Membership

Gift Membership

Give memories that last a lifetime with the gift of Membership.

Why give a Gift Membership?

Treat your friends and family to a year of unlimited free entry to all our museums and world-class exhibitions, exclusive Member events and experiences and so much more, all while supporting the vital work of our museums.

Share the stories behind objects that have shaped our world with the gift of Membership today. 

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

They 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

View our Membership terms and conditions.

Choose the right membership to give

  • Family Membership

    £72 by a one-off card payment

    For 2 adults and 3 children under the age of 16, or 1 adult and 4 children; cards issued for the adults only. Under 5s go free at National Museum of Flight, National Museum of Rural Life and National War Museum.

    Buy as a gift for someone else

  • Joint Membership

    £60 by a one-off card payment

    Joint Membership is for two named friends or family members to visit together or separately, each with their own card.

    Buy as a gift for someone else

  • Guest Membership

    £60 by a one-off card payment

    Guest Membership is for a named individual to bring along any guest.

    Buy as a gift for someone else

  • Individual Membership

    £50 by a one-off card payment

    Individual Membership is for the named individual on the Membership card.

    Buy as a gift for someone else

  • Full-time Student or Young Scot Membership

    £36 by a one-off card payment

    This Membership is for full-time students or holders of a Young Scot card who are aged 16+. Please send us a photo/scan of your proof of concessionary status to membershipconcessions@nms.ac.uk

    Buy as a gift for someone else

  • Disabled Membership

    £36 by a one-off card payment

    Disabled Membership is for one disabled adult with a carer/companion. This Membership is to encourage access for anyone who is presented with a barrier in visiting our museums due to a disability. Please send a photo/scan of your proof of eligibility to membershipconcessions@nms.ac.uk

    Buy as a gift for someone else

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: 

Gift Membership FAQs

What can I expect to receive after buying a Gift Membership?

You will receive an email for yourself as purchaser and an email, with a gift code to activate the Membership, to forward to the recipient.

To activate the Membership:

  • Select the Membership type to the value that has been gifted
  • Enter personal details and create an account
  • On the payment screen, enter the Gift certificate code in the Gift certificate ID section and select ‘Apply gift certificate’
  • Read and agree to the Privacy Notice and Checkout

A welcome pack will then be sent to them within 10 working days and they will be able to access their Member benefits online immediately.

When do Gift Memberships start?

Gift Memberships start when the recipient activates their Membership online.

Can the Gift Membership pack be sent directly to the recipient?

Gift Membership emails are only sent to the purchaser so that you can forward the email to the recipient at a time of your choosing.

Ways to purchase Gift Membership

Online

In person

Buy a Membership in person in any of our shops and at the information or ticket desks.

By phone

To buy a Membership by phone with a credit/debit card, please call us:

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

Contact us

Contact list of staff members