Those looking to escape the snow and ice after the Christmas break can find refuge among Cambridge University’s Museums and collections.

At the Fitzwilliam Museum, (closed 24-26 December and 31 December/1 January) Epic of the Persian Kings: The Art of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh continues until 9 January 2011. The landmark exhibition of rare and glittering Persian manuscript paintings has proved incredibly popular with the public. If you haven’t seen it, catch it while you still can.

Meanwhile, join author Nick Jubber (as heard on BBC R4's Excess Baggage) at the Museum on 5 January 2011, who will talk about his recently published travel adventures through Iran and Afghanistan, Drinking Arak off an Ayatollah's Beard.

The evening includes a screening of an animation of one of the Shahnameh stories, a glass of wine and a chance to view the exhibition Epic of the Persian Kings after-hours Event begins at 6.30pm: tickets £8 (£6 concessions), booking essential: email dawn.coleman@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or telephone 01223 703520.

At the New Hall Art Collection at Murray Edwards College, an exhibition of paintings by Oxford artist John Crombie, The Light Turned Flimsy continues until January 8.

Crombie’s body of work reflects a diverse and eclectic practice. Following a successful large scale out-door sculpture installation earlier this year, The Light Turned Flimsy will show paintings that are a continuing part of the evolving narrative of The Tower Tribe.

The Light Turned Flimsy exhibits a group of paintings, which depict warrior/conjuror characters that belong to a tribe who are at the moment loosely called the Tower Tribe. They are an invented community that due to their itinerant nature dream of constructing a stabilising monument, or tower, that will route them to a specific space. With this in mind they continue to move around the world searching for the best site. They are not a constant group and in different eras they reinvent themselves.

Anyone wishing to walk off a few post-turkey pounds and ounces could be well served by joining the Botanic Garden’s first guided tour of 2011 on January 8.

In the company of one of our expert Garden guides, the tour leaves Brookside Gate at 11am on Saturday, 8 January, and will take in the sparkling highlights of the Garden in winter. Tickets are £7 or £6.50 concessions.

The Garden shuts for Christmas from December 24-January 3 inclusive.

Kettle’s Yard meanwhile is closed from 24-28 December, open 29-31 December and January 2, but closed January 1 and 3.

Details of all Cambridge University’s museums can be found here: http://www.cam.ac.uk/museums/

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