10 MAY: Restrictions are going to be placed on the number of people admitted to some of London’s most famous museums and galleries in a bid to end serious congestion.
The crush of bodies at some recent exhibitions has been such that paying customers have been unable to see some of the world’s greatest works of art.
The situation has been labelled ‘gallery rage’.
The trend has prompted the National Gallery to take the unprecedented step of selling only 180 admission tickets per half hour for a Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in November, even though health and safety authorities allow up to 230 admission per half hour and the gallery will forego nearly $15,000 a day in ticket sales.
Nicholas Penny, director of the gallery, believes the sacrifice is worth it.
"We’ve looked hard at the problems caused by very popular exhibitions in recent years and decided to take action ahead of what is likely to be one of the most important shows in our history," he told The Times newspaper.
