Free attraction, 25 mins train from Paddington

How to get toMuseum of English Rural Lifecar-free

Visit Museum of English Rural Life car-free

Visit by bus for just £2 each way. Most buses in England are offering £2 Single Fares until 31st December 2024. Our journey planner will show you if your route is included, or you can find a full list of participating operators and routes here.

It’s easy to reach the Museum of English Rural Life car-free. Reading is 25 minutes away from London Paddington by train or 55 minutes on the Elizabeth Line. From the train station, it’s about a 20-minute walk, or you can catch a bus.

Claret buses 21 or 21a stop closes to the museum. Buses leave from Reading train station stop EK (and Market Place stop MA) frequently. The journey takes about 5 minutes. Jump off at Crown Place Passage and walk for about 5 minutes along the footpath. Other buses stop nearby too- see our journey planner for other options.

There are direct trains to Reading from stations around the South West, and: London Paddington (25 mins), Oxford (25 mins), Bristol (70 mins), Bournemouth (80 mins), Cardiff (80 mins), Exeter (90 mins), Birmingham (90 mins), Plymouth and Manchester. When you travel by train, a Reading PlusBus ticket gives you unlimited travel around the city by bus.

There are direct buses to Reading from: Wokingham (40 mins), Bracknell (55 mins), High Wycombe (90 mins) and Oxford (100 mins), as well as coaches from around the country.

Use our journey planner to get the best route from where you are.

plan yourjourney get bustimetable get traintimes & tickets

Cyclists welcome - plan your route here

Here’s some information on access to attractions, buses and trains.

About Museum of English Rural Life

The museum and garden were set up to preserve historic agricultural skills in changing times. See the antique farming machinery and read stories of the people who used it.
Stories are also shared through an animation, photos, audio headsets, a games table, a couple of touch screen games, films, episodes of the Archers and a display of Ladybird books. Children can do trails, look at picture books, guess what the objects are, do a jigsaw, or buy an activity pack . The garden has trails, a play hut and tractor.

For any queries about visiting contact Museum of English Rural Life on 01183788660 or merl@reading.ac.uk

Address: The Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX. Visit Website

[Text for popup, goes in field above]
During the national lockdown please stay at home and avoid non-essential travel – find out more
[end of text]

Covid-19

We live on a beautiful island and there’s no better way to explore it than by train, bus, bike and foot. But, at this exceptional time, please follow current advice to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel in England. Separate travel rules apply in Wales and Scotland.

We look forward to helping you enjoy great days out and more car-free adventures in the future.