The British Museum, Tate Modern, and Science Museum are among the UK cultural institutions being encouraged to charge foreign visitors to see their treasures. Sir Mark Jones, the former interim director of the British Museum, believes foreign visitors to the UK’s museums and galleries should pay a £20 entrance fee. This proposal, if adopted, would break a long-standing tradition in the UK of free access to public galleries for all, regardless of nationality.
While the UK currently offers free entry to its public galleries, it does charge for specialist exhibitions and blockbuster shows. This practice makes the UK an outlier, as many other countries, including France, Greece, and the United States, charge for entry to their major cultural institutions. The Louvre Museum in Paris, home to the Mona Lisa, charges €22 per adult visitor, Greece’s Acropolis Museum charges €15, and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art charges $30 (€28).
Sir Mark Jones, speaking in a personal capacity after his tenure as interim director ended earlier this year, believes the additional revenue generated from these charges is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the British Museum and the wider UK cultural sector. He estimates that it will cost between £400 and £500 million to restore the British Museum’s leaky buildings and develop additional gallery space to showcase the millions of artifacts currently kept out of public view in the museum’s vaults.
Under his plan, all foreign visitors over 25 years old would pay the £20 fee, while those under 25, regardless of nationality, would continue to have free access. The generated revenue would also be used to reduce ticket prices for special exhibitions at the British Museum and alleviate the massive queues that often snake around the museum’s central London building.
Overcrowding is a common problem in European museums and galleries, often leading to disappointment for visitors who find themselves unable to enjoy the exhibits due to the crowds. The Mona Lisa is notorious for its long queues and crowds. Last year, the British Museum was the UK’s most-visited attraction, with over five million visitors, representing a 42% increase from 2022. This surge in visitor numbers highlights the need for the museum to find ways to manage visitor flow and ensure a more enjoyable experience for all.
