The One Thing You Should Never Buy From A Museum Gift Shop

Ahh, the museum gift shop, a place of artistic wonderment and smiling at random things you never knew you needed. A resting place for extortionately priced gift items and certain knick-knacks you didn’t realise still existed (when was the last time anyone used a logo pencil? We’ll wait).

But even if you don’t mind paying £25 for four totally non-art-related Christmas ornaments you could order from Amazon for £8, there is still one thing you should never, ever allow yourself to buy as you’re exiting through the gift shop.

You’ve no doubt already fallen into the trap at some point. We all have. You see a painting you love at an exhibition and you scour the gift shop searching for the poster. Well, let’s be real, you probably don’t scour because it’s probably hanging up in an obvious place where everyone can see it, begging to be bought.

But if you do one thing ever friends, resist the urge! Do not buy the poster!

It’s 2018 and owning a poster version of an artwork will literally do nothing for you but take up space in your life. If we’re talking about a limited-edition exhibition poster then maybe go for it, but a replica of an artwork you could just as easily print from your laptop on the nice paper they have at work? Don’t go there.

A poster like that, unlike that exhibition poster for example, has zero chance of going up in value and belongs on the walls of university dorm rooms if not still wrapped up in the tube it came in.

There is so much amazing original art out in the world that is affordable and it’s not too hard to find. Buy that instead! Give yourself a chance to purchase an artwork that has at least a chance of making you money in the future, something that not everyone else has, and something that’s not inflated in price because you bought it from the museum.

You’re welcome and happy non-poster shopping.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.