Why don’t we change the law requiring free admission for all to the permanent galleries of all government-sponsored national museums? We could retain free admission for UK residents and allow – not require – museums to charge admission to non-UK visitors. Tourist numbers have increased exponentially since the law was enacted in 2001 and I doubt a modest charge would diminish numbers significantly. Museums could certainly use a new revenue stream.
Key museums in virtually every other major western city charge non-residents for entry. As tourists in Paris, Rome, Berlin and New York, we factor museum charges into our budgeting. Many UK venues not sponsored by the government charge all visitors, including residents. The Tower of London, for instance, has a range of prices up to £34.80 for an adult, and there was no shortage of people queueing up when I was there recently. Private venues such as Madame Tussauds are top tourist draws. Its standard advance booking price is £29; the walk-up price is £42. And there are always huge queues.
I am a frequent visitor to various London museums and am often overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of tourists. Going through security measures at the British Museum recently, I saw only a few of these visitors responding to the voluntary donation appeals. Think what a modest £20 a head could do for a museum’s finances.
Carol Varlaam
London