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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be happy the science museum and natural history museum might have an entrance fee soon

369 replies

Ironfistfunkymum · 30/08/2015 07:06

It makes the place unbearably busy, often have to queue to get in and most people don't appreciate it. They are just going as its something "free".

OP posts:
Iamatotalandutteridiot · 30/08/2015 15:51

Figment - YOu can get membership to NHM too. Bypasses all queues. OK, it's still busy but there are no queues.

So, basically you CAN pay to not queue. And allow those who would prefer to see it for free to do so.

The science museum, in particular, is to be commended at it's efforts to reach out to various segments of the community.

WoodleyPixie · 30/08/2015 16:24

Yabu. They should be free for uk residents. I have fond memories of going to the sm and NHm on a weekend with my dad and siblings, while my mum was at work. He worked in London and knew where to park for free nearby.

We weren't poor but we weren't rich either. I remember the disappointment when they started charging at not being able to go anymore as it wasn't a justifiable cost for our family.

I love taking my dc now and we wander the less busy galleries for hours. The dc learning new stuff every time we go.

I have to agree with a po and say the children misbehaving are usually the ones who appear to be middle class, micro scooters and Boden wearing, scooting along the halls and bashing into people and displays with no interest in the displays once they'd seen the dinosaurs.

Funding need to remain, I do think there is some argument/case in charging tourists from outside of the uk. A valid utility bill/bank statement/tax credit letter or something with a uk address on for free admission.

DoreenLethal · 30/08/2015 16:25

A valid utility bill/bank statement/tax credit letter or something with a uk address on for free admission.

Really?

hunibuni · 30/08/2015 16:44

We took the DC to the NHM for the 1st time this summer. It would have been out of our reach if there was a charge since we had already spent close to £1000 between flights, accommodation and travel expenses for the 4 of us (and that was budget airlines and hotel) I do really appreciate the HM that is close to us because it's a great place to take DD. When they had a Walking with Dinosaurs exhibition you paid for the exhibition and it was timed entry so we could pre book a time slot. The museum was busy but you could still buy tickets on the day as well because they kept some back and it was only £25 for 4 of us. We would have happily pre booked tickets for the dinosaurs at NHM if it was timed entry at that price into that particular exhibit.

WoodleyPixie · 30/08/2015 17:02

Yes why not? I used to live in York and you had a York card/library card that entitled you to discount to the tourist attractions such as Jorvik centre, castle museum. My friend lives in Windsor and they get free entry to Windsor castle. I have a library card and so do my dc for the council area we live in and we get free swimming and free entry to local museum. As the London museums are national ones the free entry should be for uk residents, alternatively as per other counties/boroughs only those paying council tax in the area of the museums get in free everyone else pays?
I suggested utility bills etc as not everyone has a driving licence or passport, these would also be acceptable ids.

Figmentofmyimagination · 30/08/2015 17:12

You could probably cheaply devise a "uk residents" card that works like an Oyster card allowing free entry, with free entry as standard for all children. But perhaps too close to an identity card for people to feel comfortable.

The other side of the coin though is that the free entry does function as a draw for foreign tourists, who spend a lot once they are actually in the museum.

fuzzpig · 30/08/2015 17:28

Wow. I love the fact that it's free, and of course I appreciate it, as do my children.

Another reason I really love the fact that places like this are free (art galleries too) is that I have a disability and couldn't manage to see everything on one visit, on top of travel. At least with them being free I don't feel any pressure to rush round seeing everything because I can only afford to visit once, to get our money's worth. We can just visit the bits that we are studying (we home ed) and take our time.

fuzzpig · 30/08/2015 17:30

I have fond memories of going to the sm and NHm on a weekend with my dad and siblings, while my mum was at work.

Aww :) I also used to go with my dad - whenever we went to London, my mum would visit the V&A while dad took me to either NHM or science museum or often both. Learnt so much from those visits.

LyndaNotLinda · 30/08/2015 17:56

southeastdweller - how very dare I reference the other asinine thread the OP started less than 24 hours ago Hmm

MuddlingMackem · 30/08/2015 18:03

MinesAPintOfTea Sun 30-Aug-15 11:49:37

One thing about free entry for residents, unlike Spain the UK doesn't have an id card system. There is no single universal document that could be easily shown to prove eligibility as a UK citizen.

Showing passports excludes mostly the same group that charging for entry would.

MuddlingMackem · 30/08/2015 18:05

Should have refreshed the thread before I posted, WoodleyPixie, took me ages to read it. :)

Andrewofgg · 30/08/2015 18:28

SeasideSunshine You say it would put many single or divorced parents in a bind as well, because many NRPs would kick off about the RP getting passports, worrying they'll be taking them out of the country but the problem would mostly be the other way: NRP asking for the passports during contact so he (probably he) could take the children to a museum and RP smelling a rat.

In any event passports are expensive and you are right, it's not workable.

Lurkedforever1 · 30/08/2015 18:36

Library cards would probably be the cheapest way, both for users and to link up nationally as proof of id. Easier to fake than passports granted, but I don't really see a huge black market for tourists buying fake library cards

gatorgolf · 30/08/2015 18:40

I'd be quite happy if they introduced a charge. Last time I went with dp was about 7 years ago pre kids and it was full of foreign tourists. Would love to take DS but its difficult to do if you are travelling down to London just for the day as you spend most if your trip queing

gatorgolf · 30/08/2015 18:41

Also meant to say would have no probs with school groups and people on UK benefits being free

LilyTucker · 30/08/2015 18:43

I don't think Londoners getting in free and a charge for the rest of the UK would be popular unless the same goes for free attractions elsewhere in the country.

Down in the South West we pay more in our water bills to keep the beaches clean. Maybe there should be a charge for all non locals going to the free beaches in Devon and Cornwall. Lord knows county councils could do with the extra money.Hmm

LilyTucker · 30/08/2015 18:45

Actually considering how rammed our beaches get in the summer months yes I think would be an excellent idea. Stuff all those people paying for travel and accommodation.

BackforGood · 30/08/2015 18:47

Places such as Alton Towers / Zoos / Thorpe Park / Drayton Manor Warwick Castle seem to get plenty of visitors with their extortionate entrance fees - I'm not sure why it is acceptable for them to be able to charge a fortune, but for some museums not to be able to charge even a lesser entrance charge.
Some places (for example ThinkTank in Birmingham) have been charging since they opened many years ago - I'm never sure why some museums do and other don't

LilyTucker · 30/08/2015 18:49

Alton Towers et al aren't exactly educational or a great loss of you don't visit.

BackforGood · 30/08/2015 19:01

I agree, but the point I'm making is, if people want to go somewhere, then there doesn't seem to be a shortage of money in the economy which stops millions of people attending these attractions, so, if the NHM / Science Museum etc are as good, then people will find the money. Maybe not as frequently as they might when it's free, but as a 'special treat' in the same way so many families find the money for the other places.

Sirzy · 30/08/2015 19:05

A lot of families couldn't even dream of getting the money to go to those places together!

LilyTucker · 30/08/2015 19:12

My kids would love to go but we can't afford it.We're not on benefits or even just above.

We only went to Legoland thanks to Tesco vouchers.

mollie123 · 30/08/2015 19:15

these are 'national' museums /galleries and are not maintained only by London residents so it would be deeply unfair if outside London residents had to pay
library tickets to show UK residency would be an excellent idea and no cost attached to obtaining them

Lurkedforever1 · 30/08/2015 19:16

Just goes to show some people really don't have a clue about what life is like on low income, let alone below breadline if you think they're all paying for Alton towers etc instead. Talk about living in a bubble.

MinesAPintOfTea · 30/08/2015 19:21

Alton Towers et al aren't mostly funded by public money. Even if they charge, the national museums are.

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