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National museums may charge international tourists

Fahad Redha

March 27, 2026
3 min read

National museums may charge international tourists

Plans are being considered which would charge international tourists a fee to view permanent collections at the UK’s national museums. This is in a bid to improve funding for the arts.

There was a need for long-term options to support the struggling sector, the government said, following a review of Arts Council England which provides public funding to the arts. Among the options cited was a levy for hotels which is also being consulted on.

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But not everyone is on board. Charing international tourists to enter national museums would be a “very bad idea,” says Alison Cole, the director of thinktank, the Cultural Policy Unit. “There’s a much better way to save our wonderful civic museums and cultural infrastructure across the country, and that we believe is a hotel levy,” she said.

The nation’s national museums and galleries have been free for all visitors since 2001. The policy has been credited with increasing tourism and footfall for these institutions. The Treasury has previously considered an end to the free entry to museums and galleries in the November 2025 budget, though this was scrapped following disagreement from culture ministers.

Research from Art Fund has found that 72% of the British public supported a tourism levy to subsidise free entry to museums and galleries. The proposals were in response to recommendations from Margaret Hodge in December in her Arts Council England review. The review urged ministers to protect funding from being politicised and remove the red tape from the application process.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.