Membership terms and conditions

These Terms and Conditions apply to the National Gallery’s membership programme (the "Membership") and the associated benefits provided as part of Membership. By joining, purchasing, or using the Membership, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. References to the National Gallery, we or us are references to the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery.

1. Membership Eligibility

To become a member of the National Gallery (a Member), you must be at least 18 years old. Membership is available to individuals only and is non-transferable, except for our gift memberships which can be transferred to the individual named in your purchase as set out in paragraph 13 below. 

2. Membership Duration and Renewal

2.1 You can become a member by completing the registration process on our website or at the Gallery. Membership is valid for 12 months from the date of activation unless otherwise stated.

2.2 Memberships paid by direct debit automatically renews each year unless you cancel your membership (see paragraph 14 below) before the renewal date. All other memberships shall expire automatically.

2.3 You will receive two reminders prior to your renewal date.

3. Membership Tiers and Benefits

3.1 We offer two different membership tiers – Exhibition Members and House Members – each with specific benefits. A full breakdown of each Membership tier, including pricing and benefit can be found here.

3.2 Benefits vary per tier and may include:

• Free entry to exhibitions
• Invitations to special events or viewings 
• Priority booking for exhibitions and events
• Exclusive members-only content
• Discounts in the Gallery’s shops and restaurants
• Access to Supporters’ House (for House Members only) 

Please note that Membership benefits vary depending on the Membership tier selected and may change from time to time. The Gallery reserves the right to modify, add, or remove benefits at its discretion.

3.3 You can upgrade your Membership at any time. Upgrades will take effect from the point of sale and will apply for the remainder of your Membership term.

4. Membership Fees and Payment

4.1 Membership fees are due and payable at the time of registration. You agree to pay the membership fee in full at the time of registration.

4.2 Membership fees for any renewal period are due and payable on the date of each renewal.

4.3 Membership fees are non-refundable except as outlined in clause 14.

4.4 We reserve the right to increase the price of your Membership subscription on an annual basis. If so you will be informed of any fee increase within your renewal notifications.

4.5 Limited Time Offer: Up to and including 31 March 2026, if you present a valid exhibition ticket to our Membership team on the same day as your visit to the exhibition, you can upgrade to Membership and redeem the price of your exhibition ticket against the cost of your Membership. You can also redeem your exhibition ticket against the cost of Membership where you purchase new Membership online within seven days of your exhibition visit. If you purchase your Membership online, the price of the exhibition ticket will be refunded within 3 working days. After the first year, the price of the Membership will return to the standard rate. You may only redeem one exhibition ticket against the cost of Membership.

5. Administration of your Membership

5.1 Membership is administered almost exclusively through the Gallery’s online channels.

5.2 When you join as a Member, you will need to create an account with us by using an email address and password. We will send communications about your Membership to the email address associated with your account. You can unsubscribe from receiving emails at any time using the link included on emails sent to you. You can also change your email preferences by logging into your account and editing your preferences. How we use your personal data in relation to emailing you is dealt with in our Members Privacy Notice.

5.3 If you chose not to provide an email address (or if you unsubscribe from receiving emails from us at any time) the only communications you will receive from us will be those very limited communications which we send by post.

5.4 You will need to use your email address and password when logging into The National Gallery website to book exhibition tickets and tickets for Members’ events (see paragraph 7 below).

5.5 All Members will be issued with a digital membership cards. House Members will be issued with a physical Membership card and Exhibition Members may elect to be issued with a physical Membership card.

5.6 If you are entitled to a physical Membership card, the card will be dispatched to your address within 15 working days of your Membership purchase. If you join onsite the card will be provided at point of sign up.

5.7 Lost Membership cards will be replaced once free of charge. Any subsequent replacement cards may incur a small administrative fee.

6. Accessing Membership benefits

6.1 To access your Membership benefits, you must present either your digital or physical Membership card. Members may also be asked to provide identification. Screenshots of membership cards and/or membership confirmation emails not from a National Gallery email address will not be accepted as proof of membership.

6.2 Membership benefits may be accessed by the named card holder only. Membership is personal and cannot be transferred to another person. Members are not permitted to allow another person to use their Membership card or benefits or to sell, rent or otherwise monetise their Membership and/or benefits.

6.3 If your Membership includes guest entry, you may bring one guest into the Gallery and Gallery exhibitions with you. Guests will not be permitted to enter without you.

6.4 The Gallery may operate a timed ticket system for entry to some ticketed exhibitions and events to monitor Gallery capacity and visitors’ health and safety. If you are unable to use your pre-booked Membership tickets, please let us know so that we can offer your ticket to another person.

6.5 A limited number of exhibition tickets are always reserved for Members to access exhibitions without pre-booking a time slot. These are available at the Ticket Desk each day for each time slot, and are allocated on a first-come first-served basis. During peak times and busy exhibitions, there will be high demand for the Members tickets and we will not be able to guarantee entry on the door. Members are advised to pre-book timed tickets online at www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions.

6.6 Members can bring up to four under 18s into exhibitions for free. Free tickets for under 18s must be booked in advance or onsite.

6.7 Please note that access to the Gallery is always subject to our terms and conditions of entry.

7. Members’ Events

7.1 As a Member, you will have access to a programme of events organised by the Gallery for its Members. Some Member Events will require an extra cost in addition to the annual Membership fee. A current events programme will be made available to Members via the Membership section of the National Gallery website and can be accessed via your account. We reserve the right to cancel or rearrange Member events.

7.2 Tickets for both free and paid-for Member events will be available on a first-come, first-served basis via the ticketing pages on the Gallery’s website. You must log into your account to identify yourself as a Member in order to book a ticket. Events will be limited by capacity, therefore attendance cannot be guaranteed to all Members and we recommend booking event tickets in advance. If you have booked a ticket but are subsequently unable to attend a particular event, we ask that you advise the Membership team as soon as possible so the place can be made available to another Member.

7.3 Members' tickets for paid events are non-refundable. The Gallery does not accept liability for any costs incurred by Members (e.g. travel) if the Gallery has to close or cancel an event due to unforeseen circumstances.

7.4 Until 1 October 2025, all Members may book tickets for events in Supporters' House. Entry to Supporters' House will be for the event only and Members will not be able to access the Supporters' House bar and restaurant (unless they have House Membership). From 1 October 2025, Members’ events taking place in Supporters’ House are for House Members only. If you do not have a valid ticket and House Membership, you will not be able to access events in Supporters’ House.

7.5 The Gallery is not responsible for the views or opinions expressed by individual speakers at Members’ events.

7.6 Photography and recording of Member events by attendees is not permitted in order to protect the privacy of the audience and speakers connected to the event.

7.7 Please note that our Member Events are always subject to our ticketing terms and conditions. 

8. Supporters’ House and House Membership

Entry

8.1 If you are a House Member, you may enjoy access to the Gallery’s Supporters’ House during advertised opening hours and may dine at the bar and restaurant within Supporters’ House You and your permitted guests (if applicable) must leave Supporters’ House before closing time or when prompted by a member of our staff.

8.2 You must show your valid House Membership card to gain entry to Supporters’ House. You can bring as many guests as your Membership card allows. A member is responsible for the their guests and for ensuring that they comply with these terms and conditions.

8.3 Capacity in Supporters’ House is limited and you may be refused immediate entrance if there is no available space.

8.4 You may bring up to 4 children under the age of 18 into Supporters’ House without additional charge. The accompanying adult is responsible for the children with them and for ensuring such children comply with these terms and conditions.

8.5 If you are not a House Member, you will not be able to access Supporters’ House (including the bar and restaurant within) unless you are accompanying a House Member as their permitted guest. A reservation confirmation from the Supporters’ House bar or restaurant will not allow you entry if you are not a House Member.

Conduct

8.6 Whilst you are in Supporters’ House:

8.7 please treat others and our spaces with care and respect;

8.7.1 with the exception of water, you must not bring your own food, drinks or snacks into Supporters’ House unless you are visiting with babies and children under 5 and such food, drinks or snacks are for them;

8.7.2 we ask that you take phone calls outside Supporters’ House or in public areas of the Gallery;

8.7.3 use mobile phones and other devices should be used discreetly, and any music or sound played through a device must be played using personal headsets/earphones;

8.7.4 you may only use laptops in the Salon and Lounge areas, however we may ask you to refrain from using laptops during busy periods.

9. Member Conduct

9.1 As a Member, you agree to behave respectfully towards Gallery staff and other members while in the Gallery or participating in any Gallery-related activities or events. Any behaviour deemed disruptive, harmful, offensive or in violation of the Gallery’s policies may result in suspension or termination of your membership and/or removal from events, exhibitions and the Gallery.

9.2 The Gallery reserves the right to suspend or cancel Membership, or conduct further investigations, if it becomes aware of or reasonably suspects that a Member has shared their membership card or access details to allow others to use membership benefits.

9.3 If you are removed from a paid-for event or your Membership is terminated due to a breach of these terms and conditions, you will not receive a refund for the ticket price or your Membership.

10. Our right to cancel your Membership or refuse Membership benefits

10.1 The Gallery reserves the right not to fulfil or to cancel or suspend a Membership if you (or the Member, where you purchase Gift Membership for another person) are found to be in breach of these terms and conditions or if we reasonably suspect you are in breach or will breach these terms and conditions.

10.2 On receipt of your order we will debit your card or process the Direct Debit payment for the Membership fee (as applicable) at this point a contract, subject to these terms and conditions, will be formed between us.

10.3 If we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your card or from your bank in the case of Direct Debit payments and a Membership card has already been issued to you, you must return the Membership card and forfeit any Membership benefits. You must also cover the cost of any exhibition tickets obtained since the Membership was issued to you.

10.4 The Gallery reserves the right to cancel or suspend your Membership in accordance with Paragraph 10.1 and 10.3 in which case we shall notify you and confirm that your account has been credited for any Membership fees charged (if applicable).

11. Credit/Debit card payments

11.1 The credit/debit card information you provide us for a Membership transaction is used solely for the purpose of processing that Membership transaction. If we are unable to process payment from the credit/debit card details you have provided we will contact you to verify your card details.

11.2 If you are not using your own credit/debit card to pay for the Membership subscription, you must have the permission of the credit/debit card holder before entering payment details. When you subscribe to Membership of the National Gallery either online or in person, you are confirming that you have obtained the express prior permission of the credit/debit card holder.

12. Direct Debit payments

12.1 If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, the National Gallery will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If we request to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

12.2 If an error has been made in the payment of your Direct Debit by us or your bank/building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when requested to do so by the National Gallery.

12.3 You can cancel a Direct Debit any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. We would be grateful if you also notified us using the contact methods set out in clause 21.

12.4 Direct Debit is not available as a payment method when buying or renewing a Gift Membership, or if you live outside of the UK.

13. Gift Membership

13.1 You may purchase Membership as a gift for another individual. In order to do this, you must select “Gift Membership” as an option on our website.

13.2 Gift Membership must be activated by the recipient within 6 months of the original purchase date, using the unique number contained within the Membership voucher. If the unique number is mislaid, the Membership cannot be activated. Proof of purchase will not be accepted in lieu of the unique Membership number. Subject to the provisions of clause 14, the Gallery will not refund Gift Memberships where the unique number has been lost or mislaid.

14. Your right to cancel

14.1 You may cancel your membership at any time by contacting our membership team at hello@nationalgallery.org.uk. Cancellations will take effect at the end of the current Membership period. We do not offer refunds for Membership fees already paid, except in accordance with clause 14.2.

14.2 If you purchase Membership online, you have a legal right to cancel the contract formed between us (and receive a refund of the Membership fees paid) provided that you inform us you wish to cancel within 14 days from the date on which we confirm that your order for Membership has been confirmed and you have not used your Membership before cancellation. After this 14-day period has elapsed, you will not be able to cancel your Membership and receive a refund. To cancel your Membership as set out in this clause please contact us via e-mail at hello@nationalgallery.org.uk or by writing to Membership, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN.

14.3 If you cancel the contract in accordance with clause 14.2 and provided you have not used any of your Membership benefits, we will refund you the price you paid for the Membership. By using your Membership benefits you waive your right to a refund on cancellation.

14.4 The Gallery will not refund Memberships which are (i) purchased on-site at the Gallery; and (ii) Memberships that are subject to Gift Aid.

15. Gift Aid

15.1 If you are an Exhibitions Member or a House Member, you may Gift Aid your Membership. In order to do this, you must be a UK tax payer.  If you require a Gift Aid statement from the National Gallery, please allow 10 working days for us to issue the statement.

15.2 Please note that if you opt to Gift Aid your Membership, it will become non-refundable from the point of sale.

16. When your Membership expires

After expiry or cancellation of your Membership, you will continue to receive email updates from us to let you know what is happening at the Gallery and giving you the opportunity to renew your Membership. If you do not wish to hear from the Gallery after your Membership expires, please unsubscribe by logging into your account and using the preference centre or via the footer in any email from the Gallery.

17. Privacy and Data Protection

When you purchase Membership, it will be necessary for us to obtain from you and process certain information (such as your name, address, date of birth, etc.) which we will treat as “personal data” for the purposes of data protection law. We take your privacy seriously and will only process your personal data in accordance with the law and our Members Privacy Notice.

18. Liability

18.1 Nothing in these terms and conditions excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by the Gallery’s negligence (or that of its staff, employees or agents) or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation or for any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by law.

18.2 Subject to clause 18.1, the Gallery shall not be liable (howsoever arising and whether for breach of contract, negligence or for any other reason) to Members or to any other third party for: (a) any loss or damage to personal property that may occur while attending gallery events, exhibitions, or activities; and (b) any loss of profit, loss of sales, loss of revenue or any special, incidental, indirect or consequential loss.

18.3 Subject to clauses 18.1and 18.2, the total liability of the Gallery for anything that it has done or not done under or in connection with these terms and conditions (and whether the liability arises because of breach of contract, negligence or for any other reason) is limited to an amount equal to the annual Membership Fee paid or payable during the year in which the cause of action arose.

19. Changes to Terms and Conditions and Membership

We reserve the right to amend these Terms and Conditions, your Membership and Membership Benefits at any time. Your continued use of the Membership after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms and Conditions. You will be notified of any significant changes to your Membership via email.

20. National Gallery Intellectual Property Rights

Members and their guests shall not use the National Gallery’s names, logos, trade marks, service marks, copyright materials or other identifying features without our express prior written permission. No licence is granted or implied by Membership.

21. General

21.1 This contract is between you and us. Nobody else can enforce it.

21.2 We can transfer our contract with you, so that a different organisation is responsible for supplying Membership. You cannot transfer our contract with you to someone else.

21.3 If a court or other authority decides that some of these terms are unlawful, the rest of the terms will continue to apply.

21.4 Even if we delay in enforcing this contract, we can still enforce it later. We might not immediately chase you for not doing something (like paying) or for doing something you're not allowed to, but that doesn’t mean we can't do it later.

22. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.

23. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns about the Membership or these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at: 

Telephone: 020 7747 2590  

Email: hello@nationalgallery.org.uk  

Post: Membership, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN 

The Membership team will aim to respond to any communication received within three working days. This may be an acknowledgement of receipt whilst further investigations are carried out. 

Office hours are seven days a week 10am to 5pm (excluding public holidays). Please note that if you telephone the Membership line during out of office hours, you will be directed to a member of the Visitor Engagement team. 

Updated April 2025