The Museum of English Rural Life

27/05/2026

Into folk culture and film? Come see Peter Treherne's 'Matter of Britain' at the University of Reading on Monday evening!

The film documents an English country village’s performance of the Holy Grail myth. Stuff of legend.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/screening-of-matter-of-britain-tickets-1989542397869

A display about the film will be coming to our Wagon Walk gallery from 2 June. Watch this space!

Matter of Britain is an ethnographic fantasy which documents an English country village’s performance of the Holy Grail myth.

26/05/2026

Tickets are now available for our Summer Late (17 June, 18+), and they're free thanks to a University of Reading centenary grant 🥰

Come and discover our galleries in a whole new light, with drinks, crafts, talks, tours and more.

https://merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/summer-late/

Here's what we got up to at our Spring Late in March!

26/05/2026

It's half term! Come and soak up the sunshine in our garden, or cool off in our airconditioned galleries. Plus we've just refreshed the Rat Trail, and there are some very cute rats who'd love to meet you.

https://merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/half-term/

22/05/2026

We love this video about our volunteers!

Thanks to all our amazing volunteers, and the wonderful work you do ❤️

22/05/2026

To launch our activities for the May school holiday, we just moved around all the rats in our Rat Trail, which means you get to come and discover the rats all over again!

Find out more: https://merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/half-term/

21/05/2026

*strikes 'mutant super pig population' off the 2026 bingo*

The "super pig" population exploded after domesticated hogs interbred with feral wild boars in areas close to the nuclear fallout zone in northeast Japan

21/05/2026

Let us brighten up your day: here's a rat caring for chickens. That's some inter-species solidarity right there.

19/05/2026

it's not every day we welcome a visitor in a tuxedo

13/05/2026

Have you seen the giant currently residing at The MERL?

Not long left to come say hello – our wonderful Radical Rural gallery trail ends 24 May.