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
People taking part in a Tai Chi session in The MERL garden Recurring Event
Event

Tai Chi with Sport in Mind

Free drop-in sessions run by Sport in Mind for adults, designed to support positive mental health.

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Dates

Weekly on Wednesdays, 15:30 – 16:30

Next event: 9 September 2026
Author

Public

Price

Free

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Displays

Peter Treherne: ‘Seasons’

Video installation in the Wagon Walk gallery.

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Dates

2 June – 13 September 2026

Author

Public

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Exhibition

Echoes

Student-curated exhibition celebrating the University of Reading’s centenary.

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Dates

9 June – 27 September 2026

Author

Public

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
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
Drawn picture of a Friday Fledglings session in the MERL garden
Event

Friday Fledglings

A weekly outdoor session for toddlers in the MERL garden.

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Dates

Friday 11 September 2026, 10:00 – 11:30

Author

Family

Price

£5 per child. Bookings open at 12 pm on a Friday, one week ahead of the session you’d like to attend

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
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 17 September 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
Event

Heritage Open Days

Explore materials from the University
of Reading’s Special Collections
and Art Collections.

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Dates

Sunday 20 September 2026, 11:00 – 13:00

Author

Public

Price

Free • Booking link opens 2 June

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
MERL Curator Ollie Douglas standing in front of the Welcome Case at The MERL
Talks and Seminars

Gallery Tour: MERL 75

Join us on a whistle-stop gallery tour through 75 years of The MERL!

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Dates

Tuesday 22 September 2026, 13:00 – 14:00

Author

Public

Price

Free, booking suggested

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

Green Explorers

Sessions for children aged 5+ to experience nature and build their outdoor skills.

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Dates

Sunday 27 September 2026, 10:00 – 12:00

Author

Family

Price

Free • Bookings open two weeks ahead of each session

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life