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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:
Spartans · 30/08/2015 08:03

And the whole 'you don't appreciate it if it's free' is absolute rubbish.

BathshebaDarkstone · 30/08/2015 08:03

OP I couldn't afford it and I live in bloody London! We can only do free things in the holidays.

maybebabybee · 30/08/2015 08:05

Oh God, I work in south Kensington and if this would reduce the amount of people milling about there in the summer holidays I am all for it....

I am pregnant and constantly dizzy and don't really appreciate having to wait fifteen minutes to get into the station because no one appears to understand how to use a ticket barrier.

So YANBU but I am being selfish Wink

Savagebeauty · 30/08/2015 08:06

I live 25 mins from central London and have never taken mine to the Natural History and only once to the Science museum, which was New Years Day.
Hated the crowds and other people's children Grin

I'm a member of the V and A and go frequently.

maybebabybee · 30/08/2015 08:08

Maybe they should still be free but should be ticketed? Might reduce crowds and queuing.

I can't imagine waiting in a queue for an hour constitutes a fun day out for either parent or child.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 30/08/2015 08:10

But how do you know their indifferent about it how do they demonstrate that their not interested? I can't see how you know that they are indifferent? What are they doing to show YOU that their not appricating where they are?! HOW?! How do you know what their thinking?! Are you a mind reader?!

Yes people might go for shelter, but if they even go oh a dinosaur lets read the plaque and see where it was discovered, oh while we're here lets see if there's any other dinosaurs (for an example) then they've had their knowledge broadened, and they've gone away knowing something they didn't before.

As a PP said her children have been inspired by these places maybe they thought oh mum why are you taking us to a boring museum before they went and came out bristling with emphasim something they wouldn't have had a chance too if it was charging!

clicketyclick66 · 30/08/2015 08:11

I've been to London numerous times and always visits the museums - i have never encountered queues like mentioned here !!! The only place I see huge queues is at the London Eye.

WutheringTights · 30/08/2015 08:12

This in an appalling attitude. You want to deliberately price out poorer people so that you have a nicer experience. Unbelievably selfish. These museums are an important part of our shared national heritage and should be free for all to visit.

ChilliPeanut · 30/08/2015 08:14

The same argument could be applied to parks, libraries, a walk along the beach...Hmm Sad

WyrdByrd · 30/08/2015 08:15

YABVU

often have to queue to get in

If you go/went 'often' then presumably you are near enough to not have to incur travel costs unlike cast numbers of people attending such museums.

They are massive national, historical and educational facilities, funded by public money over the years and should absolutely be free to all. There are other ways of raising additional income and controlling numbers that don't involve penalising the less well off...

..although since Cameron now has a free hand with this kind of thing I guess we may as well all bend over and prepare to take the privatisation of national treasures, as let's face it, the person on the street is not exactly his highest priority.

Angry Sad

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 30/08/2015 08:16

*People will go any where if it's free•

Quite possiably so maybe no where should be free then? Parks, shopping centres, shops often see people in shopping centres and shops with no intention of buying anything just to get out of the rain.
I work in a office that's in a mall like place it's now only offices, no shops but the number of times when it's raining I can't actually get out of the building cos people are sheltering from the rain (I like walking in the rain) is frequent. It's free, maybe I should suggest the council start charging everyone can stand in the rain! Excellent idea!

Original poster
Ironfistfunkymum · 30/08/2015 08:16

Not really. The Royal Observatory is now much nicer for everyone to visit since they ditched the free entry.

I have no objections to booking in advance for free entry. I do understand how difficult it is to go back to charging after people have had it for free.

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 30/08/2015 08:18

We certainly can't make them free only for the British or even for EU nationals - that would be unworkable.

My heart says: Keep them free, especially for families.

My head says: If you have several children you expect to pay more for the fares to get there unless they are so young that they travel free; more for the ice-creams they will want afterwards; more for the meals you will all want; more for every other damned thing. So why should museums be different.

I'm conflicted and I just don't know.

But I think I will open a sweepstake on how old you will need to be to get in for nothing, because there will be a concession of that sort. My guess will be that free travel (Boris Card or Freedom Pass) will get you in because they are the easiest to administer. Observe that I am o saying that it is right to give Silvertops like me the concession - just that it will happen!

Casimir · 30/08/2015 08:18

5.3 million visitors today......£10 admission.....2 visitors tomorrow.
That is why we have internet, cant touch, just look. Same but cheaper.

WyrdByrd · 30/08/2015 08:19

Maybe they should still be free but should be ticketed? Might reduce crowds and queuing.

Exactly - with internet access being what it is these days I can't imagine that would be difficult or expensive to implement, although it's occurred to me that the museums are probably reluctant to do this, because the more people they get in, the more (much needed) money they make in their cafes and gift shops.

FWIW the worst ever cues I have seen have been at Madame Tussauds and the SeaLife Centre, both of which charge a handsome entrance fee. I gave up on the latter after 40 minutes when I still couldn't actually see the end of the cue!

maybebabybee · 30/08/2015 08:20

To those objecting to paid tickets, would you object to free entry but still ticketed?

Honestly during the school holidays the crowds in the area are horrendous.

maybebabybee · 30/08/2015 08:20

X post sorry!

HermioneWeasley · 30/08/2015 08:20

I think it should be free for UK citizens but cost for overseas tourists. It wouldn't stop people going to the museums and would provide much needed income. Lots of countries have no or reduced fees for citizens

Just need to show proof of address or identity

We spent over $100/day on museum entry in the states

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 30/08/2015 08:20

Nicer for you maybe! But people are missing out!

sleepyelectricsheep · 30/08/2015 08:22

"People just don't appreciate something if its free."

What utter nonsense.

My DS loves both the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum.

He is totally unaware of how much it costs to get in.

If we had to pay we could not afford to go, simple as that.

maybebabybee · 30/08/2015 08:22

Missing out on what exactly? Standing in a sweaty mass for 3 hours to look at a dinosaur skeleton over the heads of 3000 other people.

Anyway: see subsequent posts, I changed my mind.

CarriesBucketOfBlood · 30/08/2015 08:24

I would object to any kind of ticketed entry.

I feel like museums should be accessible to all, not just those with half a day/ a full day to warrant the ticket. Wandering in and wandering out is fine with me, I would encourage it for anyone in the area who had a spare hour.

I think that by making museums a casual place, you demystify them for children and encourage them to continue the visits as an adult.

DingbatsFur · 30/08/2015 08:25

YABVVU
These museums are wonderful engaging places. They should be free as they inspire ans educate young people.
We may as well charge for schooling because then people would 'appreciate it' and know the value of it more... Oh hang on...

maybebabybee · 30/08/2015 08:26

Ok, ticketing during school holidays then. As given the queues during that time, anyone with only an hour to spare wouldn't have the time to just 'wander in' anyway.

I don't see what isn't casual about a free ticket, personally.

Eminybob · 30/08/2015 08:27

Well I didn't realise those places were free tbh. I haven't been to London in years.

I would love to go, free or not but I certainly don't think them being free would make me appreciate them any less. OP you are talking rubbish. I went to the natural history museum in New York which we had to pay for and it was still rammed. People go because they want to.