LONDON — For the second year running, the British Museum has topped the list of the United Kingdom’s most-visited attractions, drawing 6.5 million people through its doors in 2024—an 11% jump from the previous year. The figures, released this week by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA), underscore a broader resurgence in public engagement with museums and historic sites, even as inflation and sluggish tourism recovery temper growth elsewhere.
The Natural History Museum trailed closely behind with 6.3 million visitors (up 11%), while Tate Modern ranked fourth with 4.6 million. The Southbank Centre, home to the Hayward Gallery, saw a striking 17% surge, welcoming over 3.7 million people.
The rebound was particularly dramatic for institutions that recently underwent renovations. After a three-year overhaul, the National Portrait Gallery reopened in June 2023 and leapt nine spots to 18th place with 1.5 million visitors—a 36% increase. Similarly, the Young V&A in East London revitalized as a dedicated children’s museum, saw attendance soar by 47% to nearly 600,000.
Beyond the capital, Scotland’s National Museum in Edinburgh drew 2.3 million visitors, while Stonehenge increased 3% to 1.36 million. In Wales, St Fagans National Museum of History led with 600,000 visitors. Smaller venues also thrived: Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum reported a record 506,000 visitors (up 25%), and Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery surged 57%.
Yet the recovery remains uneven. ALVA director Bernard Donoghue noted that while London attractions averaged a 3% uptick, broader challenges—from pandemic aftershocks to soaring operational costs—have left many institutions treading water. “Visitors are still prioritizing cherished cultural experiences,” he said, “but the sector’s fragility is undeniable.”
For now, though, the numbers offer a glimmer of optimism. As one Tate Modern visitor, clutching a coffee near the Turbine Hall, put it: “After years of screens and lockdowns, there’s nothing like standing in front of something real.”
By Numbers: UK’s Top Cultural Attractions in 2024
British Museum: 6.5 million (+11%)
Natural History Museum: 6.3 million (+11%)
Tate Modern: 4.6 million
National Portrait Gallery: 1.5 million (+36%)
Stonehenge: 1.36 million (+3%)
Founded in 1753, the British Museum was the world’s first national public museum, established after physician and collector Sir Hans Sloane bequeathed his vast collection of curiosities to the nation. Parliament approved its creation, funding it through a public lottery, and on 15 January 1759, it opened its doors in Montagu House, Bloomsbury—free to “all studious and curious persons.”
The museum’s holdings grew rapidly through exploration, colonial expansion, and private donations. Key acquisitions included the Rosetta Stone (1802), which unlocked Egyptian hieroglyphs, and the Parthenon Marbles (1816), acquired by Lord Elgin amid controversy that persists today. By the early 19th century, the collection had outgrown its home, leading to Sir Robert Smirke’s neoclassical redesign (1823–52), crowned by the iconic Greek Revival façade.
The museum evolved into a global institution in the 20th century. The Natural History collection moved to South Kensington in 1881, and the British Library (once part of the museum) relocated in 1997, making space for new galleries. Postwar debates over restitution intensified, with nations like Greece and Nigeria calling for the return of contested artefacts. Yet the museum remains a steward of human history, from Assyrian lion hunts to the Lewis Chessmen.
The 2000 Great Court renovation—Europe’s largest covered square—symbolises the museum’s modern mission: illuminating the past while navigating the complexities of cultural ownership in a connected world. As the museum marks its 270th year, its legacy endures: a treasure house of civilizations, still free to all.