Ministers had considered introducing fees to ease financial pressures, but concluded they could deter domestic visitors and benefit museums unevenly. The 15 national museums have offered universal free admission since 2001 and contribute more than £1 billion annually to the economy.

Credits: Pexels; Author: Rodrigo Santos;

The Natural History Museum welcomed 7.1 million visitors in 2025, while the British Museum attracted 6.4 million. The government highlighted £760 million in museum support through its Arts Everywhere Fund alongside £600 million for national museum infrastructure. A further £13.6 million transformation programme will help museums develop more sustainable business models, with a long-term strategy also planned.

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