In 2001, the British government – and specifically its Department for Culture, Media and Sport – made it possible for most British museums to get rid of its turnstiles and open its doors to the public. With the help of government subsidies and a change in the tax law, the museums will only be charging fees for special exhibits. The rest of the collections will be free for all residents… and tourists.

Great Britain has a long, rich history, and vacationing in London means access to an overwhelming amount of highly entertaining museums for people of all ages. The Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, the Victoria & Albert, the Theatre Museum, the National History Museum and the Science and Industry Museum are all vast storehouses of artifacts, displays and interactive exhibits that can fill an afternoon or an entire day.

Certain facilities (like the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, the Tate Galleries, and the British Museum) had been allowing fee-free entrance prior to the changes. But even attendance at those locations has increased in the years following the policy change.

During the November-April off-season (also the colder and rainier half of the year), these free museums are the perfect vacation destination. The majority of these venues offer meals, snacks and beverages, so you don’t even have to venture outside. If you can only hit the highlights, be sure to visit the following:

- the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon at the British Museum

- the Blitz Experience and WWII planes and vehicles at the Imperial War Museum (as well as the sobering Holocaust Exhibition)

- the Dress Gallery at the V&A

- Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and JMW Turner’s “The Fighting Temeraire” at the National Gallery

- any exhibit currently showing in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern

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