The Museum of English Rural Life

Great! Our one and three year old grandchildren loved it - especially the baaing sheep and the toy farm. Great for adults too with a nice Cafe. Win win.

Decent free museum located in university of reading, it details countryside" life from when horses were primarily used to the introduction of the combustion engine. It doesn't just talk about farming

What a fun museum in Reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fantastic to see old tins, farm equipments and the old way of rural life in England. I spent a bit of time watching how to make cheese. It was fascinating.The cafe looked good although I didn’t stop for a cup of tea.Definitely a recommendation to this free museum.

Excellent museum with free entry. There were really interesting displays of farming history as well as special exhibitions of Biscuit Town and Ladybird books.The cafe was good with sandwiches and really lovely tea.The staff were really friendly and helpful.There was parking available at the front of the building, but signs saying a permit is required from the museum which no longer apply.

Free car park infront of the building, very interesting of local rural life, for children and adults

A bit of a walk from centre, but well worth it. Small cafe sold most things. Large garden area. We thoroughly enjoyed it and will be back next time we are in the area

Lovely welcome on arrival from a friendly team member. Lots to see given it's a free museum and it's an interesting look at the history of farming and rural life. Some interesting videos made in 1946 are available to watch and the Ladybird Books collection was a welcoming surprise. Recommended, really nicely done.

A little gem hidden in Reading. We went with our son and family and spent a lovely couple of hours wandering around the museum. Lots to see and do, look out for the rats(not real ones). Some picnic benches outside and a cafe for some eats. Even better.., The museum is FREE

I visited here on a Friday morning around 10am. I parked my motorcycle in the car park by the entrance. At the time I got there, both disabled bays were free and several regular parking bays were free too.Entry is free, although there is a sign requesting a suggested donation of £5 if you feel like it.The museum is fully accessible with an automatic entry door operated by a plunger. The main museum displays are at ground level with a disabled, multi use toilet available at the far end near the lift. The lift goes up one floor and was where Mums were taking their children.The main display was Wagon Walk;a large collection of restored wagons and carts dating from the 1700s up to the mid 1900s. There’s plenty of information available to read, but the display was a bit cramped and half wasn’t well lit either making it difficult to appreciate the finer points of the display.On the next section I came to were descriptions of the life and achievements of farmers and farm labourers, both at work and in the home. Here were displayed tractors, a threshing machine and an early Land Rover amongst others and artifacts used in rural life.The last section describes the work done in each season and includes descriptions of why they were done that way.Finally there is a comfortable coffee shop and gift shop by the entrance/exit and you may also go outside into the garden.Overall an interesting experience and worth a visit. Time spent was around 75 minutes.