Before you visit, please check The MERL’s COVID updates blog for the latest visitor information.

Museum galleries, garden, café and shop

Our galleries, garden, shop, and café are open:

Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm

Closed on Mondays

University closure days

The MERL (including, shop, café, garden and reading room) is closed on bank holidays and on some University of Reading closures days at Christmas and Easter.

Please contact us if you have any queries about closure dates. For all the latest updates, follow us on social media.

Reading room

The reading room is open Tuesday to Friday, from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Booking is essential.

Find further information and book your visit on the reading room page.

An image of the Grade-II* listed building that makes up the Museum offices.

Getting here

Find out how to get to The MERL by car, bus, train and foot!

Getting here

Galleries and floorplan

Learn about twelve different galleries at The MERL.

Galleries and floorplan

Visiting the archive and library

How to access our reading room for use of our archives and library.

Visiting the archive and library

The MERL Café

Treat yourself in The MERL Café.

The MERL Café

shoppers in the MERL gift shop

The MERL gift shop

The MERL gift shop features carefully selected gifts and cards inspired by our collections

The MERL gift shop

Picnic bench and shepherds hut in The MERL garden

The MERL garden

Enjoy and explore The MERL's urban garden.

The MERL garden