UK Decides Against Charging Foreign Visitors for Museums
Lisa Nandy says the policy protects access to the UK’s 15 national museums, which will mark 25 years of universal free entry later this year.
- Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed on Tuesday that universal free entry will continue for England's 15 national museums, ending months of speculation about introducing charges for international visitors.
- The government had previously explored charging overseas tourists as part of its response to Baroness Margaret Hodge's review of Arts Council England, but determined such fees could deter domestic visitors and cause unequal impacts.
- Research shows visitors to the 15 national museums have risen by 96 per cent since 2001, reaching nearly 44.7 million in 2025/26, while these institutions contribute more than £1 billion annually to the economy.
- Despite the decision, Alison Cole, director of the Cultural Policy Unit, warned that the National Gallery faces an £8.2m deficit, cautioning that museums should not become more prohibitive.
- France's Louvre introduced a 45% price hike for non-European visitors, with French researcher Patrick Poncet describing such 'dual pricing' as "symptomatic of the return, as elsewhere in the world, of unbridled nationalism.
51 Articles
51 Articles
UK's National Museums to Continue 25-Year Policy of Free Entry for Foreign Visitors
After months of discussions between UK ministries, the tourism sector, and London’s museums, the government has decided that the country’s national museums will remain free to international visitors. These 14 institutions include such renowned museums as the National Gallery, the British Museum, and the Natural History Museum among others, which together attract tens of millions […]
Britain’s free museums & the price of empire - The Tribune
Britain has decided that England’s national museums should remain free for everyone. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has declared that the 15 national museums sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will continue to offer free admission, including to overseas visitors. “Our museums are the places that light up the world,” Nandy said. “They […]
In force since 2001, the free admission of museums to foreigners was subject to debate after the publication of an independent report in December 2025.
The UK government has announced that entry to national museums will remain free for everyone. The announcement follows recent discussions about introducing entry fees for foreign visitors. "Our museums are places that illuminate the world," the culture secretary said.
The British government announced on Tuesday (29) that the national museums will continue to be free for foreign visitors, after having indicated in March that it was studying the possibility of collecting entry to increase their financial resources. Understand: Director of the Eiffel Tower will leave office to remove employees during visit of Hindu religious group Change after pressure: Government of Spain announces suspension of evictions until…
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