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We wish you a MERLy Christmas!

Christmas opening hours

We close for Christmas at 5pm on 23 December. We reopen in the New Year from 10am on 3 January 2026.

Plan a visit

Explore the past and present of the English countryside, and the people whose lives and work define it.

About The MERL

Getting here

6 Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
Get directions

Opening hours

Full opening hours

Upcoming Events

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.

Find out more
Dates

7 October 2025 – 9 February 2026

Author

Public

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
star shaped lights on a green hedge background
Event

Magical Lights, My Way

A relaxed version of Magical Lights with sensory provision for neurodivergent visitors and their friends, families, and loved ones.

Book Now
Dates

Monday 15 December 2025, 16:30 – 17:45

Author

Family, Public

Price

£7 per child

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Jane Austen and Rural Life
Exhibition

Jane Austen and Rural Life display

We’re joining in this year’s global celebrations to mark 250 years of Jane Austen! From 9 September, view our Jane…

Find out more
Dates

9 September – 19 December 2025

Author

Public

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
All events and exhibitions

Latest News and Views

Hedgehog extravaganza
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
July 24, 2025

The Friday Walks, with Man in the Woods

In this episode of The MERL podcast, we speak to Bristol-based artist Scott about his artistic practice documenting weird Britain.

School group in the garden
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
July 21, 2025

Another brilliant school year

Learn about the highlights of our schools and learning programmes from the 2024/25 academic year.

Jo Clement (a woman with long brown hair and glasses) holds an object at The MERL
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
April 4, 2025

Announcing our new Fellow, Dr Jo Clement

Read how our new MERL Fellow, Dr Jo Clement, is engaging with the Robert Dawson Romany Collection to explore the heritage of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in England.

Shepherds herding sheep across a valley.
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
February 7, 2025

Voices: introducing our 2025 programme

Get the highlights of what’s coming up in the first half of 2025: from exhibitions and displays, to free tours and talks, plus the announcement of our official podcast.

The top of a letter to William Champion, farmer
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
February 5, 2025

Thomas and Austen: a gay relationship in the MERL archives?

For LGBTQ+ History Month 2025, researcher Tim Jerrome shares how he’s using rural archives to research same-sex relationships in the countryside.

A. Hedley Richmond's drawing of a proposed garden and Lewisham Hospital
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
January 6, 2025

Landscapes of public health

How does public health impact the design of public spaces? We recap the contents of the 2024 symposium of FOLAR (Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading), held at The MERL.

All news and views

Crafts, lanterns, and lights

Magical Lights

Wrap up the year with an evening of lights and lanterns in the museum garden.

Discover upcoming events

What’s On

See what’s coming up at the MERL, with events and exhibitions for all ages and interests.