UK's 15 national museums and galleries to remain free, including for overseas tourists
The UK government announced that 15 national museums and galleries will remain free for all visitors, including overseas tourists.Summary
The UK government has announced that admission to 15 national museums and galleries in the country will remain free for all visitors, and no admission fee will be introduced for overseas tourists. The announcement was made on September 28 by Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, at an event held by Art Fund and The Cultural Policy Unit at Tate Liverpool, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the free admission policy introduced in December 2001. The institutions include the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the National Portrait Gallery, the Natural History Museum, and the Wallace Collection. The policy has helped annual visits to the 15 institutions nearly double, rising 96% from 22.77 million in 1999–2000 to 44.67 million in 2025–26. In 2025, six of the top 10 most visited ALVA member attractions were free national museums. Free entry also plays a key role in inbound tourism: in 2024, 11.82 million overseas visitors included a museum or gallery visit in their trip, representing 30.3% of all visits to the UK, and 57.9% among holiday visitors to London. Free admission has not reduced revenue opportunities; the 15 institutions secured income through special exhibitions, shops, food and drink, and donations, with self-generated income totaling £563 million in 2024–25.
(Source：美術手帖)