Free admission for American Express Platinum cardholders at the Royal Academy

UPDATE – JUNE 2025:  This is an old article, and the credit card information given is likely to be out of date.

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Amex has launched, very quietly so far (ie they haven’t told anyone), a new promotion for Platinum cardholders.

You get free admission for you and a friend to selected exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly.  Children under 15 are always free so you could bring your entire family without charge.

Platinum cardholders can also get access to the Keeper’s House lounge, bar and restaurant, which is usually exclusive to Friends of the Royal Academy before 4pm.  This is an interesting space which only opened last year and which includes a tiny hidden garden.  It is open seven days a week.

The promotion runs until the end of the year and will cover the following three exhibitions:

Dennis Hopper: The Lost Album
Burlington Gardens, London
26 June — 19 October 2014

From the Civil Rights movement to the streets of Harlem, Hopper’s photography powerfully captures American culture and life in the 1960s, a decade of progress, violence and enormous upheaval.

Radical Geometry: Modern Art of South America from the Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Collection
The Sackler Wing of Galleries, Burlington House, London
05 July — 28 September 2014

From radical innovations in the use of colour and form to new materials like neon and interactive, kinetic sculpture, this exhibition will reveal some of the most original art of the last 100 years.

Anselm Kiefer
Main Galleries, Burlington House
27 September — 14 December 2014

Kiefer’s extraordinary body of work includes painting, sculpture and quite simply monumental installations. Uncompromising in the subject matter he tackles, Kiefer’s work powerfully captures the human experience and draws on history, folklore, literature, philosophy and science.

Note that Dennis Hopper is in the Burlington Gardens annexe which is ’round the back’ and cannot be reached from the Piccadilly entrance.

The Anselm Kiefer shows carries a £15.50 ticket price, so this offer saves £31 for a couple – not a bad deal at all.

The deal also has two other benefits – as you aren’t paying, it doesn’t matter if you don’t like the show so you can take a punt on something that might not normally interest you.  You can also pop in for a brief visit if time is short without worrying about getting value for money for a full price ticket.

Full details are on the Platinum website under ‘Platinum Lifestyle’ and ‘Offers / Events’.

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – June 2025 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

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Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

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You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 15th July 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This would convert into 25,000 Avios or into 40 other airline schemes. It would also get you at least £300 of Marriott hotel stays based on our 0.5p per point low-end valuation. Other T&C apply and remain unchanged. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th August 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Hilton Honors Plus debit card is TRIPLED to 30,000 Hilton Honors points. You will also receive Gold Elite status in Hilton Honors for as long as you hold the card. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card

30,000 Avios and the famous annual Companion Voucher voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Earning miles and points from small business cards

If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

The American Express Business Platinum Card

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

The American Express Business Gold Card

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

Capital on Tap Visa

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British Airways American Express Accelerating Business Card

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review