Jowell: "Democratising the nation's treasures"

National museums, which had also campaigned for the scrapping of admission charges, were concerned that they would lose out financially because of tax laws.

However after the Chancellor Gordon Brown introduced tax changes in the last Budget - allowing free museums to reclaim VAT- the last obstacles to free admission were removed.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "These figures show what a spectacular success the scrapping of admission charges to our great national collections has been."

She added that culture secretary said that charges had discouraged many people, particularly families, from visiting museums but said that now the experience was free - like going to a park or taking a stroll.

Natural History Museum: Free admission

"Free admission has democratised the nation's treasures, making them accessible to all.

"That has to be good for our children, for students and for those who simply want to enjoy these wonderful exhibits, "she said.

Among the museums now free to visit are the National History Museum, the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the National Maritime Museum in London.

Entrance charges have also been scrapped at attractions including the Royal Armouries in Leeds, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside and the National Railway Museum in York.