Membership FAQs

The Museum is open daily, 10.00–17.00 (last entry at 16.45). On Fridays the Museum is open until 20.30 (last entry at 20.15). Find out about upcoming late opening on Fridays.

Please note that we begin clearing galleries 10 minutes before they close.

Special exhibitions will open late on Fridays until 20.30 with last entry at 20.15.

The Museum is closed on 24, 25 and 26 December. 

Members do not need to book for the permanent collection. You'll need to show your Membership card to gain entry.

Members will need to book a timed ticket online in advance before visiting The Bayeux Tapestry. Each Member can book two separate visits during the full run of the display at no additional cost, plus a 10% discount for further visits during public opening hours. Please see our FAQs on The Bayeux Tapestry for more information on booking.

If you're visiting before your Membership card arrives, please bring the confirmation email of your Membership purchase and a form of ID to the Membership Desk in the Great Court on the day of your visit. We'll issue a temporary card so you can access your on-site benefits.

Members will need to book a timed ticket online in advance before visiting The Bayeux Tapestry. Each Member can book two separate visits during the full run of the display at no additional cost, plus a 10% discount for further visits during public opening hours.

Each Membership must be active both on the day of booking and the day of visiting to access the Tapestry.

It will not be possible to visit the Tapestry as a Member without a booking.

Member booking is online via our ticketing system. Members will need to be logged into their account first to book – this can be completed via the Login/Sign up button. You will need to select the day of your visit, followed by the time slot and number of people visiting with you.

Members will need to use the email address we have on file for your Membership to login. If you are experiencing any difficulties with your online account we would recommend selecting the 'Forgot password' option to reset and proceed with booking. We are also happy to help via email to [email protected]

Once a Membership is purchased online, you'll receive a confirmation email. In the email, please follow the booking link to see ticket availability as a new Member and book. 

Please note new Members will not be able to see or book available tickets without following the link.

Members will receive priority booking in advance of public tickets going on sale. The first window for Member priority booking opened on 16 June for visits from 10 September to 31 December 2026 – please note all tickets are now sold out.

Further priority booking opportunities will take place in October 2026 for January 2027 to March 2027 dates, and in January 2027 for April to July 2027 dates.

We'll be working to ensure continued availability of Member-only time slots throughout the run of the Tapestry, but these will be more limited than during priority booking.

If you have recently joined online as a Member, use the link in your email confirmation to book when tickets are next available.

When your booking is complete you will be sent a confirmation email. Your tickets will then be emailed approximately four days before your visit to the same email address. 

Members will need to bring both the tickets and a Membership card corresponding with a valid Membership and ID to visit the Tapestry.

Additional special Member experiences outside of public hours will be announced across the run.

We want to ensure that new Members can also see the Tapestry as quickly as possible. When you purchase a Membership online, you will receive a link in your confirmation email that will let you book available Member tickets straight away, subject to the number you are entitled to book under your Membership category. This booking will count as your first visit of the two which incur no extra cost as a Member.

Each person accompanying a Member would require a booked ticket and must be booked when you book your own Member ticket. For Members with a Guest Facility or Additional Cardholder, these can be booked by selecting the total number of adult tickets needed under the Member (free) or Member (10% discount) options.

For children, each Membership cardholder can bring up to 4 children under 16 free of charge. These tickets are booked under the Child (age 4–15) option. Please note the number of tickets booked must correspond with and cannot exceed your Membership category i.e someone with an 'Admits 1' card would not be able to bring anyone over age 16 without upgrading before booking.

We are not intending any changes to existing procedures for Member entry to our established special exhibition programme. The booking process for The Bayeux Tapestry experience is in response to the unprecedented demand and to guarantee your viewing opportunity as a Member.

No, all tickets, including the Membership 10% discount tickets, can only be used to book for yourself and the people eligible under your Membership, and cannot be used to book public tickets in advance of them going on sale. 

If your booking falls outside the scope of our ticket policy, we will be in contact before your visit to notify you and amend the booking. 

The Members' Room is open 10.00–17.00 Saturday–Thursday, and 10.00–20.30 on Fridays. It can be accessed through the Egyptian sculpture gallery and up the West Stairs to Level 1 – view on a map.

Members must show a valid Membership card to gain entry. Members can take in as many guests as their Membership card allows.

View the Members' Room page for more information.

There is no reservation system for the Members' Room.

The visitor and Member cloakroom is located at the Great Russell Street entrance of the Museum. Members can deposit up to two items, i.e. one coat and a bag, free of charge.

Please note the Museum does not permit any wheeled items of luggage on-site or folding bikes inside the building. For the latest updates on facilities and restricted items, please see the Visit page.

The Museum cloakroom is operated by British Museum staff. Any items left without the assistance of British Museum staff will be removed and are likely to be disposed of.

Membership staff will be available on-site to help with any queries during your visit. You can also buy or renew your Membership online.

If you have more questions on your Membership, please contact the Membership Office [email protected] and we'd be happy to assist further.

Experience
The Bayeux Tapestry (10 September 2026 – 11 July 2027), one of the wonders of the medieval world, offers a vision of life in 11th-century England both before and after the Conquest of 1066, from castles, warfare and ships to clothing, food and furniture. 

Special exhibitions
Korea (1 October 2026 – 31 January 2027) will feature standout examples of sculpture, painting and decorative arts from the Bronze Age through to the 20th century, presenting the most comprehensive chronological span of Korean visual and material culture seen in Europe for over 40 years.

Members will need to book a timed ticket online in advance before visiting The Bayeux Tapestry. Each Member can book two separate visits during the full run of the display at no additional cost, plus a 10% discount for further visits during public opening hours.

Members do not need to book for the permanent collection or our special exhibitions. You'll need to show your Membership card to gain entry.

If you're visiting before your Membership card arrives, please bring your Membership purchase confirmation email and a form of ID to the Membership Desk in the Great Court on the day of your visit. We'll then issue a temporary card so you can access your on-site benefits.

Please check the current Members' events listing for the latest information about online and on-site events. 

You can check this information on the Exhibitions and events page anytime by:

• Selecting 'Member' from the 'Who's visiting' menu.
• Selecting 'Members' exclusive' from the 'What' menu.

Alternatively, you can subscribe to our emails by contacting [email protected] to find out all the upcoming Members' events.

You can book for Members' events online, by calling the Membership office or on-site at the Membership Desk in the Great Court. Please note that additional event fees may apply and event tickets are subject to availability.

All our Members' lectures are currently available to watch online, for free. If the speaker consents, we will also take a recording of the talk and share with Members at a later date. You can catch up on our past Members' talks on YouTube. You can find more recordings to watch on our Members' exclusive content page.

We offer a range of free events for Members. This includes out-of-hours exhibition views, welcome tours and online talks. We also hold Members' evenings, where you can enjoy the galleries and exhibitions after the Museum closes to the public, alongside workshops, talks and drop-in tables. Please note that some events may require you to book a ticket, subject to availability.

You can contact the Membership team to update your email or postal address by filling out one of these forms:

• Change of email address
• Change of postal address

The new information will be added to your record within three working days.

• You can order a replacement card by contacting the Membership Office.
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: +44 (0)20 7323 8195
• Please note that replacement cards can take up to 10 working days to be dispatched.
• While the replacement card arrives, a temporary Membership card can be collected from the Membership Desk in the Great Court and used to access all on-site benefits.

Members receive a 10% discount in all the Museum cafés and shops, including the online shop. Please note that the 10% discount excludes alcoholic beverages. 

Members also receive the concession price to the Museum's public events programme, unless specifically stated. 

• If you opt for Individual Membership plus one guest, you'll receive one card which will allow you to bring a guest with you to the special exhibitions and Members' Room.
• The guest facility is flexible and you can bring a different person with you to enjoy your Membership benefits each time you visit. You must be present to bring a guest into exhibitions or the Members' Room.
• With an Individual Membership plus additional card, you'll receive two Membership cards, one for you, and one for your named cardholder who lives at the same address as you.
• Your additional cardholder will be able to visit the Museum both with and without the primary Member present. This additional card is non-transferable, and will only allow your additional cardholder into the special exhibitions and Members' Room. 

• You can add a guest facility or additional cardholder to your Membership by:
  • Purchasing online
  • Contacting the Membership office by calling +44 (0)20 7323 8195
  • Visiting the Membership Desk during Museum opening hours
• You can add a guest facility for £30 or an additional cardholder (who must live at the same address as you) for just £24 anytime during your Membership.
• Members who add a guest facility will receive one card, which reads 'Admits 2'.
• Individual Members with an additional cardholder will each receive one card, which reads 'Admits 1' and these can only be used by the named individuals.
• If you have an Individual Membership with an additional card holder, and wish to add a guest facility, this must be added to the primary cardholder's Membership in the first instance.
• A second guest facility may then be added to the additional card thereafter.
• Please note that we can change the primary cardholder upon renewal.  
• Please note that upgrades will run alongside the existing Membership year and expire in line with that Membership.

• If you signed up for a recurring annual payment via Direct Debit when you joined, we'll renew your Membership automatically and send you a new Membership card at least 14 days before the debit is due on your account.  
• If you didn't sign up for a recurring annual payment via Direct Debit, you'll receive a letter to remind you when it's time to renew.
• You can renew your Membership online, by calling +44 (0)20 7323 8195 or by returning your renewal form by post. If you've previously paid by credit card, you can change to an annually recurring payment via Direct Debit to renew your Membership at a discounted rate.

You can cancel your Membership by contacting the Membership Office.

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +44 (0)20 7323 8195

• If purchasing an item from the British Museum shop online, please add your items to the basket and select 'View Basket' when ready to pay.
• On the following screen, a button will appear marked 'Validate Membership'.
• Please click this button and enter your Membership number when prompted – the Membership discount will then be subtracted from the total value.
• When booking event tickets online for non-Membership events, please enter the number of tickets under the Members option on the 'Select your Tickets' screen – the Membership discount will then be applied to your booking.

See our Membership terms and conditions page for details. 

• Your gift Membership starts immediately after purchase.
• Gift recipients can bring the confirmation email of the gift purchase and a form of identification to collect their temporary cards from the Membership Desk in the Great Court on the day of their visit to access on-site Membership benefits.
• Gift recipients can also access our exclusive online Membership content and digital events.

• The Membership card and Welcome Pack will be sent to the Primary Member's address by default.
• If you'd prefer the pack to be sent to you directly, please put C/O and your address under the Primary Member's details.

• Subscribe to Young Friends to be the first to hear about upcoming Museum sleepovers. To subscribe, visit the Young Friends page.
• You can find details of our upcoming sleepovers on our Sleepovers page.
• Catch up on our previous Stay-at-home sleepovers, featuring an interactive quiz and activities based on themes including Egyptians and Christmas.