rth Toggle menu Basket Search Reading Town Hall Reading Abbey Quarter My account View basket About Reading Museum Reading Museum has provided award-winning opportunities for learning, inspiration and enjoyment since 1883. From our earliest days we have collected archaeology, art, natural history, and ethnography, and objects relating to Reading. Today we focus on collecting linked with Reading, its people and environment, and proudly celebrate our town and its fascinating history. Our nationally respected school loans service started in 1911 and has offered opportunities for people to handle real artefacts ever since. Innovative engagement with our collections through learning, community and volunteering is integral to our DNA. Reading Museum has a wonderful collection that provides an insight into the town’s history… with one of the most successful loans services in the UK – and reaching out to those who don’t typically visit museums. Hedley Swain, Area Director, Arts Council England, 2017 Our partnerships Reading Museum is part of Reading Borough Council's cultural services, and has Full Accreditation from Arts Council England (ACE). The Museum has a strategic partnership with the University of Reading’s Museum of English Rural Life called Museums Partnership Reading, and together are part of ACE National Portfolio 2018-2022. We work together to provide cultural opportunities for Reading’s young people and diverse communities, through schools, volunteering, digital engagement and exhibitions. Reading Museum is a founder member of the Happy Museum Affiliate scheme. Our work is only possible through the skills and dedication of our staff, volunteers, friends and local communities. (Reading Museum is) streets ahead of any organisation that (we) have dealt with in terms of the roles of volunteers and their personal development Julia Holberry Associates, Reading Abbey Activity Plan Our Statement of Purpose and Aims Reading Museum & Town Hall celebrates Reading’s heritage by: innovatively engaging with our local communities providing acclaimed opportunities for object-based learning, inspiration and enjoyment caring for and improving access to our important collections and heritage sites developing enterprising catering, event and retail income opportunities Reading Museum is recognised as having one of the best loans services in the whole of the UK…nearly eight out of ten Primary Schools in the locality use its services Museum Related Learning in the South East of England Our locations Reading Museum is located in Reading’s beautiful and much loved Victorian Town Hall. Our small branch museum, Riverside Museum at Blake’s Lock tells the history of Reading’s rivers and hosts community art exhibitions in the summer, and is operated in partnership with the Bel and the Dragon restaurant. We also manage the Abbey Gateway, a grade I listed building that is home to our popular Victorian Schoolroom experience. We host the Reading Register Office ceremony room on the ground floor at Reading Museum, see the Reading Borough Council website for more information. Our Policies Reading Museum Access Policy 2020-2025 | 795K Reading Museum Collection Development Policy 2016-2021 | 392K Reading Museum Collection Management Policy 2017-2022 | 260K Reading Museum Environmental Policy 2017-2022 | 238K Museums Partnership Reading Youth Strategy 2019-2022 | 1053K Reading Museum Forward Plan 2020-2025 | 940K Related content Reading Museum and the MERL: Working together 25 Jun 2018 In a further boost to Reading’s cultural renaissance, MERL and Reading Museum are working together as Museums Partnership Reading until 2022. All about the loan service 6 Aug 2017 Reading Museum has delivered a loan service to schools for almost as long as it has existed. Museum on Wheels Museum on Wheels is our hands-on outreach programme aiming to visit venues throughout Reading for a variety of festivals and community events. Connect with us Facebook Twitter Stay up to date: Sign up to our mailing list Teachers mailing list Home Reading Museum, Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH t information: 0118 937 3400 t bookings: 0118 960 6060 Visiting: Opening times How to get here Contact us About us Volunteer Accessibility Privacy and Cookies Policies Terms and conditions Crafted by Un.titled