I’m reasonably local but I’m not that wealthy. I’m retired.

Oh, hang on I’ve got a Civil Service pension, scrub that. 😀

Brian

Well done.

A lot of museums do free entry for those living in the local town or city.
Some let you return for free within 12months. (Such as the Buck House visits)
With the annual pass at Duxford, if my wife and I go three times, it’s only cost us £5.90 each per visit.

We also belong to CADW, the Welsh equivalent of English Heritage (and cheaper). £42 per year to allow us
free entry into EH properties. It’s all down to personal choice

Museums have to strike a balance. Charge and lose their subsidies. Allow free entry and hope the subsidies
cover their costs.

With due respect Alan I think that while the points you raised are valid they don’t address the point of pricing people out of visiting. If you live close to Duxford then a pass is good value. I don’t for example so if I wish to visit it is a considerable amount of travel expenditure and then full price tickets as it is unlikely I’ll be able to make another trip. These memberships only work if you are reasonably local or wealthy enough to travel back and forth.

Likewise English Heritage like the National Trust offer a membership but in some areas of the country there are very few places to visit whilst others are saturated. Also the National Trust spend very little on interpretation of their exhibits and instead rely on retired ladies in twin sets with laminated sheets!

Yes. Maybe compromise is needed.

I think fundamentally they should be free but Duxford’s entry prohibits entry to those with less expendable income. I firmly believe that heritage should be available to all.

There is however a creeping undercurrent on this forum that rears its ugly head which often suggests that some are less deserved of access to our national collections than others. The comment made about longing for the days of paying for an entry fee is so so short sighted.

I was there yesterday and I think this thread’s title is appropriate to the Dakota nose that has been in the Bomber Command hall (well that’s what I still like to think it is) for several years. It still has NO display panel to explain to the public what the heck it is, but at least its now the right way up.
I long for the days when you had to pay to get into the museum, the aircraft had context, the side galleries had exhibits in them rather than being an aviation themed kindergarten and above all you didn’t have to fight your way through crowds of people who barely have a clue what they are looking at.

Crowds of people who barely have a clue what they are looking at?

Isn’t that one of the points of a museum. To educate people about things that they may not have a great knowledge of? So would your ideal Hendon be full of mostly middle aged male enthusiasts (who can afford a ticket) wandering around impressing each other because they know all about the exhibits all ready?

If so and if that became a reality then where does the next generation of enthusiasts come from. You’re entitled to your opinion but I think it is a very sad stance. Why on earth should the taxpayer have to pay to see their own property.

A privilege to walk around a museum my taxes contribute to. No. It’s not. We don’t have to hold back criticism out of awe and deference.