Membership

Due to new government restrictions, the Museum will close from the 5 November until early December. We will update our Members via email regarding any re-opening information. 

How can I stay connected to the Museum during this period?

It is now more important than ever to stay connected with the natural world, and we will continue to bring all the latest science news, activities and virtual events  to our Member community via our regular Member e-newsletters and through our exclusive Members’ digital hub, The Hive. This exclusive online space hosts articles, videos and activities for our Members to connect with the Museum from home, as well as recordings of our Member events programme. 

Our new programme of exclusive and free virtual Member talks with Museum scientists continues, with live talks each month from our scientists and guest speakers. Members will also still receive our Member magazines (Evolve and Wild World).

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this challenging period. Our Members are at the heart of everything we do, and your support is vital in helping the Museum continue its pioneering scientific research, education and conservation.

Can I receive a refund for upcoming exhibition or membership event tickets?

Our upcoming exhibition, Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature, due to open in May, has been postponed. As a Member, you did not need to book in advance for this exhibition. However, if you or your friends and family have purchased tickets, all ticket holders will be refunded automatically and will have priority booking when the new exhibition dates are announced.

If you or your friends and family booked tickets for the fifity-fifth Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, tickets will be valid for one year from the date on your ticket and can be used for the next Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

All membership events up until the end of June have been postponed and if you have purchased tickets you should have been contacted regarding a refund.

Please keep an eye on our website, social media and your Member enewsletters for updates regarding exclusive Member events and our exhibition program.

Will I receive a refund or extension on my membership while the Museum is closed?

As a charity, the Natural History Museum relies on the support of our Members more than ever in this challenge time to work towards a future where people and the planet thrive. The closure of the Museum will have a significant impact on our finances, and it is the support of our Members which enables us to continue our essential scientific research, educational programmes, and to care for our world renowned collections.. Membership subscriptions have been vital income to support the Museum during this difficult time, and so we have chosen not to refund or extend memberships as a result of our closure. 

We have worked hard to produce a host of exclusive events and content to keep you engaged with our work while the Museum is closed - you will receive updates about this through your regular Member e-newsletters. If you are not receiving these, please get in touch at membership@nhm.ac.uk so we can update your details. We are so grateful to our community of Members for their ongoing support during this difficult period.

What I do need to know before visiting the Museum as a Member?

All visitors, including Members, will need to pre-book free tickets to enter the Museum and any exhibitions. 

To book a free Member ticket for yourself and anyone included within your membership you will need to log in using your last name (as shown on your membership card) and your 14-digit unique booking ID, which will have been sent via email. If you do not have this information, or are not able to log in, please email us at membership@nhm.ac.uk or call us on 020 7395 5792.

You will need to show your e-ticket/s and membership card/s at the Museum entrance and the entrance to our exhibitions. Exhibition tickets include general Museum admission.

Please see below for how many tickets are permitted per membership type. If you would like further assistance or would like to customise your membership to include guests, please get in touch with our team. Tickets booked for the incorrect membership type will be cancelled, and you will be asked to rebook.

• Adult or Concession: 1 Member ticket for yourself.
• Adult + Guest or Concession + Guest: 1 Member ticket and 1 Guest ticket. 
• Joint Adult: 2 Member tickets.
• Joint Adult + Guest: 2 Member tickets and 2 Guest tickets.
• Family One Adult: 1 Member ticket and up to 4 Child tickets.
• Family One Adult + Guest: 1 Member ticket, 1 Guest ticket and up to 4 Child tickets.
• Family Two Adult: 2 Member tickets and up to 4 Child tickets.
• Family Two Adult + Guest: 2 Member tickets, 2 Guest tickets and up to 4 Child tickets.

If your plans change, please cancel your tickets with us at membership@nhm.ac.uk so that someone else can visit. The Anning Rooms for Members and Patrons will be open so please do pop in to say hello. For more general information about planning your visit, please see here.

Download this helpful guide on visiting the Museum as a Member. (PDF: 148KB)

Download this Museum Map before your visit. (PDF: 1.37MB)

My unique booking ID isn't working

Please try entering your unique booking ID (which is different from your membership number) and your last name as it appears on your membership record again. If you have any problems, please contact us at membership@nhm.ac.uk and we will respond as soon as possible. 

I don’t have my unique booking ID, how can I book tickets?

Your 14-digit unique booking ID has been emailed to you, but if you do not have this information or if you need any more assistance with booking, please email membership@nhm.ac.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.

How do I skip the queue?

When you arrive at the Museum, follow the signs for either one of the main entrances. There will be a queue for public visitors, and you can walk alongside the queue to the front and present your Member e-ticket to a member of the team. You must have a pre-booked Member e-ticket for yourself and anyone else who is included within your membership type.

I am a new Member – how can I book a ticket?

You will receive a temporary booking ID via email shortly after joining online, and you can use this to book Member ticket/s for yourself and anyone included within your membership. You can then show your e-ticket/s and membership  confirmation email or temporary membership card at the entrance of the Museum/exhibition. You will then receive your unique booking ID within 1 week.

Will tickets for Members be restricted?

In order to safely manage visitor numbers and ensure social distancing, we are limiting the number of people who can visit the Museum and are therefore opening at a reduced capacity. 

There aren’t tickets available for the date I want to visit, what can I do? 

The day you would like to visit may be fully booked already due to limited capacity. Please try booking an alternative date or wait until more tickets are released for the following month. 

What if I have booked tickets but can no longer visit?

To give as many Members as possible the chance to visit the Museum, please make sure you can visit at the date and time you have booked your tickets. If your plans change, please contact us at membership@nhm.ac.uk to cancel your tickets.

Do I need my Membership card to visit the Museum?

You will need to show your membership card alongside your pre-booked Member e-ticket/s 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 will be open as normal, with the new Museum opening hours of Wednesday – Sunday, 11.00 – 18.00. The last entry to The Anning Rooms is 17.30. Our restaurant will be open with an updated menu, so please do pop in to say hello, and enjoy a drink or a light lunch. For the safety of our Members, Patrons and staff, we will have a reduced capacity and if The Anning Rooms are busy you may have to wait a short while to enter. As with the rest of the Museum, we ask you to respect social distancing, use hand sanitiser where provided and pay with contactless where possible. 

For any other information about your visit, including safety information, information about accessibility or facilities, please see the visit page. 

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 7395 5792 (9.30am-5pm, Monday – Friday). Our team in The Anning Rooms for Members and Patrons will also be happy to help.

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 and Crime Scene Live, please call 020 7942 5725 and have your membership number handy.

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 Evolve 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 pre-booked Member e-ticket/s and membership card  to a member of staff managing the entrance. You can book your free Member ticket to visit here.

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 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 7395 5792 (9.30am-5pm, Monday – Friday).

How can I check or update my details with you?

Please email us at membership@nhm.ac.uk or call us on 020 7395 5792 (9.30am-5pm, Monday – Friday) 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 see here and 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 calling us on 020 7395 5792. 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.

Do I need to book tickets to visit the Museum, Wildlife Photographer of the Year or Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature?

All visitors, including Members, will need to pre-book tickets to enter the Museum and to enter exhibitions.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year opened on 16 October 2020 and Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature opens on 9 December 2020. Members enjoy priority booking and previews of the exhibition in the opening week.

To book free Member tickets you will need your last name as shown on your Membership record and your 14-digit unique booking ID, both of which have been emailed to you. If you do not have this information, or are not able to log in, please email us at membership@nhm.ac.uk.

You are able to book free Member tickets for yourself and anyone else included in your Membership. Tickets booked for the incorrect Membership type will be cancelled, and you will be asked to rebook.

Please see below for how many tickets are permitted per membership type. If you would like further assistance or would like to customise your membership to include guests, please contact us at membership@nhm.ac.uk .

Adult or Concession: 1 Member ticket for yourself.

Adult + Guest or Concession + Guest: 1 Member ticket and 1 Guest ticket.

Joint Adult: 2 Member tickets.

Joint Adult + Guest: 2 Member tickets and 2 Guest tickets.

Family One Adult: 1 Member ticket and up to 4 Child tickets.

Family One Adult + Guest: 1 Member ticket, 1 Guest ticket and up to 4 Child tickets.

Family Two Adult: 2 Member tickets and up to 4 Child tickets.

Family Two Adult + Guest: 2 Member tickets, 2 Guest tickets and up to 4 Child tickets.

If your plans change, please cancel your tickets with us at membership@nhm.ac.uk so that someone else can visit. The Anning Rooms for Members and Patrons will be open so please do pop in to say hello. For more general information about planning your visit, please see here. Download this Museum Map before your visit. (PDF: 1.37MB)

My unique booking ID isn't working

Please try entering your unique booking ID and your last name as it appears on your Membership record again. If you have any problems, please contact us at membership@nhm.ac.uk and we will respond as soon as possible. 

I don’t have my unique booking ID, how can I book tickets?

Your 14-digit unique booking ID has been emailed to you, but if you do not have this information or if you need any more assistance with booking, please email membership@nhm.ac.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.

How do I skip the queue?

When you arrive at the Museum, follow the signs for either one of the main entrances. There will be a queue for public visitors, and you can walk alongside the queue to the front and present your Member e-ticket to a member of the team. You must have a pre-booked Member e-ticket for yourself and anyone else who is included within your membership type, and you will not be able to enter the Museum with only your Membership card.

I am a new Member – how can I book a ticket?

You will receive a temporary booking ID via email shortly after joining online, and you can use this to book Member tickets. You will then receive your unique booking ID within 1 week.

Will tickets for Members be restricted?

In order to safely manage visitor numbers and ensure social distancing, we are limiting the number of people who can visit the Museum and are opening at a reduced capacity. 

There aren’t tickets available for the date I want to visit, what can I do? 

The day you would like to visit may be fully booked already due to limited capacity. Please try booking an alternative date or wait until more tickets are released for the following month. 

What if I have booked tickets but can no longer visit?

To give as many Members as possible the chance to visit the Museum, please make sure you can visit at the date and time you have booked your tickets. If your plans change, please contact us at membership@nhm.ac.uk to cancel your tickets.

Do I need my Membership card to visit the Museum?

You must pre-book a Member ticket online; this e-ticket is all you will need to fast-track the queue and enter the Museum. You can use your Membership card to access The Anning Rooms and enjoy your discount in the shop and café. 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

How can I book tickets for Member Events?

For exclusive Member events, tickets can be booked online here.

For Special Events, such as Dinosnores or Crime Scene Live, you can call our ticketing team on 020 7942 5000, 9.30am-5.50pm daily, to book tickets using your 10% Member discount.

Who can I bring to Member Events?

You can book tickets for anyone included within your Membership. Please note that for Member Family Events, children under 1 go free, but any other children must have a ticket.

For some events, it may be possible to book tickets for additional guests who are not included within your Membership. This information will be on the individual event webpage, or you can contact the Membership team for more information: membership@nhm.ac.uk or on 020 7395 5792 (9.30am – 5pm, Monday – Friday)

How can I get tickets to an event if it is sold out?

If you are interested in booking tickets for an event that is sold out, please call to speak to our ticketing team on 020 7942 5000, (9.30am-5.50pm daily) to be added to the waiting list.

Are Carers/Facilitators required to buy tickets for the exhibitions and events?

Carers/Facilitators may join you in addition to the guests included in your Membership. For events and exhibitions, please call our ticketing team on 020 7942 5000 (9.30am – 5.50pm daily) to add a free ticket for a Carer/Facilitator to your order.

What events happen in The Anning Rooms?

Some of our upcoming Member events may take place in The Anning Rooms, and you can find more information about all future events here.  The Anning Rooms will also be open during each month's Museum Lates. 

Will The Anning Rooms be open when the Museum reopens? 

Yes, The Anning Rooms are open daily from 10.00 – 17.50 and the last entry to The Anning Rooms is 17.30.Our restaurant will be open with an updated menu, so please do pop in to say hello, and enjoy a drink or a light lunch.

For the safety of our Members, Patrons and staff, we will have a reduced capacity and if The Anning Rooms are busy you may have to wait a short while to enter. As with the rest of the Museum, we ask you to respect social distancing, use hand sanitiser where provided and pay with contactless where possible.

How can I access The Anning Rooms?

The Anning Rooms are located on the second floor of Hintze Hall, to the right of the Giant Sequoia. There is lift access from the ground floor of Hintze Hall up to the level of the Rooms, as well as a lift inside to take you to the upper level.

How many guests can I bring with me into The Anning Rooms?

Each card-holding Member may always bring one additional guest with you to enjoy The Anning Rooms, 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 or purchase a Gift Membership with our team in The Anning Rooms.

What facilities are available in The Anning Rooms?

There is a restaurant serving lunch, refreshments and snacks open throughout the day. For more information on our menu, please see here.

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.

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 11.30am and 3pm outside of these areas we serve snacks and 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, please contact our team at membership@nhm.ac.uk or on 020 7395 5792 (9.30am-5pm, Monday – Friday) and we will be happy to take a Gift Aid Declaration from 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, Evolve 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. Please see here for more information.

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.

If you would like to further support the important work of the Museum by making a donation, please see here.  

To join the Patrons circle and access exclusive benefits and events, please see here.

To find out more about leaving a gift in your Will, please see here.

For more information about Corporate Sponsorship, please see here.