Museums in England largely oppose proposal to charge admission for foreign tourists

The UK government is considering options for introducing admission charges for overseas visitors at national museums in England, prompting opposition from many in the culture sector. Museums argue that a two-tier entry system would weaken universal access and could harm the country’s reputation by portraying the UK as less generous. The proposal was revived through the government’s response to recommendations from Labour peer Margaret Hodge on the future of Arts Council England, including new funding approaches such as philanthropic giving and tax incentives. Hodge’s recommendations also consider new income streams, with attention focused on possible tourist admission fees. The government says such fees could provide significant benefits, and no decision is expected until the end of the year. Hodge suggests digital ID checks at entrances could be needed if free entry for international visitors were revisited.

"A two-tier entry system would fundamentally undermine our commitment to universal access and risks projecting the UK as a nation lacking in confidence and generosity of spirit."

"Should the recently announced introduction of ID cards [by the current Labour government] achieve universal coverage, it would present a valuable opportunity to revisit the policy of free entry for international visitors to national museums and galleries."

"Hodge suggests, controversially, that such a measure would require digital ID checks at museum entrances. "Should the recently announced introduction of ID cards [by the current Labour government] achieve universal coverage, it would present a valuable opportunity to revisit the policy of free entry for international visitors to national museums and galleries," she writes."

"But Hodge's recommendations go beyond ACE's budget to examine potential new income streams generally, and the proposal that has garnered most attention centres on possible admission fees for tourists which, the UK government says, could "provide significant benefits". The Art Newspaper understands that no decision is expected until the end of the year."

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