// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
National museums to stay free for all visitors
Egyptian sculptures are among the collection at the British Museum in London
Overseas visitors will not be charged to enter England's national museums after ministers decided against changing the universal free admission policy.
It comes after months of discussions between the government, museums, the tourism sector and local leaders to examine whether making tourists from abroad pay could boost the institutions' finances.
In March, the government said it would explore charging international visitors to enter national museums as it looks for ways to tackle funding pressures.
But the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has now said this could deter domestic visitors and that any benefits of charging would not be felt equally across the sector.
The UK's 15 national museums, including 12 in London, have been free for all to enter since 2001.
But a review published last year by former Labour minister Baroness Margaret Hodge suggested that a charging model for international tourists "would align the UK with other countries, such as New Zealand and Singapore".
On Tuesday, DCMS confirmed free admission to these museums would remain in place for everyone.
"The government believes that charging overseas visitors could deter domestic visitors and that the impacts and benefits of charging would not be felt equally across the sector and therefore will not introduce charges for overseas visitors," a spokesperson said.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Our museums are the places that light up the world.