Cole Museum of Zoology

Reading

University museum in Berkshire, UK

Opening Monday to Friday, 09:00–16:30. Closed weekends, Bank Holidays, and University closure days.

Price Free entry; donations welcome (suggested £1 per person or £25 per group for group visits; minimum card payment £3).

Typical visit Not provided yet

Age fit Self-guided activity sheets are designed for adults leading small groups of children; school bookings for Years 1 and 2 cannot be accommodated due to the open-plan layout.

Setting indoor

The experience

About this day out

Founded in 1906 by Professor Francis Cole, the Cole Museum of Zoology is owned and managed by the University of Reading. Its thousands of specimens – from skeletons and taxidermy to fossils and historic models – offer a unique snapshot of early 20th-century animal diversity. The free museum is located on the ground floor of the Health and Life Sciences building on the University's Whiteknights Campus.

When to go

Opening calendar

Monday to Friday, 09:00–16:30. Closed weekends, Bank Holidays, and University closure days.

Check the venue calendar ↗

What it costs

Prices at a glance

Admission: Free entry; donations welcome (suggested £1 per person or £25 per group for group visits; minimum card payment £3).

Prices can change. Confirm ticket terms with the venue before booking.

Practical details

Facilities & accessibility

At a glance

Wheelchair-accessible gender-neutral toilet with baby-changingAdditional hoist-equipped toilet available on requestSemi-accessible toilets with grab railsCafé kioskSeating area at the museum entrance (beneath the false killer whale)Secure bike stands near the main entranceDownloadable self-guided activity sheets (bring your own stationery)

Accessibility: Step-free, ground-floor museum with automatic entrance door; four accessible parking bays close to the entrance in car park P12; assistance animals welcome; no hearing loop; exhibits include no sound, video, or interactive displays; light levels vary throughout the museum; the museum sits within a three-storey atrium which can occasionally be noisy.
Parking: Campus parking is limited. Pay and display car park (£1.50 per hour or £10 all day) at the Shinfield Road entrance to Whiteknights campus (Car Park 1A, Queen's Drive, Reading RG2 7BW), a 10–15 minute walk from the museum. Four accessible parking bays at the front of the museum building in car park P12 (P12, Reading, RG6 6EX).
Dogs: Assistance animals welcome.

Getting there

Where you'll find it

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