The Student Art Pass – the best £5 you can spend

Do you want to get free or reduced-price entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK, café and shop discounts, and 50% off major exhibitions?

I knew it. Me too! (Sadly, I’m not a #student though so my art pass costs me more ☹. Never grow up, folks.) Here’s where you can sign up.

Immerse yourself in ever-changing art experiences. Explore endless colours, textures and art mediums, and everything from ancient artefacts to VR. It’ll cost you £5 for a whole year!

To convince you of this worthwhile investment, here are some of my FAVE spots in London where you can bust out that art pass and enjoy some unforgettable experiences…for FREE. 

The Courtauld Gallery

Location: Somerset House, Strand, London, Greater London, WC2R 0RN

Only a 5-minute walk from LSE you can see renowned collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces includes Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882), Van Gogh’s Self- Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889), and the most significant collection of works by Cézanne in the UK.

Next time you’ve got a bit of time to kill between lectures, why you not you wonder into Somerset House and check out some masterpieces. Entrance: free with art pass.

Eltham Palace

Location: Court Yard, Eltham, London, Greater London, SE9 5QE

In 1936, textile magnates Stephen and Virginia Courtauld (yup, the same Courtauld’s who are behind the Gallery!) built an Art Deco residence next to the remains of a royal palace. The result was a unique creation: glamorous 20th-century interiors in ancient surroundings, which include 19 acres of gardens and a medieval bridge. The stunning entrance hall, with its glazed dome and mural-like marquetry, was created by Swedish designer Rolf Engströmer.

The Courtaulds' pet lemur had a special room on the upper floor which had a hatch to the downstairs flower room. His sleeping quarters are one of the highlights of a visit to the palace, as well as Virginia Courtauld's indulgent gold-plated bathroom.

I cannot tell you how cool this place is. You really have to see it with your own eyes! Entrance: free with art pass.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens

Location: 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, Greater London, SE23 3PQ

With over 16 acres of landscaped gardens offering dramatic views of London, and a year-round programme of exhibitions, activities and events, the Horniman offers visitors an inspiring window on the world.

The Horniman is London’s only museum where environment, ecology and human cultures can be seen side by side at a global scale. Alongside the idyllic oasis of gardens, the museum's eclectic collection of over 350,000 objects spans anthropology, natural history, musical instruments and an aquarium.

Entrance is £1,000. Just kidding, both entrance to the museum and to exhibitions is free with the art pass.

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably convinced. What are you waiting for? Get your art pass now.

Lewis Humphreys (Warden at Sidney Webb House)