech for Good: Past Lessons; Future Choices — a thought-provoking panel exploring how lessons from past technological innovation can help shape more responsible, sustainable and ethical decisions for the future.

The panel features CCH Chair of Trustees Gareth Marlow, Martin Rigby (ET Capital), Nadirah Hussain (CCH's Broken Tech: Broken Earth Project Co-ordinator), with additional speakers to be announced.

📍 St John's Innovation Centre, Cambridge, UK
📅 Wednesday 17 June 2026
⏰ 10:30–15:00

Alongside the panel, The Centre for Computing History will be showcasing interactive retro gaming experiences, rare Cambridge-developed technology prototypes, and a drop-in session for founders, innovators and visitors.

🎟️ This event is free to attend, but advance booking is required. Reserve your place here: https://bit.ly/eventbrite-techforgood

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/computinghistory-techforgood

Just one week to go until our Copy That Floppy event! 💾Want to recover data from your old floppy disks? Bring them along...
06/06/2026

Just one week to go until our Copy That Floppy event! 💾

Want to recover data from your old floppy disks? Bring them along and our team will do their best to retrieve and copy the contents onto a modern storage device.

Our 1–1:30pm slot has already sold out, but there are still plenty of places available throughout the rest of the afternoon 😄

📅 Saturday 13th June, 1 - 5pm
📍 The Centre for Computing History, Cambridge
🎟 Book your place now:
https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/76911/Copy-That-Floppy-Saturday-13th-June-2026/

Address

Rene Court, Coldhams Road
Cambridge
CB13EW

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441223214446

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