England’s national museums will continue offering free admission to everyone, including international visitors, under a new government decision announced this week.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said the government will not introduce entrance charges for overseas visitors following a review of museum funding and tourism. The decision means the current universal free-entry model, introduced in 2001, will continue.

The government said charging international visitors could potentially discourage some domestic visitors and that the effects would not be distributed equally across museums.

National museums remain a major part of England’s cultural and tourism sector. The government said they attract millions of visitors and contribute more than £1 billion a year to the economy. In 2025, the Natural History Museum recorded 7.1 million visitors, while the British Museum welcomed 6.4 million.

The announcement also comes alongside significant public investment in the museum sector. The £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund includes £760 million for museums, while £600 million is allocated to infrastructure for national museums and other cultural organisations.

The government said it will also work with Arts Council England and the wider sector on a long-term strategy for the future of museums, including efforts to develop more sustainable business models.