Rural Life Living Museum Ticket Portal

May, 1944. Allied troops amass in the towns and villages of the South of England in preparation for the largest amphibious landing of troops the world has ever seen...

Villager brace themselves as in the distance can be heard the rumbling of heavy trucks, heralding the arrival of the Americans in Tilford.

Tilford, a Village at War is one of the premier second world war reenactment events in the UK and the Rural Life Museum is pleased and proud to host this outstnading event once again in 2024.

The day begins and ends with the colours ceremony on the village green, visitors explore the military encampments, visit the control room, witness bomb disposal, learn about rationing and the war on the home front and experience the chaos of an air raid. Don't forget to drop into the Frensham dance hall and take a turn round the dance floor!

Village at War is an event not to be missed!

Visitors are encouraged to dress in period clothing to really experience the atmosphere (but its not essential!).

Visitors are warned that this event includes loud bangs and gunfire at notified times during the day.

Its 1643, Farnham Castle is held by Sir William Waller for Parliament, Sir Ralph Hopton's Royalist Army are advancing across Hampshire and the two will soon meet in Farnham Park...

Whilst the real events that saw clashes between Waller and Hopton actually occured in November, we have chosen to represent Lord Hoptons encampment at Tilford, in June to take advantage of the warmer weather!

As local events during the first English Civil War played out around Farnham, Odiham and Alton, culminating in Hopton's defeat at Cheriton in March 1644, Hopton commented, 'While these two armies lay at Odiham and Farnham scarce a day passed without some action'.

So join us and immerse yourselves in living history 17th century style as the Museum plays host to Lord Hopton's regiment. Visitors will be able to explore the Museum, see the encampment and living history displays from sail making and dress making, to the 17th century kitchen, laundry and officers quarters. See Hopton's regiment as they work through drill on the green, and expect skirmish with Parliament!

We are especially pleased to be welcoming Lord Hopton's Regiment of Foote to the Rural Life Museum for 2024, this will be an event not to be missed!

Our ever popular steam rally, 'Steam at Work' returns once again for 2024.

When we started this event, 3 years ago, we called it 'Steam at Work' because our rally is different. It is not in a field, engines are spread around the Museum grounds, and this is not a 'park and polish' rally with rows of gleaming engines, at our rally, engines moving, and working is the theme. Whilst not the biggest rally, our event certinaly captures the sights, sounds and smells of the age of steam. Visitors can immerse themsleves in this bygone world, and each day concludes with a mass parade of engines through the museum.

With 20+ full size tractions engines, steam rollers, steam lorries and road locmotives in attenandance alongside an array of miniature engines and stationary engines this is an event 'in motion' and really is not to be missed.

Exhibitor Entry Information:

Entries of full size engines, miniatures and stationary engines are all welcome. Coal is provided. Engines can arrive any time the week before the event and can be stored on site after the event by arrnagement with the Operations Manager.

Those wishing to enter should email the Museum Operations Manager, Rob Bentley at the following address, stating:

steam@rural-life.org.uk

• Name of Entrant
• Engine type
• Year of manufacture
• Whether you are attending Saturday, Sunday or both.
• Whether you require a camping pitch, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday night
• Whether you are roading the engine to us or using a low-loader / trailer and whether or not you require storage for your low-loader / trailer on site during the event.

Joining instructions will be sent out a few weeks prior to the event. Please direct all questions via the emai address above to the Operations Manager.

Meet the Animals with Millers Ark at the Rural Life Museum.

Milers Ark are joining us for 3 days in May half term, with sheep, pigs and goats for you to come and meet.

Animal activities will start from 11am and finish at 3pm.

Animal meet and greet, and get hands on with the animals with goat cuddles and pigs bath time.

Suitable for children of all ages accompanied by an adult.

Handwash / hand sanitiser will be provided.

The Museum and Cafe open at 10.00am and close at 4.00pm.

Picnic areas are available around the Museum or why not try the menu in the Market Garden Cafe, serving hot and cold meals, snacks and sweet treats to suit all tastes.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Animal activities are subject to availability and relevant animal health legislation.

Paddington is coming to visit the Rural Life Museum!

The world's most famous bear from Peru is coming to visit the Rural Life Museum this June. Paddington will be appearing for meet and greet sessions at intervals throughout both days. Book your tickets to avoid dissappointment!

Your visit will include specially prepared family acitvities to take part in alongside your visit, before or after meeting the bear himself!

The railway will be in steam on both days and is included in your Museum entry ticket.

Paddington meet and greet will take place at various times on both days, timings will be announced a few days before the event, but there will be multiple opportunities during the day.

We are really excited for this event! and look forward to seeing you there! Tickets will sell fast, pre-booking is essential.

Our annual fire engine rally returns!

Join us for a fun packed day for all the family where red paint, lights and sirens abound!

See the Museum filled with fire engines from the turn of the last century through to the present day.

Demonstrations will take place through the day, including rescue from the saw pit, a fire at the railway station,  rescuing the cat from the roof of the cricket pavillion and more!

There will be opportunity to live your own firefighter dream and climb in the cab (selected vehicles only with owners permission) see what's inside the lockers and take a ride round the Museum on a vintage fire engine.

This is a great summer event for all the family and one of the only events for fire engines only...

We can't wait!

Vehicle owners wishing to enter their vehicle.

jon@chiefgroup.co.uk

Stating:

Your Name

Vehicle registration number

Vehicle Make and model

Year of manufacture

Whether you are attending Saturday, Sunday or both

Whether you require a camping pitch Friday, Saturday, Sunday night.

Weyfest is one of, if not the greatest boutique music festival in the country, made more special than any other by the setting. This is not a music festival in a muddy field, this is a music festival at the Rural Life Museum! What other festival can boast historic buildings, an arboretum, 4 stages of live music, over 4 days, AND you can ride round the festival site on the railway!

Summer really has arrived when weyfest move in!

Weyfest is produced in partnership between the Rural Life Museum and Weyfest Ltd.

Tickets are available from the Weyfest Website, please click the link below:

Weyfest – Music Festival

All visitor and trader enquiries must be directed via the contact information on the Weyfest website, the Museum staff cannot answer your questions or sell you tickets.

See the Museum packed with shining paintwork and gleaming chrome!

Our much requested Classic Car Show is back!

Join us on Sunday 22nd September for this very special 1 day event as we welcome classic, veteran and vintage vehicle owners and clubs for the day!

Whether you are an enthusiast, or on a fmaily day out, the Classic Car show is a good all rounder, plenty to see and lots to explore!

All types of veteran, vintage and classic vehicles are welcome, along with vehicle clubs.

All Entrants, wishing to bring a vehicle, please enter using the online form on the event tile in the What's On section of the Museum's website.

Joining details will be sent out via email a few weeks before the event.

For each vehicle entry the driver and 1 (one) passenger gain free entry into the Museum, all additional passengers will need to book a ticket in advance, or will be asked to leave the vehicle on entry and pay in the shop on arrival. There is no vehicle entry fee to this event.

For all vehicle entry enquiries, please email: info@rural-life.org.uk marking the subject of your email: CLASSIC CAR SHOW 2024 

Vehicle entry to the show is via the online form only.

Closing date for entries will be Sunday 15th September, unless we reach capacity sooner.

We look forward ro seeing you.

This October we once again welcome back the Central Southern Vintage Agricultural Club for Landrover day.

Landrover Day is one of the Museum's most enduring events, drawing each year, and extraudinary number of vehicle entrants with a great variety of vehicles, all of which of course are Landrovers!

This event is a must for any enthusiast, but is great for a family day out too, especially if a member of your family has 4 wheels and was made in Solihull!

Entry information for those wishing to show their Landrover or to book an autojumble stall is on the main Museum website, in the Whats On section under Landrover Day.