One of the greatest things about London’s vibrant art scene is that most museums and galleries are completely for FREE. However, this is not true for major shows and exhibitions. With the price of tickets ranging from £12 to £20, here there are some smart buys for art- and culture-hungry singles and families.

#1 –  ART FUND NATIONAL PASS

This can arguably be considered the Father of all the memberships because, as the name suggests, covers not just London but the whole English nation.

With prices ranging from £23.25 for under 26s to £1,500 for a lifetime, this pass unlocks free access to more than 200 museums, galleries and national heritage sites, including a 50% discount on major exhibitions including those at the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate and the V&A.

For more info on memberships options visit the official page here.

#2 – TATE

Skip the queues both at Tate Modern and Tate Britain and enjoy free entry to all exhibitions. All new Members are invited to join a free Welcome Tour of Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool or Tate St Ives, and with the opening of the new Tate Modern in June 2016, there is no doubt this membership is clearly worthwhile.

Basic membership option starts at £77. For more options and possibilities, you can check the official joining form link here.

#3 – BARBICAN CENTRE

With its diverse and cross-cultural offers, this membership gives discounts on cinema and performing arts tickets, priority booking, plus access to the recently relaunched members’ bar for you and a guest.

The basic membership starts at £55 but you can tailor your card according to your needs by clicking and discover more here.

#4 – ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

Becoming a friend of the RA means that you will enjoy free entry to all exhibitions with a guest, all day access to the Keeper’s House which includes lounges, a restaurant, cocktail bar and garden and a whole host of benefits. Pricier if compared to other ‘friendships’, but the quality of the shows (see Ai Weiwei) makes it undeniably worth the extra money.

Standard Friends membership starts from £97 a year. More info can be found here.

#5 – V&A

This membership is particularly appealing for families, as it guarantees unlimited entry to V&A shows with up to four under-18s, as well as previews, tours and events.

The Standard Membership starts at £64 a year. For more info, including corporate membership, simply click here.

#6 – ICA

The ICA is one of the world’s most innovative, cutting-edge arts centres, home to the best of new art and cultural thinking. ICA Members receive discounts on our unique programme of visual art, films, talks, performance and other special events.

You can enjoy a Full Membership for as little as £30 a year. Bargain! Find out more about what ICA has to offer to its members here.

Now you have it all sorted!

Do you know more interesting memberships in London? Share your secret tips in the comments below!