About
The Cole Museum of Zoology at the University of Reading is one of England's most significant university natural history collections — a fascinating and beautiful repository of zoological specimens that spans the full breadth of animal life, from the simplest invertebrates to the largest mammals, and that has supported biological research and teaching for over a century.
Named after Frank Newton Cole (1872-1939), a distinguished zoologist who built up the university's natural history collections during his long tenure, the museum was formally established in 1907 and has grown through successive generations of academic collecting and donation. The collections reflect over a century of biological science: Victorian and Edwardian specimens collected at a time when natural history was a central intellectual preoccupation, alongside 20th-century acquisitions that reflect changing scientific priorities and conservation awareness.
The museum relocated in 2022 to a purpose-designed space within the University of Reading's new Health and Life Sciences building, giving it significantly improved facilities and accessibility after years in a historic but constraining location. The new home allows the collections to be displayed more effectively and visited more easily, with clear signage, modern lighting and accessible interpretation.
The collections encompass an extraordinary range: preserved wet specimens of fish, amphibians and reptiles; pinned and dried insects of almost every order; bird and mammal skins and skeletal material; marine invertebrates preserved in jars of spirit; shells, fossils and comparative anatomical preparations. These objects serve both scientific and educational purposes, providing reference material for researchers and a tangible introduction to biological diversity for students and the public.
For visitors, the Cole Museum offers the distinctive pleasure of a serious scientific collection rather than a curated popular display — the accumulated evidence of over a century of biological enquiry presented with scholarly honesty and accessibility. It is a museum for the genuinely curious.
Categories:
Annual Visitors (2019)
15,000
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Weekday afternoons; often very quiet
💡 Visitor Tips
- Free entry — one of Reading's hidden gem attractions.
- The museum relocated in 2022 — check the University of Reading website for the current location and directions on campus.
- This is a serious scientific collection rather than a children's attraction — most rewarding for those with an interest in biology and natural history.
- The university campus at Whiteknights is beautiful — combine with a walk around the lake before or after your visit.
- The museum is primarily a teaching resource; public visiting hours may be limited — always check before travelling.
- A short walk or bus ride from the Museum of English Rural Life, which is also on the Reading campus.
- Photography is usually permitted — the collections offer excellent subjects for macro photography.
- Particularly suitable for A-level and university students studying biology, zoology or ecology.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
Zoological Specimens Gallery
Core collections of vertebrate and invertebrate specimens representing global animal diversity.
Entomology Collection
Extensive insect collections including beetles, butterflies and moths from Britain and worldwide.
Comparative Anatomy
Skeletal preparations and anatomical specimens for biological research and teaching.
Marine Invertebrates
Preserved specimens of echinoderms, molluscs, crustaceans and other marine invertebrate groups.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.