Summer Family Fun at The MERL

Butterfly sitting on lavender

This summer, enjoy family events, trails, activities, crafts and more at The Museum of English Rural Life! Join us for the The MERL Family Picnic event on the theme of caring for nature and each other Come and visit farm animals from Miller’s Ark Farm in The MERL garden Meet Mr Palmer and enjoy a short […]

FRIDAY FLEDGLINGS – 8 JULY

family attends Friday Fledglings in the MERL garden

JOIN US FOR A FUN AND FRIENDLY SESSION FOR UNDER-5S IN THE FANTASTIC GARDEN AT THE MERL Discover the benefits of outdoor learning and child-led play! Come and join in with activities inspired by the themes and collections of the museum, enjoy exploring nature, our mud kitchen, water play, sand-pit and more. Each session also […]

THE MERL FAMILY PICNIC EVENT

Family in The MERL garden

Bring your own picnic and blanket and join us in the museum garden to enjoy a range of free activities, showcasing recent projects and activities that have taken place at The MERL on the theme of ‘Care’. Programme: Our current programming theme at The MERL is ‘CARE’.  This event showcases some highlights from some of […]

Miller’s Ark at The MERL

Join us at The MERL to meet the Miller’s Ark animals Bring your own picnic and blanket and join us in the museum garden to enjoy a range of hand-on activities from The MERL and visit real farm animals from Miller’s Ark. Event details Event times: 12.30 - 4pm Book in advance: £2 person (under [...]

BISCUIT TOWN: MEET MR PALMER

A man dressed as a Victorian Mr Palmer holding a biscuit tin standing in front of the Huntley & Palmers building in Reading
As we continue to celebrate 200 years of Huntley & Palmers in Reading during the summer holidays, join us at The MERL to meet Mr George Palmer, proprietor of the famous biscuit manufacturers. He’ll be around to meet and chat to you throughout the day and there’ll also be a chance to enjoy a short [...]

Summer Family Activity Pack

Summer-inspired things to do in the museum, garden and at home Pick up your activity pack at the museum shop. £4 per pack. For families with children aged 5+, this pack includes a selection of crafts, recipes from our library collections to try at home, a gallery trail, colouring, a themed story and more! Remember […]

SONGS AND STORIES WITH LITTLE MOUSE

We are not able to return to our full Friday Fledglings sessions yet but we’d love to see you! Please join us for a 30-minute session in the garden where our Friday Fledglings leaders Charlotte, Fong and Little Mouse will tell stories and sing songs. Bring your own teddy, picnic blanket, snack and drink. Booking […]

FRIDAY FLEDGLINGS – 24 JUNE

family attends Friday Fledglings in the MERL garden

JOIN US FOR A FUN AND FRIENDLY SESSION FOR UNDER-5S IN THE FANTASTIC GARDEN AT THE MERL Discover the benefits of outdoor learning and child-led play! Come and join in with activities inspired by the themes and collections of the museum, enjoy exploring nature, our mud kitchen, water play, sand-pit and more. Each session also […]

FRIDAY FLEDGLINGS – 17 JUNE

family attends Friday Fledglings in the MERL garden

JOIN US FOR A FUN AND FRIENDLY SESSION FOR UNDER-5S IN THE FANTASTIC GARDEN AT THE MERL Discover the benefits of outdoor learning and child-led play! Come and join in with activities inspired by the themes and collections of the museum, enjoy exploring nature, our mud kitchen, water play, sand-pit and more. Each session also […]

FRIDAY FLEDGLINGS – 10 JUNE

family attends Friday Fledglings in the MERL garden

JOIN US FOR A FUN AND FRIENDLY SESSION FOR UNDER-5S IN THE FANTASTIC GARDEN AT THE MERL Discover the benefits of outdoor learning and child-led play! Come and join in with activities inspired by the themes and collections of the museum, enjoy exploring nature, our mud kitchen, water play, sand-pit and more. Each session also […]

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    The Museum is now fully open, following a major redevelopment, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

    Free Admission

    The Museum of English Rural Life

    University of Reading

    Redlands Road

    Reading

    RG1 5EX

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