England’s National Museums to Stay Free for All Visitors After U.K. Rejects Tourist Fees

England’s national museums will remain free to enter for every visitor, including those from overseas, after ministers rejected a proposal to charge international tourists.

The decision follows months of discussions involving the government, museum leaders, the tourism sector and local officials about whether introducing fees for visitors from abroad could ease financial pressure on the institutions.

In March, the government said it would explore charging international visitors at national museums as it searched for new ways to address funding challenges. But the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has now concluded that such a move could discourage domestic visitors and that any financial gains would not be shared evenly across the sector.

The United Kingdom’s 15 national museums, including 12 in London, have offered free admission to all visitors since 2001. The policy has become a defining feature of Britain’s cultural landscape and a major draw for tourists.

A review published last year by former Labour minister Baroness Margaret Hodge suggested that charging international tourists could bring the UK in line with countries such as New Zealand and Singapore. The idea gained traction as museums faced rising costs and pressure on public finances.

Museum leaders had warned against charging overseas tourists, arguing it could damage the sector’s appeal and finances.

On Tuesday, DCMS confirmed that free admission to the national museums would continue for everyone. A spokesperson said: “The government believes that charging overseas visitors could deter domestic visitors and that the impacts and benefits of charging would not be felt equally across the sector and therefore will not introduce charges for overseas visitors.”

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy welcomed the decision, saying: “Our museums are the places that light up the world. That’s why they must be free, forever, for everyone to access.”

According to DCMS, the national museums contribute more than £1bn a year to the economy and attract visitors from around the globe. In 2025, the Natural History Museum drew 7.1 million visitors, while the British Museum welcomed 6.4 million.

Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum, said his institution might have benefited from charging, but the wider sector would have lost out. “Free museums aren’t a cost to the economy - they’re a key reason the economy benefits from tourism in the first place,” he said. “So, we’re delighted to remain free but given the visitors we bring there’s a strong case for reinvesting a share of any tourism revenues in the institutions that help attract them.”

Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, noted that the museum was founded in 1753 as the world’s first public national museum and was intended to be free for “all persons.” “So, we are delighted by the government’s announcement that free entry for all will be maintained,” he said. “This will allow everyone to enjoy and have access to our great museums across the nation as one of the things this country does so brilliantly.”

The government also pointed to £760m in museum funding through its £1.5bn Arts Everywhere Fund, along with £600m in infrastructure funding for national museums. It said the £13.6m museum transformation programme would help organizations move toward more sustainable business models, while ministers would work with the Arts Council and the sector on a long-term strategic plan for museums. Further details are expected to be announced.

The decision preserves one of England’s most visible cultural policies, protecting access for domestic and international visitors alike. At the same time, it leaves unresolved questions about how museums will manage rising costs and whether tourism revenue can be channeled back into the institutions that help drive visits. Museum leaders have argued that free entry is not merely a public good but an economic asset, and that any future funding debate should recognize the role museums play in attracting overseas visitors.