Voices: ‘Tax Airbnbs, not visitors’: How readers think UK museums could be better funded

The Benin Bronzes in a gallery of African relics in the British Museum - (Getty Images)

Debate over whether UK museums should remain free for all or start charging tourists has prompted a lively response from Independent readers, with many highlighting both financial pressures and ethical questions around collections.

The discussion around free entry has intensified in recent years as rising running costs, reduced government grants, and the financial strains left by the pandemic and post-Brexit changes have put museums in serious deficit, forcing institutions to explore new funding options.