The National Gallery has banned the selfie stick in order to preserve the 'overall visitor experience'
The National Gallery in London has banned selfie sticks.
The gallery says it has placed them in the same category as tripods, which are banned "in order to protect paintings, individual privacy and the overall visitor experience".
The National Gallery ban follows other galleries around the world, including the Smithsonian museums in Washington.
The selfie stick is an elongated pole on which a camera or mobile phone can be attached to take a better photo.
Sales of the selfie stick have soared since last year and they are now a common sight at tourist sites.
The ban by the National Gallery was welcomed by art critic Brian Sewell.He told The Times: "They are possibly quite dangerous to the art work and cause appalling crowding around a painting.
"Anyone who actually wants to go and see a painting can't because people are too busy taking photos. I've seen things in the National Gallery which make my hair stand on end."
