Top 5 London memberships

A membership to London cinemas, museums & galleries or any London cultural venue is not just about saving money.  Having a family membership or an annual membership to a favourite London museum, gallery, zoo or landmark is a great incentive to enjoy London's buildings, parks and arts more frequently.   

From the popular V&A membership and the national art pass through to memberships for the National Portrait Gallery, the Tate, London Zoo and even London cinemas, Londoners truly have some of the best memberships on their doorstep. 

Here’s our top 5 best cultural London memberships: 

The Barbican membership at £59 promises 12 months of unforgettable art, music, film and theatre.  A top London membership that gives you priority booking to live shows, waived booking fees, discounts and unlimited free gallery entry to all ticketed exhibitions for one year.  Members save 20% on selected tickets including one guest, have use of the members’ lounge and special offers in the Barbican’s bars, restaurants and shops.  The Barbican membership is popular with those with an artistic vision or a passion in music, theatre & dance, cinema or the visual arts. 

The Barbican: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS 

For more details and to buy membership, see website. 

Membership for the National Portrait Gallery in central London, (famous for its large, public collection of Tudor and Jacobean painting), can be bought for just £55.  For this you get access to selected exhibitions and private views at partner organisations, special discounts at partner restaurants and shops and Invitations to events, including curator talks and archive tours and 20% off their online shop. The National Portrait Gallery also issues a members’ magazine three times a year and a monthly newsletter. 

Membership for the National Portrait Gallery currently stands beyond one year due to closure for current redevelopment work. 

National Portrait Gallery : St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE 

For more details and to buy membership, see website. 

Take your pick of memberships at the Museum of London, from Individual memberships which start at £40 through to reduced priced memberships for students and oap’s and family memberships.  For £65 a year a family of 6 can enjoy free and unlimited fast track ticket entry to all museum of London exhibitions plus exclusive members’ benefits such as discounts and priority booking for museum events.  Enjoy 25% discount in the cafés and bars as you take a break from discovering the greatest stories from the greatest city. 

Museum of London : 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN 

Museum of London Docklands : No1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL 

For more details and to buy membership, see website. 

Based in the heart of London, in-between Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus you’ll find the Institute of Contemporary Arts.  Become a member of the ICA and you’ll get free exhibition admission, ticket discounts for all film screenings, talks and events and 10% off the ICA bookstore plus many more great benefits. Red ICA membership costs just £20 a month and green ICA membership just £10 a month.  Blue ICA membership is £20 a year and discounted for pensioners, students, disabled and job seekers and for anyone under 26.  Icalondon shows the most interesting films from around the world alongside listening sessions and workshops, ICA art exhibitions feature work from international artists and evenings of poetry never fail to disappoint. 

ICA : The Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AH 

For more details and to buy membership, see website. 

Unlimited free entry to Westminster Abbey and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries are just two of the great benefits to Westminster members.  Westminster Abbey tickets start at £24 per adult.  For £40 you can have free and unlimited access throughout the year, £30 if you pay by direct debit.  Inside Westminster Abbey, one of the most stunning and historic buildings in the world, there is much to see.  A London Abbey membership gives you fast track admission, 10% discount in the Westminster cafe and even an annual letter from the Dean of Westminster.  

Westminster Abbey : 20 Dean’s Yard, London, SW1P 3PA 

For more details and to buy membership, see website.