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Reading Museum

The town's free civic museum, home of the Victorian full-size replica Bayeux Tapestry and the finest Silchester Roman collection.

Where
Reading Town Centre
Time needed
1-2 hr visit
Tickets
Free
Free entry
Yes
Victorian brick facade of Reading Town Hall housing Reading Museum Victorian brick facade of Reading Town Hall housing Reading Museum

What to expect at Reading Museum

Reading Museum occupies the upper floors of the Victorian Town Hall on Blagrave Street, five minutes from the station. It opened in 1883 and holds three collections of real national importance: the finest archaeological finds from the Roman town of Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum) 10 miles south; the Huntley & Palmers biscuit archive, tracing the world's largest biscuit factory that once employed a fifth of the town; and the extraordinary Britain's Bayeux Tapestry, a full-length Victorian embroidered replica of the 11th-century original, made in 1885 by 35 women of the Leek Embroidery Society.

The Silchester Gallery reconstructs Roman civic life with mosaics, an eagle statuette, painted wall plaster and personal items excavated between 1890 and 1909. The Bayeux Tapestry Gallery is a single long room where you can walk the entire 70-metre narrative at eye level (something you cannot easily do with the original in Bayeux). The Huntley & Palmers Gallery has original biscuit tins from every decade including the famous Coronation, Windsor Castle-shaped and airship tins. Upstairs, changing exhibitions cover the town's more recent story, from the Reading Festival to South Asian migration.

Entry is free, always. Come on a weekday afternoon when the school groups have left. The Sun Street entrance takes you straight up to the galleries; the Blagrave Street entrance goes via the visitor centre and shop. Combine easily with Reading Abbey Ruins (three-minute walk east through Forbury Gardens) for a full local-heritage morning. The cafe is small and closes at 15:30; better to eat on King Street. Free wifi throughout, and free family activity packs at the front desk on weekends.

Plan your visit TicketsFree Free entryYes Time needed1-2 hr visit WhereReading Town Centre Opening hours Tue-Sat 10:00-16:00 Sun 11:00-16:00 Closed Mon and bank holidays Hotels near Reading Museum

Questions about Reading Museum

Ticket price?

Free. No charge for the permanent galleries; occasional touring exhibitions may charge £5-8.

Free windows?

Always free, all opening hours.

How long?

1-2 hours to see all three main galleries properly.

Closed days?

Monday every week. Also closed 25-26 December and 1 January.

Booking?

No booking. Walk in.

Nearest station?

Reading Station, 5 min walk south down Blagrave Street.

Where to stay

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