CHRISTMAS OPENING AT THE MERL

Looking for something to do between Christmas and New Year? We’ll be open on Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th December!

This year, the Museum* will be open for even more days between Christmas and New Year (27th, 28th, 29th & 30th December)! So if you need to get out of the house or are looking for a way to entertain visiting friends or family, you can bring them to explore the galleries, see our latest exhibitions and enjoy all kinds of activities.

What is there to do?

There’s plenty for everyone including a large model farm in the welcome space, interactive games and trails in the galleries, dressing up and brass rubbing in the Studio! Get creative with our Make and Takes – make a MERL Christmas blackbird or a Happy New Year paper chain decoration! And follow our new Sheep trail!

You can even get some fresh air and let off steam in the garden, where there’s a wooden play-on tractor and wagon and brass-rubbing trail for the hardy!!

This year, you’ll also be able to see Steven Claydon’s major new Reading International intervention, The Outside In. There’s also The Chicken and the Egg, a display in the Staircase Hall featuring fabulous archives and artwork from our poultry collections.

Shop and Refreshments

You can enjoy hot and cold drinks and sandwiches and snacks in our cafe, and pick up last minute presents (including some sale items) in our shop.

Opening times

Please note that the museum, shop, cafe and reading room are closed on 24th, 25th and 26th December. We close at 5pm on 23rd December. In the New Year, we will open at 9am on Weds 2nd January. Click here for details of opening times.

*not including the reading room.