Membership

Members do not need to book general admission or exhibition tickets. Arrive at any time and you will have priority access. 

How do I skip the queue?

Please walk to the front of the queue and show your membership card to a member of staff in order to skip the queue and enjoy priority entry. 

If you do not have your membership card, you can request another with our team at membership@nhm.ac.uk or collect a temporary card from the Anning Rooms for Members and Patrons, your exclusive lounge and restaurant on the second floor of Hintze Hall.

How can I visit exhibitions as a Member?

Depending on your membership type, you may be able to visit our ticketed exhibitions with family members and guests. Please see below for the number of people each membership type admits. Your membership type is shown on your membership card.

What membership types are available?

• Adult or Concession: 1 Member
• Adult + Guest or Concession + Guest: 1 Member + 1 guest
• Joint Adult: 2 Members
• Joint Adult + Guest: 2 Members + 2 guests
• One Adult Family: 1 Member + 4 children
• One Adult Family + Guest: 1 Member + 4 children + 1 guest
• Two Adult Family: 2 Members + 4 children
• Two Adult Family + Guest: 2 Members + 4 children + 2 guests 

Get more general information about planning your visit.

I am a new member – can I visit before my membership card arrives?

Yes, if you have joined as a member onsite you will receive a temporary card to use until your permanent card/s arrive. If you have joined on our website, you can show your confirmation email to our team outside the entrance to enjoy priority entry. You can then visit the Anning Rooms for Members and Patrons, your exclusive lounge and restaurant on the second floor of Hintze Hall, to collect a temporary membership card so you can enjoy free exhibitions entry and discounts in our shops and cafes.

Do I need my membership card to visit the Museum?

You will need to show your membership card to gain entry to our exhibitions. If you do not have your membership card, please contact us at membership@nhm.ac.uk and we can provide a replacement within 2 weeks,  or you can collect a temporary day pass from the Anning Rooms.

Will the Anning Rooms be open?

Yes, the Anning Rooms are open daily from 10.00–17.50 and the last entry is 17.30. Our restaurant will be serving lunch from 11.30 to 15.00 and at other times refreshments and cake are available.

See our Visit section for any other information about your visit, including safety information, information about accessibility or facilities. 

What membership types are available?

• Adult or Concession: 1 Member
• Adult + Guest or Concession + Guest: 1 Member + 1 guest
• Joint Adult: 2 Members
• Joint Adult + Guest: 2 Members + 2 guests
• One Adult Family: 1 Member + 4 children
• One Adult Family + Guest: 1 Member + 4 children + 1 guest
• Two Adult Family: 2 Members + 4 children
• Two Adult Family + Guest: 2 Members + 4 children + 1 guest

Concessionary membership for disabled adults can be purchased online or onsite. Personal assistants can always attend with disabled adults for free.

Concessionary membership for students or those over 60 can be purchased onsite or directly with our team (via membership@nhm.ac.uk or 020 7942 5792 (Monday to Friday, 10.00–12.00 and 15.00–17.00, excluding bank holidays) with proof of eligibility of either:

• Student status – age 17 or over in full time education
• Seniors – over the age of 60

How can I add a guest/s to my membership?

You can add an un-named guest/s to any membership type to enjoy your membership with others.

Concession, Adult and Family (One Adult) memberships can add one un-named guest for £30, and Joint Adult and Family (Two Adult) memberships can add two un-named guests for £50.

To add a guest your membership, please email us (membership@nhm.ac.uk) or call us on 020 7942 5792 (Monday to Friday, 10am-12pm and 3-5pm, excluding bank holidays). Our team in The Anning Rooms for Members and Patrons will also be happy to help.

Members who are registered disabled can always bring one personal assistant with them for free.

What discounts do I get as a Member?

To receive your Member discount in the Museum shops (20%) and restaurants (10%), or to use the cloakroom for free, simply present your membership card.

To use your discount in our online shop, enter your special membership discount code. You will receive the current code in your welcome email, and we provide a new code in each of our monthly e-newsletters. Please contact us at membership@nhm.ac.uk if you’d like to be reminded of what the code is for this month.

To receive a 10% discount on Visitor Events such as Dinosnores for Kids please select Member tickets from the event webpage and bring your membership card with you to the event.

How can I receive a digital copy of the Members' magazines?

Please send us an email at membership@nhm.ac.uk if you would like to opt in to a digital version of our Natural History Museum magazine, published three times a year.

At the moment we do not yet have a digital option for our family magazine, WILD WORLD.

How can I skip the queue to enter the Museum?

To enjoy your priority access to the Museum, simply walk to the front of the queue and show your membership card  to a member of staff managing the entrance.

I’ve lost my membership card/my membership card has not arrived – can I get it replaced?

If you have lost your card, please email us at membership@nhm.ac.uk to request a replacement. We can replace lost cards once free of charge. Additional requests may incur a fee.

If you would like to visit before your new card arrives, please visit the Anning Rooms for Members and Patrons, your exclusive lounge and restaurant on the second floor of Hintze Hall, to collect a temporary membership card to enjoy your onsite benefits. 

If your membership card or welcome pack has not arrived within two weeks of purchase, please contact us so we can re-issue these to you as soon as possible. Please email membership@nhm.ac.uk or call us on 020 7942 5792 (Monday to Friday, 10.00–12.00 and 15.00–17.00, excluding bank holidays).

How can I check or update my details with you?

Please email us at membership@nhm.ac.uk or call us on 020 7942 5792 (Monday to Friday, 10.00–12.00 and 15.00–17.00, excluding bank holidays) and we will be happy to help. You can also ask one of our team in the Anning Rooms for assistance. 

How can I renew my membership?

If you joined via Direct Debit, your membership will renew automatically every year and we will send your your new card/s in the post. 

To renew your membership by card, please fill in the membership application form, tick 'I am renewing my membership' and add your membership number. 

If you are not sure when your membership is due to renew, or if you have any other questions, please email us at membership@nhm.ac.uk.

How can I cancel my membership?

Please get in touch if you would like to cancel your membership by emailing membership@nhm.ac.uk or write to us at: Membership Services, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD. If your membership is set to automatically renew via annual Direct Debit, we require 5 working days notice prior to the payment being collected to cancel this on your behalf.

What are the terms and conditions of membership?

Please read our terms and conditions.

What are the Anning Rooms for Members and Patrons? 

The Anning Rooms are an exclusive restaurant, lounge and reading room exclusive to Museum Members and Patrons, located on the second floor of Hintze Hall to the right of the Giant Sequoia. The Anning Rooms are open daily from 10.00 – 17.50 and the last entry to is 17.30. 

How many guests can I bring with me to the Anning Rooms?

Each card-holding Member may always bring one non-Member guest to enjoy the Anning Rooms on weekends and school holiday times, or three non-Member guests on term-time weekdays, as well as anyone already included in your membership.

On occasion in quieter periods we may permit Members to bring multiple guests into the Rooms, but this may not always be possible.

Can the team in the Anning Rooms help me with my membership?

Our helpful team in the Anning Rooms can assist with changing your membership type, updating your details, providing you with a temporary membership card if you have forgotten or lost yours, and assisting you with any other enquiries during your visit to the Museum.

You can also join as a new Member with our team in the Rooms to start enjoying your benefits right away. 

What facilities are available in the Anning Rooms?

There is a restaurant serving lunch and refreshments open throughout the day. 

We have a lounge area with power points and free WiFi, perfect for working or studying, and our study has a selection of educational books you are welcome to browse.

Within the Rooms we have two toilets, including an accessible bathroom with baby-changing facilities.

What food is served in the Anning Rooms?

We serve a delicious menu of seasonal food, updated in Autumn and Spring, with vegetarian and vegan options and a kids’ menu too. All food is already discounted for Members. Please ask our restaurant team about any allergy or dietary requirements.

See more information on our menu.

Can I bring children into the Anning Rooms?

Children are very welcome in The Anning Rooms – we have a kids’ menu in our restaurant, as well as plenty of children’s books available to browse in our study. We do ask that all children are accompanied by an adult.

Can I book a table in the restaurant of the Anning Rooms?

At the moment, we don't take bookings for the restaurant, but we will be happy to seat you when you arrive. We serve lunch between 11.30 and 15.00 outside of these areas we serve refreshments. In busy periods we may run a waiting list for the restaurant.

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a tax relief scheme which allows UK charitable organisations to reclaim an extra 25% in tax from the government on eligible donations made by a UK taxpayer. At no extra cost to you, by opting-in to Gift Aid you can increase your support of the Museum by 25p for every £1 of any eligible donations or memberships.

How can I opt-in to Gift Aid?

If you are a UK tax payer, you can opt into Gift Aid when you purchase your membership. If you are already a supporter, please contact our team at membership@nhm.ac.uk or on 020 7942 5792 (Monday to Friday, 10am-12pm and 3-5pm, excluding bank holidays) and we will be happy to take a Gift Aid Declaration from you.rom you.

What part does membership play towards the Museum's strategy and sustainability aims?

Sustainability is at the heart of the Museum. We aren't perfect, but we are currently looking at ways we can reduce the Museum's carbon emissions and energy consumption, reuse and repurpose technology, and encourage everyone to refill and recycle. We've also pledged to become the first museum in the world to set a science-based carbon reduction target.

Within the membership department, we have made several changes to reduce our plastic-use. In 2018 we switched from plastic membership cards to a chalk-based material coated in biodegradable PVC. This means the cards can either be recycled or even composted under the right conditions. Additionally, the paper and envelopes we use are 100% recyclable and made from 100% recycled material.

Our Members' magazines, Natural History Museum magazine and WILD WORLD, are posted out in plastic-free wrapping, as well as being printed on recycled and recyclable paper. Rather than being made from oil, the packaging uses natural potato starch along with other biological polymers which makes it renewable as well as totally biodegradable and compostable. It can be disposed of in the green recycling bin with other garden waste, a home compost bin, or in food waste caddies.

The Museum is constantly reviewing and improving our approach to sustainability, as this is integral to our strategy to 2031. Read more about our commitment to sustainability.

How can I further support the Museum?

Your support is vital in helping the Museum continue our pioneering research, educational outreach, and care of over 80 million specimens.

You can:

• further support our important work by making a donation  
  
• join the Patrons Circle and access exclusive benefits and events
• find out more about leaving a gift in your will
• get more information about corporate sponsorship