English Museum Visitors Soar

Spectacular visitor increases of 75% to English museums have followed the 2001 scrapping of admission charges - 6 million more people visited In 2004.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "Our decision to invest in free admission was a success from day one. Now, three years on, I am delighted that visit numbers continue to grow. This gives the lie to the idea that ordinary people have no appetite for 'serious' culture - sweep away the obstacles and they come in their millions." The Conservatives responded by promising that a future Tory government would allow museums to charge, particularly to foreign tourists.
The National Gallery welcomed 4.9 million visitors last year - up 485,000 - making it the most visited cultural UK institution.
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