Entry to England's national museums will remain free for everyone, including international tourists. The UK government has confirmed the continuation of the current access system, ruling out the idea of charging international visitors.
The possibility of differentiating access for residents and tourists had surfaced in recent months during the Arts Council England review, sparking debate about funding for the country's major cultural institutions.
This decision is accompanied by a new investment plan for the sector. The 'Arts Everywhere' fund allocates a total of £1.5 billion, approximately €1.75 billion.
Of this, £760 million is earmarked for museums, while £600 million will support infrastructure and maintenance projects in national institutions and cultural organizations backed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
An additional £160 million will go to local and regional museums. The Museum Estates and Development Fund, focusing on maintenance projects, and the Museum Transformation program, funded with £13.6 million to promote more economically sustainable management models, are also planned. The government aims to increase the circulation of collections and the sharing of expertise between major national institutions and museums across the UK.
The sector is also a significant contributor to the British economy and tourism. National museums generate over £1 billion annually, and seven of the UK's ten most visited museums are part of the national system. In 2025, the Natural History Museum recorded 7.1 million visitors, while the British Museum welcomed 6.4 million.
According to government assessments, introducing a fee for foreign visitors could have varied impacts on individual institutions and affect overall attendance. The government will now work with Arts Council England and cultural operators to develop a long-term strategy for the British museum system.
(Associated Medias) - Tutti i diritti sono riservati