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Sheep moving through a Lake District landscape

Forty Farms

February 11 - November 9

Our 2025 exhibition reveals the highs and lows of farming lives in some of England's most beautiful landscapes.

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Summer Family Activity Packs

May 28 - August 31
The Museum of English Rural Life, The Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road
Reading, Berkshire RG1 5EX United Kingdom
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Summer-inspired things to do in the museum, garden and at home Buy one of our packs at the museum Gift Shop for fun activities to do with children during your visit – and afterwards! For age 5+ (£3) Choose from one of  3 Nature themed Summer Activity Packs: Little Mouse and the Sunshine Garden Sun […]

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Paint, Pencil, Print

June 7, 2025 - January 25, 2026
The Museum of English Rural Life, The Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road
Reading, Berkshire RG1 5EX United Kingdom
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In 2025, the University of Reading Art Collection celebrates its 10th birthday! Join us for a special showcase of iconic and innovative artworks, highlighting the growth and evolution of the art collection over the past ten years. Showing in the Upper Staircase Hall. Image credit: Robert Gillmor, Peewit and Son, linocut on paper, UAC/11171. © […]

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Creating Communities

June 10 - September 21
The Museum of English Rural Life, The Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road
Reading, Berkshire RG1 5EX United Kingdom
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May Day pageant involving school children, dancing around the maypole

This student exhibition explores how communities express themselves and connect with each other. Explore the social history of craft, celebrations, and oral traditions. See how communities, form, develop, and collaborate. Reflect on what makes your community unique and question what heritage means to you.

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Ongoing

University of Reading MA Fine Art: Spring Exhibition

March 18 @ 8:00 am - June 15 @ 5:00 pm
Digging Deeper Gallery, MERL
University of Reading MA Fine Art Spring Exhibition

Explore artworks by MA Fine Art students at the University of Reading, responding to the Museum of English Rural Life collections.

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Tai Chi with Sport in Mind

April 30 @ 3:30 pm - June 25 @ 4:30 pm
The Museum of English Rural Life, The Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road
Reading, Berkshire RG1 5EX United Kingdom
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Free
People taking part in a Tai Chi session in The MERL garden

Run with our partners Sport in Mind, the UK’s leading mental health sports charity, based in Reading. These casual drop-in sessions for adults are designed to support positive mental health through Tai Chi. They are fun and free and delivered at The Museum of English Rural Life every Wednesday at 3.30-4.30pm. This session is open […]

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11:00 am

Romany & Traveller Heritage Day 2025

June 14 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Museum of English Rural Life, The Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road
Reading, Berkshire RG1 5EX United Kingdom
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Free
A boy blacksmithing at MERL

Attend the opening of our newly-curated GRT gallery, The Long Road Meet special guests and community experts. From the Romany and Traveller Family History Society, to award-winning poet Dr Jo Clement Delve into the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller artefacts and archives in the Robert Dawson Romany Collection Bring a picnic, enjoy live music in the […]

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