Rural Life Living Museum, Open-air museum in Tilford, England
The Rural Life Living Museum is an open-air museum in Tilford with historic buildings, agricultural equipment, and traditional craft workshops spread across a large site. The collection displays different aspects of rural life from the past with authentic objects and working craft areas.
The museum was founded after World War II when Henry and Madge Jackson collected agricultural equipment and rural artifacts to preserve countryside heritage. The site developed near Farnham from their effort to save and display rural objects from generations past.
The museum shows how people lived and worked in the English countryside, with craft demonstrations and traditional skills that reveal everyday rural culture to visitors. You can watch how bread was baked long ago and see how people passed down their skills to others.
The visit is easy to plan since the site is clearly laid out and no pre-booking is needed to walk around. It helps to wear sturdy shoes since the terrain can be uneven and many areas are outdoors and exposed to weather.
The Old Kiln Light Railway is a working railway line on the grounds where visitors can ride in steam and diesel locomotives. This small train offers an unexpected ride across the museum site and adds a memorable experience to your visit.
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