Museum of English Rural Life
The Museum of English Rural Life houses one of England’s most fascinating collections relating to life and work in the countryside over the last 200 years. Be prepared for something different as you discover how rural life has been shaped by natural materials, traditional skills and utilising technology developed over previous generations.
The museum, library and archives represent a lost world that has been preserved and recorded through outstanding collections. Housed in new gallery premises, the museum offers a unique visitor experience, with access to more than 22,000 objects, 50,000 books and over 1 million rural history photographs, and is a source of information on rural heritage for everyone. You are welcome to explore the museum collections, including agricultural tools and implements, horse-drawn ploughs, farm wagons, woodworking and craft tools, smocks, basketry, film and photographs and its large reference library and archives. To make an appointment to use the Reading Room telephone 0118 378 8660 or email merl@rdg.ac.uk
To find out about current exhibitions, forthcoming seminars, workshops and family events, please download the new "What's On" brochure.
Opening Times
| Open All Year |
|---|
| 2012 (01/01/2012 - 31/12/2012) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday | Closed | |
| Tuesday | 09:00 | 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 | 17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 | 17:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 | 17:00 |
| Saturday | 14:00 | 16:30 |
| Sunday | 14:00 | 16:30 |
Facilities
Provider Preferences
- In town/city centre
- Indoor Attraction
- No Smoking Attraction
- Outdoor Attraction - We have a beautiful enclosed garden with picnic area.
Accessibility
- All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
- Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors
- Guide Dogs Permitted
- Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
- Ramp/Level Access
- Toilets for Disabled Visitors
- Wheelchair user accessible - Yes.
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Catering
- On-Site cafe/restaurant - There is a University cafe adjacent to the museum, providing light meals and drinks.
- Picnic Site
Payment Methods
- Approx length of visit - 02:00
- Groups Accepted - Essential to prebook.
- MasterCard accepted
- Max group size - 50
- Min group size - 10
- Open by appointment outside normal opening times
- Special group rates - Yes (refreshments can be arranged for a small charge for groups by arrangement only).
- Visa accepted
Establishment Features
- Conference facilities
- Toilets
Specialist Features
- Marketed Towards Children
- Marketed Towards Families
- Marketed Towards Senior Citizens
Tours and Demonstrations
- Educational Visits Accepted
- Guided Tours Available for Groups
- Guided Tours Available for Individuals
Prices
| Ticket Type | Tariff |
|---|---|
| Adult | Free |
| Child | Free |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
Road Directions
Check Museum website for directions. www.reading.ac.uk/merl/merl-findus . Our postcode for sat navs is RG1 5EX.
Public Transport Directions
Services 20 and 21 run every 20 minutes from Reading Station. Get off at the first stop at the bottom of Kendrick Road. Walk a short way up the hill and cut through the footpath to the left of Abbey School. At the end of the path the museum is on your right hand side.
Services 9 and 144. The number 9 runs every twenty minutes. The 144 is hourly. The bus stops in Craven Road next to the Hospital. Walk down to London Road and left past the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Turn left in to Redlands Road and the Museum is located a short way up on the right hand side immediately past Acacias Road.
