LONDON, UK.- Nearly six million more visits to England's formerly charging national museums and galleries took place this year, compared to the year before entry charges were scrapped by the Government, new figures show.

Three years after the turnstiles were removed, visits are up by 75 per cent nationally. In London, visits to the V&A are up by 113 per cent, the Natural History Museum by 95 per cent and the Science Museum by 71 per cent.

Visits to the Royal Armouries in Leeds have risen by 147 per cent, to National Museums Liverpool by 94 per cent and to the National Railway Museum in York by 57 per cent.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "Today's figures are incredible. Free entry for everyone to our national museums is a cornerstone of this Government's cultural policy. We believe that our collections are among the best in the world, and that everyone should be able to visit, enjoy and learn from them, whatever their background.

"Our decision to invest in free admission was a success from day one. Now – three years on – I am delighted that visit numbers continue to grow. This gives the lie to the idea that ordinary people have no appetite for 'serious' culture – sweep away the obstacles, and they come in their millions."

Visits to those museums like the British Museum, National Gallery and Tate that have always been free, have also risen – by nine per cent - over the same period.