What’s On

All the rats in the Rat Trail, posing for the camera in our galleries
Trail

Rat Trail

Can you find the 12 rats hidden in The Museum of English Rural Life?

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Dates

Year-round

Author

Family

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Displays

Imprint

Display celebrating prints made by early twentieth-century women artists from the University of Reading’s School of Art.

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Dates

9 June 2026 – 17 January 2027

Author

Public

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Displays

Ladybird in Focus: Behind the Hamster

Discover how a Ladybird book is made following the journey of a curious hamster.

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Dates

8 September 2026 – 5 September 2027

Author

Family, Public

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
A fledgling in the garden, jumping on leaves Recurring Event
Event

Friday Fledglings

Weekly outdoor learning for toddlers in our garden.

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Dates

Weekly on Fridays, 10:00 – 11:30

Next event: 9 October 2026
Author

Family

Price

£5 per child. Bookings open at 12 pm on Fridays, 1 week ahead of the next session

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Exhibition

A Life of Poetry: The Peter Robinson Archive

Discover how poetry is made.

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Dates

6 October 2026 – 17 January 2027

Author

Public

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
The time capsule project team in the garden
Displays

Farming the Future

Learn about the contents of a time capsule buried in The MERL garden this summer, reflecting on the next 100 years of farming.

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Dates

6 October 2026 – 17 January 2027

Author

Public

Location
Community Case
Young people playing an interactive game in the MERL galleries
Event

Youth Panel

For young people aged 14 – 18, our Youth Panel offers collective work experience opportunities across The MERL and Reading Museum.

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Dates

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

Author

Young People

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

Monthly chat, craft & play drop-in sessions aimed at adults including care-givers and loved ones.

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Dates

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

Author

Public

Price

Free, drop-in (groups please contact us)

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Event

LEGO® Build the Change: Insects and Pollinators

Book on for a fun hands-on activity with LEGO bricks during October half term.

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Dates

Tuesday 27 October 2026, 10:00 – 15:00

Author

Family

Price

Free, booking required (link coming soon!). Suggested age 4+

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Talks and Seminars

Conversations with a Curator: Tim Jerrome

Join us for a free online talk with Tim Jerrome on artwork by the English novelist, Sylvia Townsend-Warner.

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Dates

Thursday 5 November 2026, 19:30 – 20:30

Author

Public

Price

Free, please book

Location
Online
Event

Winter Late (18+)

Experience The Museum of English Rural Life after hours in an evening of tours, crafts and drinks.

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Dates

Wednesday 18 November 2026, 18:00 – 21:00

Author

Adults

Price

£5 adults / £3 University of Reading students & staff

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Talks and Seminars

Conversations with a Curator: Katharine Martin

Join us for a free online talk with Katherine Martin on the relationship between John Constable and David Lucas.

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Dates

Thursday 3 December 2026, 19:30 – 20:30

Author

Public

Price

Free, please book

Location
Online