The huge success of the Transport Museum’s free admission policy has resulted in the confirmation of its adoption on a permanent basis. Since its introduction last year, over 160,000 people have visited the Museum. This represents a massive increase of 150% on the previous year’s figures and 60% increase on the targeted outcome for the ‘experimental policy’. These results put the Museum in the top 2% of all museums nationally and reinforce its recently acquired status as a museum ‘designated’ as being of national importance.

Councillor Arthur Waugh, Chairman of the Museum’s Joint Advisory board, is absolutely delighted with the success of free admission and commented,

"This policy fully vindicates our City Centre regeneration and access for all policies and the public response has been overwhelming. In addition, external research has proved that the Museum contributes significantly towards £3 million worth of economic generation for local economy and this is exactly the type of investment that will help ensure the thriving City Centre we are all working hard to achieve – with over 47 nationalities represented amongst our visitors, it proves Coventry still retains very wide appeal as an important visitor destination. Added to this, we have also been inundated with compliments from our own citizens who take great pride in the Museum’s portrayal of the story that they and their families have created and ensured the promotion of the great engineering traditions of Coventry on a global basis.

"I am also extremely pleased that we have had a record year for schools visitors with our unique Education Partnership Centre playing a significant part in attracting almost 30,000 school visitors. This reinforces the broadening public recognition that, not only is the Museum a significant visitor destination, but it also has major roles to play in education, social inclusion and enhancing the image of the city. This year has seen success all the way and I am delighted that our access for all policy will now become a permanent feature of the Museum. The Museum is definitely taking major steps forward and, over the coming months, we intend to ensure that the impetus we have generated will be reinforced in every way possible to the overall benefit of our City and its people."