diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38a0e84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+Aptly for Docker
+================
+
+This repo container Docker configurations to deploy and use Aptly. Most
+use cases will require you to extend these containers with your own
+configuration file overlay.
+
+However, these are also usable as-is, if you just want an environment
+in which to play with aptly, for example:
+
+    docker run -t -i mikepurvis/aptly:latest /bin/bash
+
+You are now at a prompt with `aptly`. If you'd like to persist any changes
+made past the lifetime of the container, mount the aptly data directory
+externally:
+
+    mkdir /tmp/aptly
+    docker run -t -i -v /tmp/aptly:/aptly aptly:latest aptly repo create foo
+    docker run -t -i -v /tmp/aptly:/aptly aptly:latest aptly repo list