London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee: Museums and galleries – free vs fee

London has a large number of museums and galleries, which are an important part of the city's cultural offering for both Londoners and visitors.

A recent report by Baroness Hodge on Arts Council England found a funding crisis in the museums sector and looked at various options for improving its financial sustainability. Most notably, it re-ignited debate on the possibility of charging admission fees at National Museums (almost all of which are based in London), which have been free since 2001.

National museums receive funding from Government, although they may charge for temporary exhibitions. Many other museums in London do charge for general admission, although a museum survey in 2025 suggested that 59 per cent do not charge entrance fees.^[1]

The London Assembly Economy, Culture and Skills Committee will meet tomorrow to scrutinise the changes in how and whether museums and galleries in London charge for admission, and the possible impact of these.

Guests include:

PANEL 1:  2-3.30pm

• Rebecca Pullen, Chief of Staff, Imperial War Museums
• Rhiannon Goddard MA(RCA), AMA, Chair of Trustees, Association of Independent Museums
• Arran Pedder, Head of Development Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
• Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund [online]

PANEL 2:  3.30-4pm

• Sir Tristram Hunt, Director, Victoria & Albert Museum [online]

The meeting will take place in the Chamber at City Hall on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 2pm.

Notes for editors:

1. London Assembly Research Unit, Museums in London, July 2026. The survey did not include national museums.
2. Find out more about the work of the Economy, Culture and Skills Committee.
3. Read the agenda in full.