Mayor of London Boris Johnson has suggested that free museums and galleries throughout the UK should consider a policy of voluntary visitor charging to address the current funding crisis.

Speaking at an event to discuss the impact of the recession on the arts, he stressed that he didn't want to coerce people into paying but added: "It might be a good idea for people to price the value of their visit. I think it would work extremely well and I think we should do it."

He also said he believed that a voluntary fee would make "cynical young people" appreciate their visit more.

His comments follow a recent visit to New York, where there is a system of 'recommended' entrance fees in place to galleries such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with visitors having to obtain entry via a ticket office.

Visitors to free sites in Britain are encouraged to donate a suggested amount but there is no compulsion to do so. It is felt that Johnson's idea to make more people pay could be met by resistance from museums - which have seen visitor numbers rise considerably since the introduction of free entry in 2001 - with industry insiders believing that adoption of the American model could well discourage visitors and do more harm than good.