Why join the Royal Institution as a member?
The Ri is a charity that brings the public and scientists together to share their interest and passion for science. We empower people to explore and get involved. We are a home for science and everyone is welcome.
With speakers who are renowned scientists, engineers and Nobel Prize winners, as well as world-class authors, artists and cultural commentators, our Ri talks, in person and online, are available to Ri Members and Ri Young Members for free or better than half price.
Becoming an Ri Member is also the only way to be in with a chance to attend our world-famous CHRISTMAS LECTURES.
These are just the highlights! More information on the benefits of membership can be found below.
Become a Member today
Join today or give the gift of membership, from just £34 per year. You can save 20% on the first year of membership if you sign up by direct debit.
Are you a family of science lovers? Our Ri Family Membership is just for you! Not only you'll save on membership and our events, but you can multiply your chances of getting tickets for the CHRISTMAS LECTURES.
Join today
Please note that Ri Young Membership for anyone aged younger than 13 must be bought as a gift.
Ri Membership
All our Ri Members enjoy the following benefits:
- Better than half-price tickets for Ri Talks*
- Free tickets for our Discourses
- Invitations to special events
- Exclusive access to the CHRISTMAS LECTURES ticket ballot**
- Priority booking on select Ri events
- 15% discount on adult workshops and short courses
- 10% discount on Ri venue hire***
- Voting rights and use of MRi as post-nominal letters
- Plus discounts on books and magazine subscriptions
Find out more about our current Ri Member offers.
Annual membership: £85/£68 by direct debit^
Age 18–30?
You can enjoy all the benefits of Ri Membership for only £45/£36 by direct debit^.
^This offer is applicable to new members only, on their first year of membership and will renew at full price 12 months after the date of joining. Please note direct debits can only be set up from a UK bank account.
Ri Young Membership
Ri Young Membership is for anyone aged 17 or under. Benefits include:
- Free tickets for Family Fun Days (ages 6–12)
- Free tickets for For Your Inspiration events (ages 13–17)
- Better than half-price tickets for Ri talks*
- Exclusive access to the CHRISTMAS LECTURES ticket ballot**
- Discounts on holiday workshops
- Bespoke emails packed with experiments to try at home
- Plus discounts on books and magazine subscriptions
Find out about our current Ri Member offers.
Annual membership: £34/£27 by direct debit^
Please note that Ri Young Membership for anyone aged younger than 13 must be bought as a gift.
^This offer is applicable to new members only, on their first year of membership and will renew at full price 12 months after the date of joining. Please note direct debits can only be set up from a UK bank account.
Ri Family Membership
Ri Family Membership offers a flexible and cost-effective option to get involved with our activities. By becoming an Ri Member, you can buy up to four Ri Young Memberships for just £20 each.
Enjoy all our individual membership benefits as a family!
- Free tickets to Family Fun Days
- Free and better than half-price tickets for our events
- Exclusive access to the CHRISTMAS LECTURES ticket ballot
- Priority booking on select Ri events
- Discounts on holiday workshops and short courses
- Plus, discounts on books and magazine subscriptions
Annual membership: Up to two Ri Memberships for £85/£68 by direct debit^ each and up to four Ri Young Memberships for £20 each
Find out more about our pricing structure here.
(^This offer is applicable to new members only, on their first year of membership and will renew at full price 12 months after the date of joining.)
Ri Gift Membership
For the friend or family member with an insatiably curious mind, give them something extraordinary with the gift of membership featuring:
- Free and better than half-price tickets for our events
- Exclusive access to the CHRISTMAS LECTURES ticket ballot
- Priority booking on select Ri events
- 15% discount on workshops and short courses
- Plus discounts on books and magazine subscriptions
Find out more about our current Ri Member offers.
Annual membership: Ri Membership – £85/£68 by direct debit^ (£45/£36 by direct debit^ for ages 18-30), Ri Young Membership – £34 /£27 by direct debit^
Find out about our Family Membership pricing here.
(^This offer is applicable to new members only, on their first year of membership and will renew at full price 12 months after the date of joining.)
Ri Membership renewal
Online
You will receive a renewal notice email 28 days before your renewal date with instructions on how to pay online. And if you miss that email, don't worry, we'll send you more reminders closer to your renewal date.
If you've already registered, you can log into our Ri Membership Portal to renew or manage your membership.
Not already registered? Don't worry, Ri Members can register for our Ri Membership Portal here.
By post or email
Please complete and return this renewal form and email to our Ri Membership team at membership@ri.ac.uk or return by post to:
Ri Membership team
The Royal Institution of Great Britain
21 Albemarle Street
London
W1S 4BS
Rejoin the Ri
Have you taken a break from Ri Membership? Become an Ri Member again and be part our passionate community; we'd be delighted to have you.
Please complete and return this form by email to our Ri Membership team at membership@ri.ac.uk or return by post to:
Ri Membership team
The Royal Institution of Great Britain
21 Albemarle Street
London
W1S 4BS
Get in touch with the Ri Membership team
For more information, please contact the Ri Membership team at membership@ri.ac.uk or by calling +44 (0)20 7491 6588 from Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) between 9.30am and 5.30pm.
* Excluding CHRISTMAS LECTURES. One free or discounted ticket per membership.
** The CHRISTMAS LECTURES ticket ballot usually runs in September.
*** Discount on Ri venue hire is applicable to bookings for personal use only.
Ri Member FAQs
What does the Ri Membership scheme look like?
Our membership scheme is open to all ages and backgrounds.
- Ri Membership is available to anyone aged 18 or older and includes free and better than half-price tickets for our talks and many other offers throughout the year.
- Ri Young Membership is open to anyone aged 17 and under, offering free and discounted tickets for talks and workshops.
Our members have special access to the CHRISTMAS LECTURES ticket ballot.
How much does Ri Membership cost?
Ri Membership is £80 and we have a concessionary rate of £42 for those aged 18–30.
Ri Young Membership is £32 for those aged 17 and under.
How can I join?
You can sign up to become an Ri Member on our website.
You will need to register for an account and complete an online form with your details, select your privacy preferences and provide payment details.
Once registered as an Ri Member, you will be able to login again using your email address and password.
In the Ri Member area of our website, you can update your details, including privacy preferences, renew your membership and buy a gift membership for someone else.
If you have any queries please contact the Ri Membership team at membership@ri.ac.uk or by calling +44 (0)20 7491 6588 between 9.30am and 5.30pm on weekdays.
Can I buy a membership for someone else?
Absolutely!
You will first need to register for an account.
Once your account has been set up you will be able to buy one (or more) gift membership for a friend or loved one. You will need to enter their details on an online form and provide payment details.
If you are a parent and would like to buy memberships for your children, follow the steps above.
You will be able to log back into your account using the email address you have provided at registration and your password.
Under your account, you will be able to manage your children's memberships, including updating their details, privacy preferences and renewing their memberships.
If you have any queries please contact the Ri Membership team at membership@ri.ac.uk or by calling +44 (0)20 7491 6588 between 9.30am and 5.30pm on weekdays.
When will direct debit subscription payments be taken?
It may take up to six weeks to collect your payment for your subscription, depending on the date the direct debit arrangement has been set up.
But don't worry, your Ri Membership is active from the date of purchase or the date you specified when purchasing a membership.
If there is any problem with your direct debit arrangement, we'll get in touch with you.
When will I receive my membership number?
Your membership number is sent to you in the confirmation email as soon as you have purchased Ri Membership.
You can use this for booking event tickets.
When will I receive my welcome pack?
Your welcome pack, including your Ri Membership card, is sent by second class post and should reach you within 15 working days from the date of purchase.
I’ve lost my membership card. What do I do?
If you have misplaced your card or need a reminder of your membership number, please get in touch with the Ri Membership team at membership@ri.ac.uk or by calling +44 (0)20 7491 6588 to request a replacement card or for confirmation of your membership number.
Replacement cards may take up to 15 working days to arrive.
How can I renew my membership?
We'll send you a renewal notice email 28 days before your renewal date with instructions on how to pay online.
You can renew your Ri Membership through our Ri Membership Portal.
If you don't already have an account, you can register for our Ri Membership Portal here.
You will be asked to register for an account by entering your name, email address and membership number as they appear on our records.
Once registered you will be able to update your details, including privacy preferences, renew your membership and buy a gift membership for someone else. You can log back into your account anytime using your email address and password.
How can I book event tickets?
If you would like to book tickets for or attend an event and you have not yet received your Ri Membership card, don’t worry.
You just need to use your membership number included in your confirmation email after purchase to book events online.
Our staff will then be able to validate your membership status when you arrive on the night.
Can someone attend an event using my Ri Membership card?
Ri Membership at all levels is non-transferable.
Only the member named on the membership card will be able to receive the benefits of membership upon presentation of the card.
Please ensure you bring proof of your membership with you when attending events.
Can I bring a guest with me to events?
Yes, you are welcome to bring along a guest.
If your guest is not an Ri Member they will need to purchase a standard ticket and concessions are available.
Can I enter the CHRISTMAS LECTURES ticket ballot?
Members at all levels are eligible to enter the ballot for the coveted CHRISTMAS LECTURES tickets.
Details about the CHRISTMAS LECTURES and how to apply for tickets are announced in the early autumn.
How does Ri Gift Membership work?
Ri Gift Membership is a great way to support the Ri and provide a loved one or friend with a unique gift celebrating their interest in science and the world around us.
You can buy membership for someone else online. When purchasing, you will be able to choose whether you want the gift to be sent to you or the recipient, as well as the start date of the membership. You will also receive an email with a gift certificate immediately after purchase.
Please note that the welcome pack may take up to 15 working days to arrive when sending to either the purchaser or the recipient.
Can the Ri claim Gift Aid on my membership?
We're unable to claim Gift Aid on subscriptions for Ri Membership and Ri Young Membership due to the high value of benefits provided.
You may make a philanthropic donation in addition to your membership subscription to which Gift Aid provisions apply, as a charity we are able to claim 25p on top of every £1 made as a donation to us.
These provisions also apply to the donation portion of of Ri Patron subscriptions.
What does my membership fee contribute to?
Everything!
The Ri is an independent charity with a mission to create opportunities for everyone to discover, discuss, and critically examine science and how it shapes the world around us.
We offer unique science engagement opportunities for young people around the UK, we present public talks and events with leading scientists and thinkers across a wide variety of disciplines, we have an invaluable heritage collection and public museum, and we produce high-quality digital resources which are available to access worldwide.
Your membership greatly contributes to preserving our heritage and inspiring future generations to think more deeply about science and its place in our lives.
I am interested in joining as an Ri Patron. What are the next steps?
Our Ri Patrons programme provides a unique opportunity to support the Ri and our charitable activities.
You can become an Ri Patron from £350 per year and receive a range of benefits such as exclusive access to an annual series of 10 engaging Ri Patrons events with speakers from a diverse range of areas.
Ri Patrons will also be given the opportunity to attend the annual Faraday Dinner hosted by the Trustees of the Ri.
As a charity, we can claim Gift Aid on our Ri Patron subscriptions as they are split into a benefit and donation portion meaning we are able to claim 25p on top of every £1 given to us as a donation.
Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to become an Ri Patron and you can join by contacting the Ri Patrons team at patrons@ri.ac.uk or by calling +44 (0)20 7670 2950 between 9.30am and 5.30pm on weekdays.
Where can I find the terms and conditions?
Read our Ri Membership terms and conditions online.