Membership Benefits

Museum Membership Benefits at the Weald & Downland Living Museum

Becoming a Museum Member is one of the best ways to enjoy unlimited access to the Weald & Downland Living Museum while supporting an independent heritage charity.

As a registered charity that receives no government funding, membership income provides around 10% of the Museum’s annual funding. Your support helps deliver vital conservation work, protect historic buildings, and preserve traditional rural crafts for future generations.

With ever-changing seasons, hands-on activities, and a varied events programme, there’s always something new to experience. In fact, your membership pays for itself in just three visits.

Why Become a Museum Member?

A Weald & Downland Living Museum Membership gives you year-round access, exclusive perks, and valuable savings, while helping safeguard the future of this unique open-air heritage museum.

Whether you’re a local visitor, heritage enthusiast, or family looking for regular days out in West Sussex, membership offers exceptional value.

What’s Included in Your Museum Membership?

Unlimited Access & Events

• Standard daytime admission all year round
• Access to our varied programme of weekend events and activities
• Seasonal school holiday activities
• Priority booking on selected ticketed events*

Exclusive Member Discounts

Enjoy 10% off:

• The Waterside Café and Museum shop
• Guest admission tickets when visiting with you
• Our After Hours programme
• Tickets to our Christmas Market weekend*

Exclusive Experiences

• Quarterly Members’ Moment events
• Members-Only events (new and currently being introduced)
• Regular Members’ communications and updates

*Please note: Ticketed and pre-book events have limited availability, including the Christmas Market weekend.

Great Value for Families & Regular Visitors

With year-round events, seasonal activities, and exclusive savings, membership quickly becomes the most cost-effective way to enjoy the Museum. Just three visits cover the cost — everything after that is added value.

Experience changing landscapes, hands-on demonstrations, historic homes, and family-friendly activities throughout the year.

Events and activities that are included in a Museum membership are identified with the following membership icon:

Members Events

NEW for 2026 we are hosting our Members Moments, these events are an opportunity for members to come and meet other likeminded members, meet some of the Museum team and hear updates from our Museum Director.

We are busy working on other Members only events, which we will launch on our special Members Events page later in the year.

Members Communications

For all our members who have provided us with their email address, we send out a monthly ‘Newsbite’ communication which provides updates on the Museums events and activities, along with any special members events or discounts.

Not receiving your members communications?

If you have not received your members e-Newsbite, please do check your junk/spam box as sometimes your email provider settings can often file our email communications in there. When you find it, please tell your email application that it is not junk/spam and then it will show in your inbox from then on.

If you cannot find an email, please pop an email to membership@wealddown.co.uk with the tile ‘Member email sign up’ and we will make sure your email address is correct on our system.

For members who do not have an email, we send a quarterly printed Newsbite, which comes out in March, June, July and December. We ask that we only send these to members who do not have an email or access to the internet to help us keep costs down and be more sustainable. If we do not currently have your email and you would prefer a monthly email, please email as above to get your email added to the mailing list.

How to Join

You can purchase a membership to the Museum membership when you visit our Museum, or on our website.

If you are not sure if you would like an annual membership, you can visit us first!

If you purchase a ticket to our Museum you can come for your first visit and then decide when you are at the Museum.

If you become a member during your visit – you can save 40% on our annual membership plans on presentation of your ticket at our admissions desk in the Museum shop.

You will be presented with your Museum membership pack, containing your membership information along with your Membership card.

Want to spread the cost?

If you would like to spread the cost of your membership over the 12 months, you can take out one of our Direct Debit membership plans, which by setting up the continuous payment you can save approximately 10% on our annual plan prices.

Direct Debit memberships can only be purchased in advance online, and you need to allow approximately 10 working days for the first payment to be received and your membership pack to be sent out.

Please note that our Museum memberships are non-transferrable. They can only be used by the person named on the membership and can’t be changed. This applies to all membership plans.