Frequently asked questions

Our Membership programme allows visitors to support our mission to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future.

By becoming a Member you will receive free admission to our Gardens at Benmore, Dawyck and Logan, as well as free or discounted admission to certain other botanic gardens. There are also discounts for Members in RBGE shops, restaurants and cafes, plus reduced prices for our education short courses.

For more information on the benefits of joining as a Member, see Membership Benefits.

The quickest way to join is online.

You can also join in the following ways:

• By phone - call the Membership Office on +44 (0)131 248 29 29
• In person - visit a ticket desk at any of our four Gardens.

Membership costs £3.60 per month for an Individual or £5 per month for a Joint Membership (two adults living at the same address) paying via direct debit.

If you would rather pay a one-off cost via credit or debit card then the costs are:

Individual: £50

Joint: £71

Concession: £45 Individual or £62 Joint

Concession rates are available for:

• People aged over 60
• Full-time students
• People with disabilities
• People receiving Universal Credit or Jobseeker's Allowance 

For concession rate in a joint membership, both adults must be eligible. Proof of concession may be required.

If you are a Member and need to bring a carer with you, please call the Membership Office on +44 (0)131 248 29 29. We will send you a carer card which allows free access for a carer to accompany you when you visit our Glasshouses and Gardens.

Yes, you can choose to Gift Aid your Membership when you join. 

Gift Aid allows us to claim an additional 25p from HMRC for every £1 you spend on Membership or donate to us. It is only available for UK taxpayers who pay as much tax this tax year as the amount they claim Gift Aid on. For more information on Gift Aid, visit www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity/gift-aid.

We aim to post your Membership card(s) within 10 working days, but be aware that it may take longer during peak Membership joining periods such as May to August.

If you purchase Membership online or in-person, you will receive a receipt which you can show to access our Gardens for free, and obtain discounts in our shops, restaurants, cafes and for short courses, until your Membership card(s) arrive.

Your Membership subscription will provide you with twelve months of Membership. Membership always expires on the last day of each month.

For example, if you purchase Membership on any date in August 2024, your Membership will expire on 31 August 2025.

The expiry date is printed on your Membership card.

You will receive an email reminder at least 28 days before your Membership is due to expire, including instructions on how to renew.

If you miss this email, you will receive a written reminder by post at least 14 days before your Membership is due to expire.

If you renew your Membership before it expires, the new 12 month subscription will automatically be added to the date of expiry.

For example, if your Membership expires on 31 August 2024, but you choose to renew early when you visit the Garden in June, your new Membership expiry date would be 31 August 2025.

You can upgrade your Membership from an Individual to a Joint Membership when you renew.

If you wish to upgrade your Membership before you renew, please call us on +44 (0)131 248 29 29.

Yes! Whatever the occasion, RBGE Membership is a unique gift for garden lovers and supports our mission to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future.

Gifts of membership purchased through the shop can be sent either to yourself at your address, or you can enter an alternate shipping address. It is worth noting however that should you choose to have the gift wallet sent directly to your recipient, it will not say who it is from.

Your gift recipient will receive a written reminder by post at least 14 days before the gift of Membership is due to expire, including instructions on how to renew.

Please email members@rbge.org.uk or call +44 (0)131 248 29 29. Replacement cards are issued free of charge but may take up to 5 working days to be delivered.

Please note that you will be unable to access your Membership benefits (including free entry to our Gardens) without a valid Membership card.

Please email members@rbge.org.uk or call +44 (0)131 248 29 29 to let us know, or hand the Membership card to one of our Garden ticket desks.

Please email your updated contact details to members@rbge.org.uk or call +44 (0)131 248 29 29. Please include your Membership number in your email.

Please email your request to members@rbge.org.uk. Please include your Membership number in your email.

Note that our current e-newsletter system only allows one email address per Membership, so Joint Members can submit only one email address for the e-newsletter.

Please email your request to members@rbge.org.uk. Please include your Membership number in your email.

You can support us by donating, volunteering or remembering us in your will.

Contact us at members@rbge.org.uk or on +44 (0)131 248 29 29.

The Membership Office is open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

You can also contact us by post at:

Membership Office
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
20a Inverleith Row
Edinburgh
EH3 5LR
SCOTLAND

By purchasing or renewing membership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions:

1. All memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable.
2. RBGE reserves the right to change the membership benefits at any time and without prior notice.
3. Membership of RBGE is valid for 12 consecutive months unless a life membership has been purchased.
4. Members must show a valid membership card to obtain entry to RBGE Gardens (and the Edinburgh Glasshouses) and to receive other membership benefits.
5. We aim to process all membership packs within 10 working days once an application has been received.
6. You can use your temporary membership receipt or confirmation email to gain access to RBGE Gardens and other membership benefits prior to receiving your membership pack.
7. RBGE membership allows cardholders free or discounted admission to participating reciprocal gardens in the UK and overseas. Members must show their valid membership card in order to gain admission to these gardens.
8. We will contact you at the start of the month when your membership is due for renewal with further information on how to continue your subscription.
9. Payment by Direct Debit is the simplest and most convenient way to pay your RBGE subscription and, if you choose to change your payment method to Direct Debit, you will be eligible for our lowest annual rates. Your Direct Debit membership will renew automatically each year until you choose to cancel. A renewal letter will be sent out giving a minimum of 10 working days for you to notify us of any change or cancellation before the next payment is due to be collected. You can cancel your Direct Debit at any time by contacting your bank. If you do cancel, please notify the Membership Office on +44 (0)131 248 29 29 or members@rbge.org.uk
10. We reserve the right to refuse admission and/or cancel memberships without refund if anyone behaves in a threatening or abusive way to any person at any of our four Gardens or damages or threatens to damage any of the collections or property of RBGE.
11. RBGE reserves the right to change these terms and conditions at any time.
12. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for details on how we handle your data.