National Art Pass: The Family Membership That Makes Museum Days Out More Affordable 🎨

Looking for more family days out without spending a fortune? A National Art Pass could be one of those memberships that quickly pays for itself — especially if your family loves museums, galleries, exhibitions and discovering new places.

From fascinating museums and historic houses to blockbuster exhibitions and quirky hidden gems, a National Art Pass can help families explore more of the UK for less.

So, what exactly is a National Art Pass?

The National Art Pass is the annual membership from Art Fund, a charity that supports museums and galleries across the UK.

With a pass, you can get free entry to more than 240 museums, galleries and historic places, as well as 50% off major exhibitions. There are also great discounts at over 300 museum shops and cafés.

And it isn’t just about traditional art galleries. There’s plenty of places that children and teenagers can enjoy too — from museums packed with fascinating objects and stories to historic attractions and immersive experiences.

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Why is it so good for families?

Kids Aloud Scheme at Manchester Art Gallery © David Oates / Art Fund 2025

💷 It can make days out much cheaper

Family days out can quickly add up, particularly when you’re paying for several people.

The National Art Pass gives you a way to reduce those costs, with free entry at 240+ museums and galleries plus 50% off major exhibitions.

Fancy a museum this weekend? Go.

Found an exhibition the kids might love? Give it a try.

Heading somewhere for the day and want to find something interesting to do? Check out the National Art Pass website and see what’s nearby.

🏛️ It opens up hundreds of places to explore

One of the best things about the pass is the sheer variety.

You could explore somewhere close to home one weekend and then use it to discover somewhere completely new on a family day trip.

LittleBird favourites include Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where you can explore historic ships such as the HMS Victory and HMS Alliance, the National Football Museum, Manchester with interactive games for the whole family to get stuck in and ThinkTank, Birmingham for hands-on interactives to learn more about space and industry. These are just a few of the family-friendly places to visit and save with a National Art Pass.

And because there are hundreds of participating venues across the UK, the pass is just as useful when you’re travelling or visiting family elsewhere.

🎟️ And then there’s 50% off major exhibitions…

This is where the pass can become particularly useful for families who enjoy the big exhibitions.

National Art Pass members can get 50% off major exhibitions at participating venues, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate and V&A.

So instead of waiting for a special occasion to visit a big exhibition, you can make more of them part of your family’s regular days out.

And there are some brilliant exhibitions to discover throughout the year.

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🎨 It’s not just about looking at art!

Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery, Ealing © Will Hartley / Art Fund 2025

That means you can be a little more spontaneous about your days out too.

And don’t worry if your children aren’t the sort to stand quietly in front of a painting for 20 minutes!

Museums today are wonderfully varied. You can find dinosaurs, science, history, fashion, sport, transport, ancient civilisations, technology, immersive experiences and plenty of hands-on things to discover.

A museum day out can be a great way to learn without it feeling like school — and you never quite know what is going to spark a child’s imagination.

For older children and teenagers, it’s also a great way to discover exhibitions and cultural experiences that they might not otherwise try.

🗺️ It can help you find your next family adventure

Membership includes an Art Map, which helps you discover over 1000 places where you can use your pass, as well as an Art Quarterly magazine with artist interviews, day out recommendations and details of upcoming exhibitions. Plus an email subscription to Art in Your Inbox, the bi-monthly email with the latest museum updates.

We love the idea of using it as your family’s inspiration list: pick a new museum or gallery each month and see where it takes you!

You could even turn it into a family challenge:

12 months. 12 museums. How many can you discover?

💚 And you’re helping museums too

There’s another reason to feel good about buying a National Art Pass.

Your membership isn’t simply paying for discounts. Membership fees help Art Fund to support museums and galleries across the UK, including helping them acquire and share works of art and develop projects that reach new audiences.

So while you’re saving money on family days out, you’re also helping support the museums and cultural organisations that make those experiences possible.

💰 How much does a National Art Pass cost?

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Brighton & Hove Museums © Will Hartley / Art Fund 2026

Current membership options include:

Individual: £65.25* by annual Direct Debit, or £87 one-off

Under 30: £39.75* by annual Direct Debit, or £53 one-off

Double: £97.50* by annual Direct Debit, or £130 one-off for two adults at the same address

Here’s the clever bit for families…

Plus Kids: £15

You can add Plus Kids to your membership for £15, giving children under 16 in your family the same visiting benefits.

Plus One: £49

There’s also Plus One for £49, which allows you to bring a different unnamed guest with you on each visit — useful if grandparents, friends or other family members sometimes join you.

So you can make the membership work around your family rather than having to buy separate memberships for everyone.

*Direct Debit currently gives a 25% first-year saving.

It’s worth checking the current terms and the individual venue’s offer before visiting, as discounts and availability can vary.

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🐦 Our LittleBird verdict

If your family enjoys museums, exhibitions, history, culture or simply finding new things to do, a National Art Pass is definitely worth putting on your family-day-out radar.

The biggest appeal for us is the freedom it gives you to try more places without worrying quite so much about the cost.

You might discover a brilliant little museum you’ve never heard of. You might finally get around to that exhibition you’ve been meaning to see. Or you might simply find somewhere new to spend a rainy Saturday.

And that’s what we love about family memberships like this: they don’t just save you money — they give you more reasons to get out and explore together. 💚

Ready to discover more?

Find out more about the National Art Pass and start planning your next family adventure.