Natural History Museum...Why is it free?
Discussion
Sam_68 said:
You could always issue a free passcard for pensioners, students and (if you must) the unemployed?
The current system costs £49millionGot the government involved to make a system of paying and some getting it for free and it will cost us £149million and anyone who works will loose free access
thinfourth2 said:
Got the government involved to make a system of paying and some getting it for free and it will cost us £149million and anyone who works will loose free access
Why should it? There are already the financial systems in place to accept donations, so you just make a 'donation' mandatory to anyone who can't flash their free bus pass or student union card at the door.Blue62 said:
everyone should have the right to see the nations treasures without having to pay.
Why? Especially when what you really mean is that everyone should have the right to see national treasures which are paid for by other people's taxes for them. The money comes from somewhere, remember.
We don't get the right to healthcare without having to pay, so why would the right to visit a museum be deemed more ethically important?
vonuber said:
I suspect the payment/grant comes from the Government's source of revenue.. i.e.... taxes.. 
My point exactly. If you start charging some of the cost of specific public services to those people who actually use the service, then the tax burden can be reduced for others who choose not to.Sam_68 said:
thinfourth2 said:
Got the government involved to make a system of paying and some getting it for free and it will cost us £149million and anyone who works will loose free access
Why should it? There are already the financial systems in place to accept donations, so you just make a 'donation' mandatory to anyone who can't flash their free bus pass or student union card at the door.So you know thats exactly won't be done
GeraldSmith said:
It's a mystery to me because it's also pretty dreadful, at least by the standards of these things in other countries. I went last year and it looks like it hasn't changed since I went as a child, 35 or so years ago.
It would be so much better if they charged and invested in it.
I'm amazed at this. The Natural History Museum is a fabulous place. I've been to loads of museums all over the shop and it's probably my favourite. When my kids were young we'd go every couple of months. Just amazing entertainment. The subsidiary NHM in Tring Hertfordshire if fabulous too.It would be so much better if they charged and invested in it.
I've never heard anyone knock it before. Does anyone else not rate it. The building on its own is fantastic, even if it were empty. We've not much to be proud of in this country, but the NHM is right up there.
Visitor numbers have doubled since the entrance fees were abolished. The number of visitors to the Natural history museum has increased threefold. Better, in my view, to make a profit on the catering and retail outlets to offset the running costs and keep admission free. Introduce a charge and the numbers will simply fall back again.
How many people are going through the doors in a day? 4-5000? Would anyone really mind paying £1 each to go in.? I don't think so.
I was at Hamptin Court a few years ago, alo part of out nations heritage, yet that was, as I recall, ridiculously expensive to access. As said, it's not free as it appears the government are funding it. I'm just surprised that more people ( certainly here) don't see a case for charging a nominal sum to access something of this nature.
I was at Hamptin Court a few years ago, alo part of out nations heritage, yet that was, as I recall, ridiculously expensive to access. As said, it's not free as it appears the government are funding it. I'm just surprised that more people ( certainly here) don't see a case for charging a nominal sum to access something of this nature.
Sam_68 said:
Blue62 said:
everyone should have the right to see the nations treasures without having to pay.
Why? Especially when what you really mean is that everyone should have the right to see national treasures which are paid for by other people's taxes for them. The money comes from somewhere, remember.
We don't get the right to healthcare without having to pay, so why would the right to visit a museum be deemed more ethically important?
While it is abundantly clear that the tax burden on UK workers is too high (govt currently costs circa 45% of GDP) I don't think £49m to museums is the problem.
I'd question the £26m paid to the Royal Opera House - which would comfortably be paid for by corporate sponsors - before some of the most significant museums in the world.
If anything, they need MORE money. Only a small % of the museums collections are actuallyon display.
GeraldSmith said:
It's a mystery to me because it's also pretty dreadful, at least by the standards of these things in other countries. I went last year and it looks like it hasn't changed since I went as a child, 35 or so years ago.
It would be so much better if they charged and invested in it.
ahaahahaIt would be so much better if they charged and invested in it.
this is nonsense.
museums are brilliant places to enthuse people about the natural world, science, and culture and the arts. any of the ones in south kensington and the british museum are amongst the best in the world.
I think they should be free as they help to educate the public about interesting and beneficial subjects.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
I've never heard anyone knock it before. Does anyone else not rate it. The building on its own is fantastic, even if it were empty. We've not much to be proud of in this country, but the NHM is right up there.
This, the building is fantastic. I used to walk past it on the way to work, and with the sun low in the sky in the morning or evening it was spectacular. up out of south kensington tube station and it would lift your spirits.this is also the reason why museums and art galleries should be free.
The collections of art or specimens or scientific knowledge and artifacts they hold are things which belong to all of mankind. They are repositories for the best things that humans have achieved and for displaying wonders of the planet earth and the universe. At their best they can transcend boring day to day s
t like 'who should pay for this' and show all that is good about society and civilisation, as a storefront for what we as a species have achieved. They educate, and inform, and inspire.If you really worry about who is paying for these then I think you've missed the point, or exchanged your humanity for accountancy training, or something. you grey, grey, people.
The Natural History Museum is one of the most fabulous museums on earth. Don't forget that the display area is only a tiny farction of what they do.
It is FANTASTIC that it is free, And, what's more, the people who built it over 100 years ago intended that it would be free - and it was, right until the 1890s when the Thatcher government decided it had to charge.
I am no big fan of New Labour but one of the really good things they did was restore the main public museums to free entrance - as the Victorians intended.
Don't forget that the Science Museum, teh Victoria and Albert Museum and the RAF Museums at Hendon and Cosford are all free too.
It is FANTASTIC that it is free, And, what's more, the people who built it over 100 years ago intended that it would be free - and it was, right until the 1890s when the Thatcher government decided it had to charge.
I am no big fan of New Labour but one of the really good things they did was restore the main public museums to free entrance - as the Victorians intended.
Don't forget that the Science Museum, teh Victoria and Albert Museum and the RAF Museums at Hendon and Cosford are all free too.
highway said:
How many people are going through the doors in a day? 4-5000? Would anyone really mind paying £1 each to go in.? I don't think so.
I was at Hamptin Court a few years ago, alo part of out nations heritage, yet that was, as I recall, ridiculously expensive to access. As said, it's not free as it appears the government are funding it. I'm just surprised that more people ( certainly here) don't see a case for charging a nominal sum to access something of this nature.
Care to elaborate on that?I was at Hamptin Court a few years ago, alo part of out nations heritage, yet that was, as I recall, ridiculously expensive to access. As said, it's not free as it appears the government are funding it. I'm just surprised that more people ( certainly here) don't see a case for charging a nominal sum to access something of this nature.
highway said:
Qued some 40 mins to get in.
In cash straightened times it makes no sense why an attraction like that should (or even could) be gratis for all. Who funds it?
Well - perhaps they should use the same system as here in Singapore for visitors to Istana [Prime Minister's [Presidents ?] grounds ]In cash straightened times it makes no sense why an attraction like that should (or even could) be gratis for all. Who funds it?
Singapore passport holders and permanent residents : free [shorter queue ]
tourists and non PR : queue and pay an nomimal amount.
..I was saying to my local gf : " you don't have to pay to get into Museums in London
.. why should I pay here when I live here "Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff