Membership terms and conditions

1. Do you have a question about membership?

Visit our membership web pages where we’ve answered your frequently asked questions.

2. Keeping in touch

• In becoming a member of the Natural History Museum (‘the Museum’), you agree to the Museum using your details to process and manage your membership and to provide you with membership services. This will include notifying you with ‘service messages’ (by post, email or telephone) when there are changes to your membership scheme, or when your membership is due for renewal, or has recently lapsed. We need to send service messages in order to manage your membership and therefore you cannot opt out of this type of email or postal communication.
• The Museum will also keep in touch with you by sending email updates which share relevant news and special offers relating to membership, events, products, services and fundraising – you can manage your communication preferences or unsubscribe from these email updates at any time by following the instructions included in the communications that you have received from the Museum.
• You can manage your communication preferences at any time or unsubscribe from mail or emails by following the instructions included in the communications that you have received from the Museum (e.g. email or post).
• If you opt out of wanting to receive mail, you will continue to be sent Natural History Museum and WILD WORLD magazines as part of your membership benefits. However, if you wish to opt out of receiving the magazines in the post, please email membership@nhm.ac.uk.
• The Natural History Museum will use your personal information in accordance with data protection legislation. The Museum’s full privacy notice is subject to review from time to time and you can view our privacy notice online.
• We take your privacy extremely seriously and will never share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes without your permission.  Occasionally we will outsource functions when we do not have the in-house capacity required, such as the use of a mailing house for mailings, or analytical services that enable us to target our communications with members more effectively. In such cases, we will only use reputable and well vetted firms and have contracts and processes in place that ensure the safe and confidential processing of personal data at all times, including on the rare occasions that data is transferred outside the EEA.
• We analyse the information we hold on our membership base in order to provide you with a more tailored service that is relevant to your interests, and to deepen your engagement with the Museum. If you do not wish your personal information to be used in this way, you can let us know by emailing membership@nhm.ac.uk and we will review the basis for doing so in your case.
• From time to time the Museum may contact by email, mail or phone, lapsed and cancelled members who have signed up to receive marketing communications from the Museum, in order to encourage them to renew their membership. This contact may include specific promotions or incentives to re-join. If lapsed or cancelled members prefer not to be contacted for this purpose, they should unsubscribe by following the instructions included in the communications that are received from the Museum.

3. Your membership subscription

• When you choose to pay via a Direct Debit in monthly instalments you are agreeing to take out NHM membership for one year. If you fail to pay the instalment due for your membership or cancel your Direct Debit part way through the 12-month membership period you will be required to pay all instalments due for the remainder of the 12-month period. 
• On cancellation, we may contact you to give you the opportunity to either pay that instalment or pay all instalments due for the remainder of your membership year, by credit or debit card. If you then fail to pay the relevant amount due by the subsequent required dates, we will contact you again to ask you to pay all instalments due for the remainder of your membership year. Failure to make any further payments will result in your membership being cancelled.
• The Museum’s membership scheme offers a range of membership benefits on payment of a membership subscription. As a charity we rely on the subscriptions and donations from Museum members to help fund our work. Members are making the world of difference by giving back to nature and supporting our pioneering scientific research, education and conservation.
• The Museum shall determine the fees and subscriptions for each category of membership that an individual shall be required to pay when first applying for membership of the Museum and at the time of renewal of their membership.
• The Museum reserves the right to offer time-limited discounts or incentives on membership subscriptions from time to time. These will only be available to members joining or renewing within the time frame specified. Where payment of membership subscriptions is made by Direct Debit you will receive a renewal reminder as set out at Clause 13 below. If you wish to cancel your subscription, you must notify Membership Services at least 5 working days before your membership expiry date. This is because the Direct Debit will be collected on the first day of your renewed membership, and failure to provide such notice will result in the Direct Debit being claimed.
• We will always write to our members to remind you that your renewal is due, to invite you to continue your membership for another year.

4. Gift membership

• Natural History Museum gift membership is available to purchase online and at NHM retail outlets by credit/debit card payment only. If purchasing online, the purchaser of the gift membership can choose to have the gift membership card sent to their own address, or straight to the gift recipient’s address.  The gift membership card will contain an activation code which can be used by the gift recipient to activate their membership online.
• This activation code will be valid for 24 months from the date of purchase. After these 24 months have lapsed, the activation code will be invalid and cannot be used towards a Natural History Museum membership.
• At the point of activation, the gift recipient will become a Museum member and will be bound by the usual membership terms and conditions, as described on this page. Gift recipients will receive member benefits available at the point of activation.
• Once activated, gift membership is non-transferable and can only be used by the named member(s).
• The membership will last for 12 months from the point of activation. We will write to the member and invite them to renew at the end of their 12-month membership.
• In purchasing gift membership, you agree to the Museum using your details to process and manage your purchase. We will contact you (the gift purchaser) afterwards to share relevant news and special offers if you have opted in to hearing from us, in accordance with our privacy notice. You can manage your communication preferences at any time or unsubscribe from mail or emails by following the instructions included in the communications that you have received from the Museum (e.g. email or post).
• If for any reason you are unhappy with your gift membership purchase, you have the right to cancel your membership order and receive a full refund without giving a reason within 14 days of the date of purchase. To cancel an order, you must contact us via email at membership@nhm.ac.uk or by writing to us at: Membership Services, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD. Gift membership cannot be cancelled and refunded if the activation code has already been used to activate the membership.

5. Paying by Direct Debit

Why paying by Direct Debit makes sense

• Direct Debit is a safe, secure and easy way to pay.
• You are protected by the Direct Debit guarantee.
• With Direct Debit, you will never have to worry about missing a payment, leaving you free to enjoy your membership.
  
• Direct Debit memberships incur less administration than other membership types, meaning that resources can be invested more effectively elsewhere to support the Museum’s educational and scientific work. As a thank you for choosing to pay by Direct Debit, we will discount your membership fee.

The Direct Debit Guarantee

• When you choose to pay your membership subscription to the Natural History Museum by Direct Debit, you agree to authorise Direct Debits from the account detailed in this instruction, subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit guarantee. You understand that this instruction may remain with the Natural History Museum and if so, details will be passed electronically to your bank/building society.
• The guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits.
• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, the Natural History Museum will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited, or as otherwise agreed. If you request the Natural History Museum to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.
• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the Natural History Museum or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society.  If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when the Natural History Museum asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify the Natural History Museum.

6. Your right to cancel – new memberships

• If membership is bought online, over the phone or by post, you have the right to cancel your membership order and receive a full refund within 14 days of the date you joined but only if you have not yet used any of the membership benefits. To cancel an order, you must contact us via email at membership@nhm.ac.uk or by writing to us at: Membership Services, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD.
• To meet the cancellation deadline, you will need to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the 14-day cancellation period has expired.
• Other than in the circumstances described above, annual membership subscriptions are non-refundable. If a member chooses to cancel their membership part-way through a year, no part-refund is available.
• If membership is bought on site at the Museum, you do not have the right to cancel your membership.
• If your membership is a gift membership which has been activated, you do not have the right to cancel your membership and receive a refund.

7. Your right to cancel – renewing memberships

• As per Clause 13, your membership will renew annually. We will write to you in the month before your membership is renewed.
• If you pay by Direct Debit, your membership will renew automatically, after we have written to you and provided notice of the date and amount.
• If you wish to cancel your membership at renewal, you must contact us via email at membership@nhm.ac.uk or by writing to us at: Membership Services, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, with communication to be received at least 5 working days prior to your membership renewal date. Failure to do so may result in the Direct Debit being claimed.
• Once your membership has been renewed and payment has been collected, you have the right to cancel your membership and receive a full refund within 14 days of the renewal date but only if you have not yet used any of the membership benefits. To cancel, you must contact us via email at membership@nhm.ac.uk or by writing to us at: Membership Services, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD.

8. Effects of cancellation

• If you cancel your membership within 14 days in accordance with Clause 5 or in accordance with Clause 6, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, excluding the costs of delivery.
• We will make the reimbursement without undue delay.
• We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of the reimbursement. If you paid by Direct Debit, then the reimbursement will be paid into the bank account that your Direct Debit was set up with. 
• You shall send back the membership pack (including your membership card) without undue delay and in any event no later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you post back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired, even if they do not arrive at the Museum within the 14-day period, as long as you can demonstrate proof of postage within the 14-day window. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods.
• If the membership pack (including your membership card) is returned partly or fully used, you will not be eligible for a refund.

9. Your membership benefits

• Membership of the Natural History Museum offers a wealth of rewarding benefits, which are listed online. Entitlements for Museum members may vary according to your membership type. 
• The Museum may, from time to time, review the range of benefits on offer to you and reserves the right to change/alter entry rights.  We will communicate these changes to our members in advance by email or post and on our membership web page.

Your membership options

The Natural History Museum offers a range of annual memberships which can be viewed online on our membership web pages.

• Basic adult, joint adult and family membership does not allow members to take guests into exhibitions that have an additional entrance fee.
• Adding a guest or guests to a membership entitles the member to bring one or two guests (according to the membership type) into a temporary exhibition, for free, where an entrance fee would normally apply.
• The member must accompany the guest into the exhibition. There is no limit to the number of times a member may bring a guest or guests into an exhibition.
• Adding a guest option is only required for access to exhibitions that require an entrance fee and is not required to take a guest into the Anning Rooms.

The Membership products are as follows:

• Adult membership – admits 1: Admits a named adult aged 17 to 59 years old inclusively. No guests are permitted.
• Adult membership + guest – admits 2: Admits the member plus one guest.
• Joint adult membership – admits 2: Admits two named adults living at the same address. No guests are permitted. Each named adult will be issued with a membership card.
• Joint adult membership + guest – admits 4: Admits two named adults living at the same address plus two guests. Each named adult will be issued with a membership card. Each card admits one guest.
• One-adult family membership – admits 5: Admits one named adult and up to four children under 17 years of age in the family group. No guests are permitted.
• One-adult family membership + guest – admits 6: Admits one named adult, up to four children under 17 years of age in the family group and one guest.
• Two-adult family membership – admits 6: Admits two named adults living at the same address, up to four children under 17 years of age in the family group. No guests are permitted.
• Two-adult family membership + guest – admits 8: Admits two named adults living at the same address, up to four children under 17 years of age in the family group and two guests. Each named adult will be issued with a membership card. Each card admits one guest.
• Concessionary membership – admits 1: Admits one named adult at a discounted rate. No guests are permitted.
• Concessionary membership + guest – admits 2: Admits one named adult at a discounted rate plus one guest.
• When purchasing concessionary membership, proof of eligibility will be required for each of the following circumstances when you join, and at renewal:
  1. Student – age 17 or over, in full time education (proof: e.g. valid student card)
  2. Seniors – if you are 60 years old or over (proof: e.g. senior rail card, birth certificate)
  3. Living in the UK and registered as ‘eligible disabled’ (proof: e.g. certificate)

10. Why your membership card is important

• The Natural History Museum shall issue each named adult member with a membership card for each period of their membership as evidence of their membership of the Museum. 
• For family memberships, up to four children under the age of 17 can be included on the membership policy. The Museum will not issue cards to children. Instead, when accompanied by adults named on the policy, the children will be eligible to access their membership benefits on presentation of the adult’s membership card.
• In the event that a membership card is for any reason not issued or delivered to a member, they shall still be able to enjoy the membership benefits to which they are entitled, provided they are not in arrears with the payment of their subscription. In these circumstances a member shall be required to provide proof of identify and proof of purchase and will be issued with a temporary membership card in order to access their membership benefits.
• If a membership card is lost or damaged, a replacement card shall be issued free of charge, on the first occasion. However, we may charge an administrative fee if asked to provide another replacement card subsequently.
• A membership card is for use by the named member only and is non-transferable. A member may not permit anyone else to use their membership card. Failure to comply with this rule may result in confiscation of the membership card, immediate withdrawal of any benefits to which a member may be entitled and the commencement of proceedings to terminate that member’s membership of the Museum without refund.
• Members will be required to present a valid membership card to enjoy the following benefits. Failure to present a valid card may mean that your membership entitlements cannot be claimed:
  • priority access at all Museum entrances
  • free entry to all temporary exhibitions
  • discounts in Museum shops, cafes and restaurants
  • discounts on tickets to visitor events
  • access to exclusive member events
  • free use of the Museum cloakroom
  • admittance to the Anning Rooms for members and Patrons
  • subscription to Natural History Museum magazine and with family membership, kids’ magazine, WILD WORLD
  Membership cards will be scanned at point of entry to and exit from the Museum, exhibitions, events and the Anning Rooms for members and Patrons. The scan data will be retained as part of the core member record for analytical purposes. This is so that we can improve our understanding of our members in order to develop and enhance the visitor offer and services we provide.

11. The Anning Rooms

• As a member you will enjoy access to the Anning Rooms during advertised opening hours. You and your permitted guests (if applicable) must leave the Anning Rooms at closing time or when requested by a member of our staff.
• Upon entry you must register with our welcome hosts at reception.
• Each named member can bring one guest into the Anning Rooms.
• Capacity in the Anning Rooms is limited for health and safety reasons. It is regrettable that if this limit is reached, members may be temporarily refused entry.
• Occasionally the rooms may be closed for a private function and we will notify members in advance via email and our website.
• In the event of an emergency evacuation, you must leave the Anning Rooms immediately as instructed by our staff. Do not use the lifts. You should leave your personal belongings if you do not have time to retrieve them. If you need special help, you should seek assistance from our staff.

12. Events (exclusive member events and discounted visitor events)

• Members can book discounted tickets for a wide range of visitor events. Members are eligible for a 10% discount on all visitor events. Members’ guests will pay the full price for their tickets. One discounted ticket can be purchased per named Museum member in your party and you will be asked to show your membership card on arrival. Non-members must buy a full-priced ticket.
• The full range of visitor events is available online.  Some are also promoted in our members’ magazine, Natural History Museum magazine, and in member emails. Age restrictions may occasionally apply, if an event is deemed inappropriate for children under a certain age.  Any age restrictions will be listed clearly on the website.
• Members can also book onto exclusive member-only events, including private views of temporary exhibitions, special tours, lectures and evening receptions. A full range of member-only events are available on our membership web pages. Member events are also promoted in our members’ magazine, Natural History Museum magazine, and in email updates.
• Some member-only events will be open to a small number of non-members, who are invited to purchase tickets at a higher price. Entry conditions including fees (where applicable) and whether you are entitled to bring a guest with you will be clearly stipulated on the event invitation (online, Natural History Museum magazine, email). Where an event fee applies, payment must be made at the time of booking as places will not be allocated without advance payment.
• Event spaces are allocated on a first-come first-served basis, unless specified otherwise.
• No refunds or exchanges are allowed once a ticket or tickets have been purchased.
• In the unlikely circumstance of an event needing to be cancelled by the Museum, notice of cancellation will be given by email to all attendees and tickets will be fully refunded.
• The Museum reserves the right to offer membership tickets to Patrons and the public (as taster tickets) for member-only events and will allow taster ticket holders to upgrade to full membership for up to one week after each event.

13. Renewal notifications and expiry of membership

• Your membership will be due for renewal on the last day of the twelfth month of your membership. We will always write to you in the month beforehand, to invite you to renew.
• Members paying by Direct Debit will be sent a reminder letter, advising you of when your payment/s will be collected from your bank account. See section 5 for more details about managing your Direct Debit Instruction.
• Members paying by cash, cheque or credit/debit card will be sent a renewal notice in the month before their expiry date.
• Members who pay their renewal fee up to three months after their renewal due date has passed will have their policy backdated to the renewal due date, to ensure there is no break in membership cover, so that benefits can continue to be enjoyed seamlessly. If you have not paid your membership three months after your membership renewal date has passed, your membership will be lapsed.

14. Obligations of membership

• When acting in their capacity as a member of the Natural History Museum, a member shall act in the interests of the Museum and in a manner that contributes to the achievement of the objectives of the Museum. While on Museum premises, a member must act in an appropriate manner so as not to cause offence or annoyance to other visitors, members and their guests.
• A member must notify Membership Services (membership@nhm.ac.uk) of any change of address for communication as soon as is possible. The Museum will not be responsible for losses of any kind, including loss of benefits that may arise as a result of the failure of a member to advise the Museum of a change of address.

15. Rejection or termination of membership

• The Museum may reject any application for membership of the Museum where an individual or corporate body, association or organisation appears to them to be ineligible for membership or for any other reason where they consider it to be in the interest of the Museum to do so.
• The membership of an individual or member organisation shall be terminated:
  1. on receipt by Membership Services of notification of the death of an individual member 
  2. on receipt by Membership Services of a written notice of resignation from the member
  3. if payment of any membership subscription has not been received by the Museum within 90 days of the due date
  4. if after considering a complaint concerning the conduct of an individual member the Head of Membership is of the view that membership should be terminated
• A member whose membership is terminated shall remain liable for any arrears of subscription or other sums due from them and shall not be entitled to the return of any subscriptions or other fees already paid.
• We reserve the right to cancel your membership at any time, without refund, if we discover that:
  1. You have obtained the membership fraudulently
  2. You have transferred the membership to someone other than the named person(s) on the application form without notifying us
  3. You have given your membership card to someone other than the person(s) named on that card in order for them to gain the benefits of membership
  4. You have sold or misused the guest option (if applicable) of your membership

16. General

• The Museum reserves the right to revise these terms and conditions and the substance of the membership. Current terms and conditions apply to all memberships regardless of their contract start date.

Membership Services, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
www.nhm.ac.uk/membership
membership@nhm.ac.uk

Membership terms and conditions

Last updated: 13 February 2024