The Museum of English Rural Life - (Near Berkshire, South East)

5 /5 Ionut Panescu: The Museum of English Rural Life in Reading is a hidden gem thats both educational and genuinely enjoyable for all ages. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, offering a fascinating glimpse into the history of farming and rural life in England. It’s fun for kids, with plenty of interactive displays and hands-on activities that keep them engaged throughout the visit. One of the highlights is definitely the live chickens outside, a big hit with little ones and a charming touch that brings the rural theme to life. The staff are friendly, the space is well-maintained, and there’s a welcoming café on site. Highly recommended for families or anyone curious about the English countryside!

5 /5 Tim Husain: Amazing little museum, free to enter and really interesting. Far exceeded my expectations!

5 /5 Francesca Lees: Such a fantastic museum- one of my faves I’ve visited! The kindest staff, especially Angela and her team. Everyone clearly loves working there and there is a wonderful atmosphere throughout. Great prices in the cafe too and lots of spaces to sit down throughout the museum. The exhibitions are very well thought out and I especially enjoyed seeing the James Joyce exhibition. Another highlight was seeing their work with LGBTQI+ communities and how the museum works to transform and build connections outside of the building space. Fantastic place- do visit!

5 /5 Free spirit: What a beautiful little gem of a museum! Helpful friendly staff. What a beautiful little gem of a museum! You get a glimpse into the past. Well organised and beautifully maintained. Helpful friendly staff. My only gripe is that the frozen desert is a plant based one. I believe it is provided for the vegans and vegetarian visitors. I think however it would be really nice to also offer an ice cream made from real British dairy cream as we need to support farmers at this time. Also this is a British farming museum.

4 /5 Mister Ed: 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 doesnt just talk about farming, it also covers life in the countryside, changing lifestyles, etc. Its a really dedicated museum as they have far more stuff than space to display. It could do with more activities that are kid friendly, but overall it was pretty interesting. There is a row of parking spaces directly adjoining the building, there are also spaces on the opposite side which youll need a permit from the university. I walked from the Oracle, it took about 17 mins so if youre in the town centre its not that far. Recommended.