Two visitors observing a display in the museum.
Membership

Become a Member

Help protect remarkable objects and be the first to hear about the stories they hold.

Benefits of Membership

  • Unlimited free entry to all our world class exhibitions at the National Museum of Scotland
  • Invitations to exclusive Member Previews for selected exhibitions
  • Unlimited free entry to the National Museum of Flight
  • Unlimited free entry to the National Museum of Rural Life
  • Invitations to exclusive Member events and experiences throughout the year
  • Free or discounted entry to our fantastic programme of family events
  • Behind the scenes news and in-depth articles in your Member magazine Explorer

You will also get:

  • 20% discount in our cafes
  • 10% discount in our museum shops and online
  • 10% off entry to Edinburgh Castle for the National War Museum

Choose to pay by Direct Debit to get the best value on your Membership.

View our Membership terms and conditions.

Thank you for your support, it means so much to us. Your Membership enables us to protect our collections and ensure they are available for people to enjoy today and in the future.

Choose the right membership for you

Proof of concessionary status

Student Membership

This Membership is for anyone in full-time education. 

We accept the following as proof of concessionary status:

  • Valid Student card
  • TOTUM card (formally NUS)

Upon joining and in order to validate your Membership, we ask that you please send us a photo/scan of your proof of concessionary status to membershipconcessions@nms.ac.uk. This will only be used to check your eligibility, once your application is complete the data will be destroyed/deleted.

Disabled Membership

This Membership is for anyone who is presented with a barrier in visiting our museums due to a disability.

The eligibility criteria are kept under review and may be updated from time to time. 

We currently accept:

  • Adult Disability Payment
  • PIP (Personal Independence Payment)
  • Disability Working Allowance for over 60s
  • Employment & Support Allowance
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Disabled Person’s Tax Credit
  • Registered Severely Sight Impaired (Blind)
  • Blue Badge

Upon joining and in order to validate your Membership, we ask that you please send us a photo/scan of your proof of concessionary status to membershipconcessions@nms.ac.uk. This will only be used to check your eligibility, once your application is complete the data will be destroyed/deleted.

Further information about access for disabled visitors can be found for each of our museums here: 

We are currently experiencing a system upgrade

This means that there will be a slight delay in you receiving your Membership welcome pack. While you await your Membership cards you are able activate your account, log in to our members section, book your Member tickets, and gain access to sites and exhibitions. 

You can use your email confirmation of purchase to provide the Visitor Experience staff with your proof of Membership. Thank you for your patience. 

Other ways to join

Join in person

You can join in person at our information or ticket desks the next time you visit any of our museums. You can pay by direct debit, by credit/debit card or by cheque.

Join by phone

To join by phone and pay with a credit/debit card or by Direct Debit, please call us:

  • Phone: 0131 247 4294
  • Opening hours: Mon-Thu 09:30-16:30, Fri 9:30-12:00

Join by post

To join by post and pay by cheque or Direct Debit, download a Membership application form and return it to:

Membership
National Museums Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF

To receive a hard copy of our application form or to find out more information, please contact our Membership team.

Downloads List

Contact us

Contact list of staff members