Opening Times

The Museum of English Rural Life

Our galleries, garden, shop, and café are open:

Tuesday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm

Closed on Mondays

For full details see our website.

Archive and library reading room

This is the space to access the archive and library collections of The MERL and University of Reading Special Collections.

We are open Tuesday to Friday: 9.30am-4.30pm. We are unable to fetch items from the collection stores between 1-2pm each day.

Booking required, see here.

University closure days

The MERL (including, shop, cafe and garden) and the reading room are closed on Bank Holidays and on some University closures days at Christmas and Easter.

For a full list of University closure days click here, and please contact us to avoid disappointment.

Ure Museum

Opening varies between term-time and out-of-term. Closed at weekends.

For full details see our website.

Cole Museum

We are usually open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, although this can sometimes change at short notice. We may be closed for teaching during term time.

Please check the museum’s calendar before you visit us, and remember that group visits must be booked in advance.

All other collections

By appointment, generally weekdays only, please contact the relevant curator.

Coronavirus update

For the most up-to-date information, please check out our COVID-19 updates blog.