About us

The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL), located on London Road campus, is owned and managed by the University of Reading. We use our diverse and surprising collection to explore how the skills and experiences of farmers and craftspeople, past and present, can help shape our lives now and into the future.

We work alongside rural people, local communities and specialist researchers to create displays and activities that engage with important debates about the future of food and the ongoing relevance of the countryside to all our lives.

The MERL and Reading Museum are currently in a strategic partnership as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. As Museums Partnership Reading, we work together to provide cultural opportunities for Reading’s young people and diverse communities, through schools, volunteering, digital engagement and exhibitions. We also offer a varied programme of events suitable for all ages.