Free Admission to Sponsored Museums and Galleries
Free entry for everyone to England's national museums is a cornerstone of the Government's cultural policy. English museums are among the best in the world and the country's most important collections are now available to visitors from all backgrounds.
The free admission policy has proved a great success. Since it was introduced in 2001, visits to museums have increased by 75% nationally.
There were more than 34 million visits last year to all museums and galleries sponsored by the DCMS. Figures show that in 2004, nearly 6 million more visits were made to England's formerly charging national museums and galleries than in the year before entry charges were dropped. Visits to museums that have always been free – such as the British Museum, the National Gallery and Tate – have risen by 9% over the same period.
Some charge may still be made for special exhibitions. You can find out whether a particular museum or gallery is free to visit at the 24 Hour Museum, the UK's official guide to over 3,000 museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage attractions.
|
