Friends FAQs

Changes to the opening hours of phone lines for The Membership Team during the RA closure

The Membership Office phone lines are now open until further notice, Monday to Friday, between 10am – 4pm. The RA is operating with reduced staff during this period so our response times may be a little longer than normal.

Will I receive a refund or extension on my Friends membership during the period the RA is closed?

Friends Memberships are a charitable donation and as such are non-refundable. We are also not offering extensions to memberships during this period . In this unprecedented time (with our doors closed and most of our income now gone), we need your help more than ever. Thank you for your continued support as a Friend.

How can I join as a Friend?

You can join online, by calling the Friends team on 020 7300 8090 or at the RA in person at the Friends desk.

How can I renew my current membership?

If you are currently a Friend, you can renew your membership online and pay by entering either your debit/credit card information or by setting up a direct debit. You can also renew by calling the Friends Team on 020 7300 8090 or at the RA in person. We will send you a renewal reminder in the post or by email. If you already pay for your Friends membership by direct debit, your membership will be renewed automatically and you will be a sent a new card before the old one expires.

Can I visit if I don’t have my card?

For ease of access, it is always best to bring your card with you when you visit. If you do not have your Friends card with you, please go to the Friends desk; as long as your membership is still valid, we can issue you with a temporary day pass.

What should I do if I’ve lost my card?

If you have lost your card, please go to the Friends desk, email the Friends Team at friends@royalacademy.org.uk or call 020 7300 8090 so we can issue a replacement card. Please note that, before issuing a replacement card or a day pass, we will need to verify that you are the account holder. You can either show us some ID with your name on it, eg a credit card, debit card or a driver’s licence, or we can ask you a few questions relating to your account.

How many guests can I bring?

If you hold a Standard Friend or Young Friend membership you can bring one family guest into the exhibitions and Friends room. Friends with Joint membership may each bring one family guest. Under 16s have free entry to the exhibitions. The main cardholder must always be present to allow entry, as membership is non-transferable. Additional identification for admittance may be required, such as a credit or debit card or a driver’s licence. If you are registered disabled, your carer/facilitator may join you in addition to the guests included in your membership.

Do I need to book a time slot?

Friends need to book for specific Friends events, public ticketed events and exhibition preview days. For particularly busy exhibitions, we may also ask that Friends book their tickets for the duration of the exhibition, to guarantee entry to the galleries at the desired time. Friends who do not book in advance may be asked to wait for up to an hour during these times.

When we recommend advance booking for Friends, we will advertise this via the website, the RA Magazine, in our e-news communications and through on-site signage. If you are uncertain, you can always contact the Friends team on 020 7300 8090. Read more about our exhibition programme here.

How can I book?

For Friends-only events
To book a Friends-only event or a Friends preview online, click the “Book now” button on the event webpage. You will be asked to login using your email address, post code and membership number. You can find your membership number on your membership card and at the top of every Friends enews. Once logged in, follow the links to add tickets to your order and pay online, if applicable. You will receive confirmation of your booking by email.

For exhibitions and public events
To book an exhibition ticket or an event that is also open to the public, click the “Book now” button on the event webpage. You will see a message at the top of the page asking you to login if you are a Friend of the RA. You must login before adding tickets to your order so the website can identify you as a Friend and offer you the correct ticket options. Once logged in, follow the links to add tickets to your order and pay online, if applicable. You will receive confirmation of your booking by email.

Exhibition tickets are available online up to one hour before entry.

If you have trouble logging in or completing your booking online, please email friends@royalacademy.org.uk or call us on 020 7300 8090. Tickets are also available to purchase by calling 020 7300 8090, or by visiting the ticket desk at the RA.

I’m visiting with more than one guest, how do I book tickets for them?

Online
To book additional tickets for exhibitions, follow the directions above. You will be able to add tickets included as part of your membership as well as additional tickets to your order.

At the RA
At the RA, you and your guest will be directed to the ticket collection desk to purchase your additional tickets. You will need to show your Friends card to join this queue. Please note that, for busy exhibitions, we strongly advise buying tickets in advance.

Are carers/facilitators required to buy tickets for the exhibitions and events?

If you are registered disabled, your carer/facilitator may join you in addition to the guests included in your membership. For events and exhibitions, please either add a free ticket for your carer/facilitator to your order when booking online, or let a member of our team know if booking by phone or at the RA.

If you need to get in touch with any other questions, find full details of how to contact us here.