UK to Keep Museums Free for Foreign Visitors

Since 2001, entry to the permanent exhibition halls of national museums, such as the British Museum and the National Gallery in London, has remained free for the millions of tourists who visit them annually, unlike many European and international museums.

In March, the government announced it would consider imposing fees on foreign visitors to boost funding.

However, after months of consultations, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport decided to reverse this move, stating that it could also risk deterring local visitors.

The government believes that “the impacts and benefits of introducing fees would not be felt equally across the sector, and therefore no fees will be charged to overseas visitors,” the ministry said.

The ministry noted that national museums contribute more than £1 billion ($1.3 billion) to the economy each year.

Last year, 7.1 million people visited the Natural History Museum in London, and 6.4 million visited the British Museum, which is currently hosting a major exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry, on loan from France for the first time.