England’s national museums stay free as tourist charges ruled out

England’s national museums will remain free for UK residents and overseas visitors after the Government rejected introducing admission charges for international tourists. The decision protects access to attractions including the British Museum in London, Royal Armouries in Leeds and National Railway Museum in York.

The announcement on 29 September follows a review of whether overseas visitors should pay to enter collections that are currently free. The proposal was considered as a way to help museum finances, while retaining free admission for people living in the UK.

Why were museum charges being considered?

The Government had agreed to explore overseas visitor charges following an independent review of Arts Council England. The idea was that international tourists would contribute through admission fees, providing an additional source of income for museums.

Ministers have now decided against that approach. They concluded that charging overseas visitors could also discourage domestic visits and that the benefits and effects would not be shared evenly across the museum sector.

The decision means existing free access will continue for everyone, regardless of where they live. It does not remove charges at attractions that already sell admission tickets, or make every temporary exhibition free.

Which museums are covered?

The government-sponsored network comprises 15 museums and museum groups. Several operate multiple venues, so the places involved extend well beyond 15 individual buildings.

• British Museum, London. Located in Bloomsbury, with free access to its permanent collection.
• Museum of the Home, London. Located in Hoxton, with free general admission.
• Horniman Museum and Gardens, London. Located in Forest Hill, with free entry to the museum and gardens. Some attractions and exhibitions have separate charges.
• Imperial War Museums, London, Greater Manchester and Cambridgeshire. IWM London in Lambeth and IWM North in Trafford offer free general admission. Churchill War Rooms in Westminster, HMS Belfast on the Thames in London and IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire remain charging attractions.
• National Gallery, London. Located in Trafalgar Square, with free access to its permanent collection.
• National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool and Wirral. The group includes World Museum, Walker Art Gallery, Museum of Liverpool, Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, alongside Sudley House in Mossley Hill and Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, Wirral. The Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum are currently closed.
• National Portrait Gallery, London. Located in St Martin’s Place, with free access to its permanent collection.
• Natural History Museum, London and Hertfordshire. Its museums in South Kensington and Tring offer free general admission.
• Royal Armouries, Leeds, Hampshire and London. Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds and Fort Nelson near Portsmouth offer free general admission. The White Tower displays sit inside the Tower of London, where normal admission charges apply.
• Royal Museums Greenwich, London. The National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House in Greenwich are free to visit. Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory remain charging attractions.
• Science Museum Group, London, Manchester, Bradford, York and Shildon. Free general admission is available at the Science Museum in South Kensington, Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, National Railway Museum in York and Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham. The group also offers separately arranged visits to its collection storage site near Swindon.
• Sir John Soane’s Museum, London. Located in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, with free general admission.
• Tate, London, Liverpool and Cornwall. Tate Britain in Millbank and Tate Modern on Bankside offer free collection displays. Tate Liverpool currently operates a free programme at RIBA North on Mann Island, while Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden in St Ives have admission charges.
• Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Staffordshire. Free general admission is available at V&A South Kensington, Young V&A in Bethnal Green, V&A East Museum in Stratford and V&A East Storehouse in Hackney Wick. The V&A Wedgwood Collection in Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent, is also free to visit.
• Wallace Collection, London. Located at Hertford House in Manchester Square, with free access to its permanent collection.

What might visitors still need to pay for?

The announcement protects existing free access to permanent collections. Temporary exhibitions, special events, films, guided experiences and other activities may still require separate paid tickets.

Existing admission charges at individual attractions also remain in place. Being part of a national museum group does not automatically make every venue it operates free, as the arrangements at IWM Duxford, Cutty Sark and Tate St Ives demonstrate.

Visitors should also check whether a free timed-entry ticket is recommended before travelling. Free admission does not necessarily mean unrestricted entry at the busiest times.

Check opening arrangements before visiting

Liverpool’s Maritime Museum and International Slavery Museum remain closed for essential maintenance ahead of redevelopment. Their inclusion in the national network does not mean they are currently accepting visitors.

Tate Liverpool’s Albert Dock building is also temporarily closed, with its current programme operating at RIBA North on Mann Island. Check each museum’s website for opening days, gallery closures and exhibition arrangements when planning a trip.