What’s On

Illustration from Ladybird Books of people walking and holding a 'Peoples Climate March' banner

Exhibition

Ladybird in Focus: 100 Years On

Explore how Ladybird Books has continued to evolve since its centenary in 2015.

Dates: 2 September 2025 – 6 September 2026
Author: Public
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

James Joyce, ink and watercolour on paper by Tullio Pericoli

Exhibition

James Joyce: Enigmas and Puzzles

Explore never-before-seen personal papers of beloved author James Joyce from the Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection.

Dates: 7 October 2025 – 8 February 2026
Author: Public
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

The word 'Winter' split over two lines with a sparkly snowflake in the middle on a dark blue background

Activity

Winter Family Activity Packs

Winter-inspired things to do in the museum, outdoors and at home.

Dates: 15 November 2025 – 27 February 2026
Author: Family
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

People taking part in a Tai Chi session in The MERL garden

Recurring Event

Event

Tai Chi with Sport in Mind

Free drop-in sessions run by Sport in Mind for adults, designed to support positive mental health.

Dates: Weekly on Wednesdays, 15:30 – 16:30
Next event: 11 February 2026
Author: Public
Price: Free
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

Section of the Wonky Wall hanging

Exhibition

Community Voices

Displays showcasing creative and thought-provoking responses to themes and stories in the MERL collections by project participants.

Dates: 20 January – 24 May 2026
Author: Public
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

Talks and Seminars

Conversations with a Curator: Professor Conor Carville

Join us for a free online talk with Professor Conor Carville on artworks depicting the famous Irish writer, James Joyce.

Dates: Thursday 5 February 2026, 19:30 – 20:30
Author: Public
Price: Free, please book
Location: Online

Drawn picture of a Friday Fledglings session in the MERL garden

Recurring Event

Event

Friday Fledglings

A weekly outdoor session for toddlers in the MERL garden.

Dates: Weekly on Fridays, 10:00 – 11:30
Next event: 6 February 2026
Author: Family
Price: £5 per child. Bookings open at 12 pm on a Friday, one week ahead of the session you’d like to attend
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

Two girls walking in The MERL galleries

Half Term

Half term at The MERL

Enjoy trails and activities at the museum during February half term!

Dates: 14 – 22 February 2026
Author: Family
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

"Cluttered Countryside." A pastiche of different technologies and activities that disrupt the English countryside - from cars, to petrol stations, to tourism.

Exhibition

Voices of the Countryside: 100 Years of the Campaign to Protect Rural England

Celebrate the centenary of an extraordinary charity who transformed the preservation of England’s rural landscapes.

Dates: 14 February – 24 May 2026
Author: Public
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

"Radical Rural." A line-art illustration of an onion taking root in the ground.

Exhibition

Radical Rural gallery trail

Discover the artists, activists and movements championing rural England’s people and places today.

Dates: 14 February – 24 May 2026
Author: Public
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

Watercolour of a farmhouse by John Paget.

Exhibition

Preserving the Picturesque

Explore a series of watercolours portraying landscapes from 19th century England, painted by Victorian artist John Paget.

Dates: 14 February – 24 May 2026
Author: Public
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life

Family playing at the farm table in the Toys gallery at The MERL

Event

Museums, My Way

Free sessions for neurodivergent visitors and their loved ones.

Dates: Monday 16 February 2026
Author: Public
Price: Booking required
Location: The Museum of English Rural Life