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If you have any questions about your Membership please email membership@nms.ac.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Alternatively, please ring 0131 247 4294 and leave a message with your name and number and we will call you back as soon as possible.
Membership
National Museums Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF
You can join, renew or buy a gift of Membership at any of our museum ticket desks, and pay by cash, credit/debit card or by annual Direct Debit.
The Government grant remains of central importance but donations, sponsorship and income from our shops, ticket sales and commercial events are increasingly critical to enabling us to continue our work. Today, around a third of the income we need to care for Scotland’s national collections and to share them with the world is generated this way.
Members are especially important to us, because their regular support and loyalty enables us to plan for the future. Their support means that future generations will be able to continue to enjoy and be inspired by the treasures in our collections – and we hope people enjoy the benefits that Membership brings to them in return for their generosity.
Your support is vital in helping to protect the objects in our care, so that the stories they hold can inspire people now and in the future.
To support the important work of our Museums, you can:
If you pay by Direct Debit we will renew your Membership automatically and send you a new Membership card and advance notice of the next collection at least 10 working days in advance of your account being debited. You can cancel future Direct Debit payments at any time.
If you do not pay by Direct Debit, you will receive a letter to remind you when it is time to renew, around four weeks before your current card expires. You can renew online, by phone or by post. If you renew by Direct Debit you can enjoy a discounted price and receive 15 months for the price of 12 in your first year as a Direct Debit payer.
Yes, you can now renew your Membership online. Please note you will need to register as an online user first if you have not already done so.
If you would like to cancel your Membership please email membership@nms.ac.uk and we will get that organised for you. Alternatively, please ring 0131 247 4294 and leave a message with your name and number and we will call you back as soon as possible.
If you pay your Membership fee by Direct Debit, to make sure no further payments are taken, please contact your bank to cancel your direct debit.
If you have already redeemed free exhibition tickets with your membership you may still cancel but we reserve the right to charge the standard cost of the tickets used.
It is an industry standard that Student Membership is available only to full-time students, however part-time students can still enjoy the concession price charged for exhibitions and events (valid student ID required).
The support of National Museums Scotland’s Members is vital to our work, the care of our collections and the development of each of our sites. A large proportion of our Members are over 60 and a discounted category exclusively for those over 60 would have a significant impact on this crucial and much-needed support. We do offer concessions for full-time Students and Members with disabilities.
Please ensure that you bring your Membership card with you to claim your Membership benefits, including free entry to exhibitions. If you lose your card, to request a replacement card please call the Membership Team on 0131 247 4294 or email us at membership@nms.ac.uk.
Please contact the Membership Team on 0131 247 4294 to arrange this.
No, all Direct Debits are payable as a single annual payment on the first working day of the month (as advised in your joining letter). We are unable to offer monthly Direct Debits as we do not currently have the resources required to manage the increase in administration this would facilitate.
If you do not pay by Direct Debit, and are due to renew your Membership, you can amend your category and the names of the Members on the renewal form. However, if you are midway through your Membership or pay by Direct Debit, please contact the Membership Team on 0131 247 4294 or email membership@nms.ac.uk and we can make the necessary changes.
As a Member you receive FREE admission to all special exhibitions and you can visit as many times as you like.
Yes, Membership is valid from the moment you buy it. If you have joined online you will receive a confirmation email of the purchase which will include a Member ticket booking code. You can either print this off or show the email on your smartphone as proof of Membership to access onsite benefits such as the café and shop discount. The Member booking code is valid for one month and can be used immediately to book Member tickets online.
If you joined in person at the National Museum of Scotland you will be given a temporary Membership card, which can be used in the shop and cafe, and a Member booking code. Annual Direct Debit payments are not taken on the day you join but are scheduled ahead of time to allow us to set up the instruction with your bank. Your permanent Membership card will be sent out in around 10-15 working days.
If you have bought “Guest Membership” you can bring a guest of any age - you will have one Membership card which will show “Individual and Guest” under the category.
You can upgrade Individual Membership to include a Guest or a second named Member for £10 if you currently pay by Direct Debit, or for £13 if you pay by any other method. Upgrades can only be organised by the Membership Team so please call 0131 247 4294 or email membership@nms.ac.uk.
All of our museums welcome children and under 5s go free to our museums, special exhibitions and most events. Up to three children between the age of 5 and 15 are included as part of a Family Membership. If you wish to upgrade your Membership this can only be organised by the Membership Team, so please call 0131 247 4294 or email membership@nms.ac.uk.
Members get FREE entry to the big events at National Museum of Flight and National Museum of Rural Life, such as Awesome Bricks. Please note for some events there will be a car parking fee of £4 per car for all visitors including Members.
The special Member booking codes for these events will be emailed in our regular e-bulletins around a month in advance of each event. To make sure you receive these please make sure you remain subscribed to our emails and that you have added ‘membership@nms.ac.uk’ to your safe list (otherwise check your spam or junk folders).
Member tickets are only valid for active Members and you must bring your valid Membership card with you to the event. You may be denied entry if you book Member tickets and are not covered by a valid Membership at the time of the event.
Yes, there are a variety of events and experiences each year exclusively for Members which give a glimpse behind-the-scenes, so Members can find out how their support brings our collections to life.
Members can also take advantage of our free or discounted tickets to events as part of our extensive adult events programme. Hear experts talk about fascinating topics and gain a deeper understanding of the work of National Museums Scotland. These are subject to availability.
Information about Members’ events is advertised in advance: your Explorer magazine will contain details of any upcoming Member-only events and these are also listed online when the free tickets are available to book. If you have provided an email address you will automatically receive Member notifications with details of priority booking, discounts and free tickets for events as part of your Membership benefits. You can unsubscribe from these by following the link at the bottom of these emails.
See more details about our exclusive Member events
However if you would also like to hear the latest news about forthcoming exhibitions, our work, events, products, special offers and ways of supporting National Museums Scotland, the easiest way is for us to inform you via our regular Member eBulletins and visitor eNewsletters. To receive these please contact membership@nms.ac.uk to be added to these lists. You can also unsubscribe from these emails at any time by following the link at the bottom of these emails
You can book for Member and public events by contacting our Museums’ ticket desks:
Please note that booking fees may apply. Please see our ticketing terms and conditions for more information. Bookings for any events cannot be made via the Membership Office.
Only the named Member may use their Membership card. Membership cards should not be passed on to third parties for use, and may be de-activated if abuse of the card is suspected. You can share your enjoyment with a friend or family member by upgrading to a Joint or Guest Membership from £10 if you pay by Direct Debit or from £13 if you pay by another method. Contact the Membership Team on 0131 247 4294 or membership@nms.ac.uk.
You can bring as many people as your Membership allows. If you have opted to purchase a Guest Membership, you can bring a guest (your card will say “Individual and Guest” under the category). If you have Joint or Family Membership, each named Member will receive their own card which can be used together or independently.
Family Membership can be used for up to two named adults and up to three children under 16 years, or one adult and up to four children under 16 years.
If you have provided an email address you will automatically receive Member notifications with details of priority booking, discounts and free tickets for events as part of your Membership benefits. You can unsubscribe from these by following the link at the bottom of these emails.
However, if you would also like to hear the latest news about forthcoming exhibitions, our work, events, products, special offers and ways of supporting National Museums Scotland, the easiest way is for us to inform you via our regular Member eBulletins and visitor eNewsletters. To receive these please contact membership@nms.ac.uk to be added to these lists. You can also unsubscribe from these emails at any time by following the link at the bottom of these emails.
No, the National War Museum is situated inside Edinburgh Castle, which is a site owned by Historic Environment Scotland. As such, Members of National Museums Scotland receive a 10% discount on Castle admission rather than free entry. Access to the National War Museum itself is free of charge.
On visiting Edinburgh Castle as a National Museums Scotland Member, please proceed to Visitor Information to purchase your discounted ticket. This should also allow you to bypass any queues at the Ticket Desk.
No, Members do not receive free use of the cloakroom. We charge £1.50 per item. Please be aware that any items deposited in our museum cloakrooms are left at your own risk.
Members receive a 20% discount in all the museum cafés and a 10% discount in all museum shops, including the online shop. Just show your Membership card at the start of your transaction to claim your discount. Look out for your online shop discount code in the letter accompanying your new/renewed Membership cards and in our regular Member e-bulletins.
If you have provided an email address you will automatically receive Member notifications with details of priority booking, discounts and free tickets for events as part of your Membership benefits. You can unsubscribe from these by following the link at the bottom of these emails. Also take a look at our website where we list our events and special offers for Members.
However, if you would also like to hear the latest news about forthcoming exhibitions, our work, events, products, special offers and ways of supporting National Museums Scotland, the easiest way is for us to inform you via our regular Member eBulletins and visitor eNewsletters. To receive these please contact membership@nms.ac.uk to be added to these lists. You can also unsubscribe from these emails at any time by following the link at the bottom of these emails.
Any gift Membership to be sent directly to the recipient will be sent within 10 working days. Please contact us if you require it for a specific date.
Gift Memberships start from the moment the recipient receives their Membership card(s).
The expiry date will be the last day of the month 12 months after the Membership is purchased if paid by cash or debit / credit card, and 15 months after purchase if payment is made by annual Direct Debit.
We will send out a letter advising you of your payment collection at least 10 working days before your first payment.
You can now renew your purchase of a gift of Membership online. Alternatively, please return the completed renewal form or contact the Membership Team on 0131 247 4294 or membership@nms.ac.uk to renew a gift Membership.
Gift Membership payments, or payments made by someone other than the Member, are not eligible for Gift Aid.
Gift Aid allows you to increase the value of your Membership fee by enabling us to reclaim tax that you have already paid at basic rate through UK income tax and/or capital gains tax.
For every £1 you give, we can claim an additional 25p from HMRC. So, for example, if you purchased an Individual Membership at £44, National Museums Scotland would receive an additional £11 from HMRC, without you paying a penny more.
Simply complete the Gift Aid declaration when you join online, download and complete a pdf application form or let us know when you purchase a Membership over the phone.
Further information
Please note that the amount you pay in UK income tax and/or capital gains tax must at least equal the amount National Museums Scotland claims on all your donations in that tax year. If you would like to know more about Gift Aid, please contact our Development Team via email on development@nms.ac.uk or telephone 0131 247 4095
Members can login to their online accounts through the membership portal.
Membership Team
