Summer starts here!
Explore everything coming up at The Museum of English Rural Life, from May to September 2025, for visitors of all ages to enjoy.
Family fun
On 1 August, we’re joined by the wonderful Miller’s Ark Farm, a touring farm that brings farm animals to inner-city spaces. Meet farm animals up-close in the museum garden, or get hands-on with themed crafts and activities. We’re also running an alternative version of the event for neurodivergent visitors and their loved ones as part of our Museums, My Way events.
Earlier in the summer, on 14 June, we’re celebrating the histories and legacies of the UK’s Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities on our Romany & Traveller Heritage Day. There’ll be events and activities throughout the museum: from heritage-themed talks, to hands-on activities like blacksmithing, and live music and refreshments. There’s no need to book – simply drop-in throughout the day.
Finally, there’s always a great mix of things to see and do throughout the museum galleries, from popular trails to puzzles and toys. Check out what we offer families.
Explore the garden
The museum garden is a green oasis that everyone’s welcome to enjoy. Kids can climb on our play-on tractor, let off steam in our safe and enclosed space, or meet our very cheery chickens. There’s plenty of space for picnicking, sunbathing, and unwinding across the lawn, surrounded by woodlands, flourishing growing spaces and planters tended to by our community of growers.
The garden opens out from the museum café, which was recently named by The Guardian as one of the top 50 museum cafes in the UK. We stock a range of sweet and savoury treats, snacks, and drinks, selected from primarily independent and local suppliers, whether that’s Warings (Reading’s oldest bakery) or local chocolatiers Mortimer Chocolate. There’s outdoor seating available on our patio or you can relax inside the cool café space.
Evening socials, talks and tours
Each month this summer we’re bringing you new ways to engage with our collections. On 9 July, join us for a special evening event with award-winning photography Amy Bateman, where we’ll go behind-the-scenes on the stories that led to our 2025 exhibition Forty Farms. Learn more about our galleries by joining us for our monthly gallery tours, continuing in both May and June. And look out for the announcement of our Heritage Open Days events, displaying unique parts of the collection for a limited time only.
Ready to visit?
Find out everything you need to know about making a visit to The Museum of English Rural Life on our Visit Us pages. Visiting is free, with a suggested £5 donation per person. We hope to see you soon!