You may remember that earlier this year, the prospect of introducing an entry fee at some of the country’s most popular museums and cultural attractions was floated around by the UK government. These potential charges would have applied to international tourists visiting any of England’s national museums. And the prospective plans came following an Arts Council England review in which Baroness Margaret Hodge suggested that it could be beneficial to the UK’s cultural sector. But I come bearing some pretty good news for those of you who plan on travelling from overseas to visit the legendary London likes of the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the National Gallery (and many more). After careful consideration, the UK government has just confirmed that these the country’s beloved national museums will remain completely free for all visitors.
England boasts 15 DCMS-sponsored national museums in total – the vast majority of which are in London – and they have all been famously free since 2001. Having weighed up the options, it was decided that the impacts of introducing international entry fees to the national museums would outweigh the benefits – thus free entry has been protected for everyone.
The country’s national museums draw in millions of visitors each and every year – from first-time tourists to returning residents. These iconic establishments reportedly add over £1 billion to the economy, and the government believe that implementing an entry fee to foreign tourists would also deter domestic visitors from paying a visit to the national museums.
A number of funding schemes have been put in place to ensure that these crucial cultural spots can survive and thrive for many years to come. Parts of the £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund, £160 million Museum Estates and Development Fund, and £13.6 million Museum Transformation Programme will all go towards supporting the national museum to continue to share their collections and expertise with the world.
