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What’s On

Exhibition

Paint, Pencil, Print

Join us for a special showcase of iconic and innovative artworks, highlighting the growth and evolution of the art collection…

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Dates

7 June 2025 – 25 January 2026

Author

Public

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
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. Discover how Ladybird continues to meet the…

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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.

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Dates

7 October 2025 – 9 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

Winter Family Activity Packs

Buy one of our packs at the museum Gift Shop for fun activities to do with children during your visit…

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Dates

15 November 2025 – 28 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

Run with our partners Sport in Mind, the UK’s leading mental health sports charity, based in Reading. These casual drop-in…

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Dates

Weekly on Wednesdays, 15:30 – 16:30

Next event: 7 January 2026
Author

Public

Price

Free

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Drawn picture of a Friday Fledglings session in the MERL garden Recurring Event
Event

Friday Fledglings

Discover the benefits of outdoor learning and child-led play at Friday Fledglings! Come and join in with activities inspired by…

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Dates

Weekly on Fridays, 10:00 – 11:30

Next event: 9 January 2026
Author

Family

Price

£5 per child

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Young people playing an interactive game in the MERL galleries
Event

Youth Panel

Our Youth Panel, for young people aged 14 – 18, offers collective work experience opportunities across The MERL and Reading…

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Dates

Thursday 15 January 2026, 16:30 – 18:00

Author

Public

Price

Free, Booking required, please email merlevents@reading.ac.uk

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Two people laughing in one of the museum spaces.
Event

Chatty Café

These drop-in sessions are a welcoming environment for care-givers and loved ones to socialise, discuss, reminisce, and share stories inspired…

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Dates

Tuesday 20 January 2026, 14:00 – 16:00

Author

Public

Price

Drop-in (groups please contact us)

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Families toasting marshmallows in the MERL garden during a Green Explorers session
Event

Green Explorers

Green Explorers is an opportunity for children aged 5+ to experience nature and build their outdoor skills. Led by Charlotte,…

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Dates

Sunday 25 January 2026

Author

Family

Price

Free. Bookings open two weeks ahead of each session.

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life