The Museum of English Rural Life

The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) is England’s most extensive museum dedicated to farming, food, craft, rural life and countryside issues.
The MERL contains an astonishing array of items which tell an important part of the history of England. The museum brings this extraordinary collection of objects, archives, photographs and books to life in nine new, innovative and intriguing galleries. Each gallery explores a different theme such as A Year on the Farm, Town and Country, and Forces for Change. The interactive, immersive displays explore questions of identity, environment, technology, culture and health. Whatever your relationship with the countryside and rural life, you’ll find objects that fascinate and inspire you. You’ll discover stories that surprise and move you, and challenge you to think about rural England, past and present, in different ways. Whether you visit on your own, on a group visit, or with friends and family, you’re sure of a warm welcome.