Museum of English Rural Life, Reading

Name: Museum of English Rural Life
Address: 6 Redlands Rd, Reading, RG1 5EX, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 118 378 8660

#39 among attractions in Reading

Museum, History museum

Gallery (2)

Map

Museum of English Rural Life location map

Map

Gallery

Facts and practical information

The Museum of English Rural Life, also known as The MERL, is a museum, library and archive dedicated to recording the changing face of farming and the countryside in England. The museum is run by the University of Reading, and is situated in Redlands Road to the rear of the institution's London Road Campus near to the centre of Reading in southern England. The location was formerly known as East Thorpe House and then St. Andrews Hall. It is an accredited museum and accredited archive as recognised by Arts Council England and the National Archives. ()

Established: 1951 (73 years ago)Coordinates: 51°26'56"N, 0°57'36"W

Address

6 Redlands RdRedlandsReading RG1 5EX United Kingdom

Contact

+44 118 378 8660

Website

Social media

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Reading

Day trips

Museum of English Rural Life – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Broad Street, Queen Victoria Street, The Oracle, Union Street.

0.7 miNW
Shopping, Shopping district
Broad Street, Reading
20 min walk • Broad Street is a main pedestrianised thoroughfare and the primary high street in the English town of Reading. The street is situated in the town centre, running for approximately 0.25 miles, from west to east.
0.7 miNW
Shopping, Shopping district
Queen Victoria Street, Reading
19 min walk • Queen Victoria Street is a pedestrianised thoroughfare in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. It connects Broad Street with Friar Street and Station Road.
0.6 miNW
Shopping, Shopping centre
The Oracle, Reading
15 min walk • The Oracle is a large indoor shopping and leisure mall on the banks of the River Kennet in Reading, Berkshire, England. Partly on the site of a 17th-century workhouse of the same name, it was developed and is owned by a joint venture of Hammerson and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
0.8 miNW
Shopping, Shopping district
Union Street, Reading
20 min walk • Union Street, also known locally as Smelly Alley, is a pedestrian alley in the centre of the English town of Reading. It is lined with small shops and other retail outlets, and connects Broad Street and Friar Street.
0.7 miNW
Shopping, Department store
John Lewis, Reading
18 min walk • Heelas is a major department store in Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It was known as Heelas until 2001 and that name is still in common usage. The store fronts on to Reading's main pedestrianised shopping street, Broad Street, and backs onto Minster Street and The Oracle shopping centre.
0.6 miNW
Park, Historical place, Garden
Forbury Gardens, Reading
16 min walk • Forbury Gardens is a public park in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The park is on the site of the outer court of Reading Abbey, which was in front of the Abbey Church. The site was formerly known as the Forbury, and one of the roads flanking the current gardens is still known as The Forbury.
0.5 miNW
Extensive medieval abbey ruins
Reading Abbey, Reading
14 min walk • Reading Abbey is a large, ruined abbey in the centre of the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire.
0.7 miNW
Shopping, Shopping district
St Mary's Butts, Reading
19 min walk • St Mary's Butts is a thoroughfare in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. On its west side is the Broad Street Mall. It is connected to the north with Broad Street, the pedestrianised primary high street of Reading. St Mary's Church and Butts are where the town of Reading originally grew from.
0.8 miNW
Shopping, Shopping district
Friar Street, Reading
21 min walk • Friar Street is a thoroughfare in the English town of Reading. It runs parallel to Broad Street, connected by Union Street, Queen Victoria Street and Cross Street. At the western end is the Greyfriars Church and at the eastern end are the Town Hall and St Laurence's Church.
0.6 miNW
Monuments and statues
Maiwand Lion, Reading
17 min walk • The Maiwand Lion is a sculpture and war memorial in the Forbury Gardens, a public park in the town of Reading, in the English county of Berkshire.
0.6 miW
Canal
County Lock, Reading
16 min walk • County Lock is a lock on the River Kennet in Reading town centre in the English county of Berkshire. It is now administered by the Canal & River Trust as part of the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is Museum of English Rural Life open?

Museum of English Rural Life is open:

Monday closed
Tuesday 9 am - 5 pm
Wednesday 9 am - 5 pm
Thursday 9 am - 5 pm
Friday 9 am - 5 pm
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

Which popular attractions are close to Museum of English Rural Life?

Nearby attractions include University of Reading War Memorial, Reading (3 min walk), Sacred Heart Church, Reading (8 min walk), The Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading (8 min walk), Progress Theatre, Reading (9 min walk).

How to get to Museum of English Rural Life by public transport?

The nearest stations to Museum of English Rural Life:

Bus

Royal Berkshire Hospital Main Entrance • Lines: 19a, 19b, 19c, 22, 3, 9 (4 min walk)
Morgan Road • Lines: 20a (5 min walk)

Train

Reading (23 min walk)