Year on year rise in visitor numbers to UK museums and galleries

By Museums Association

SUMMARY

Research has shown that attendance at museum and galleries saw an increase of up to 17% in 2009. These figures and more are featured in this collection of research from sources including VisitEngland , The Economist, National Arts and Business Consumer Council, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, VisitWales and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Museum and gallery attendance - more of the population are visiting:

• A growing proportion of the population of England attends museums. 45.8% of adults attended a museum, gallery or archive at least once in 2009, up from 43% in 2006.18 Two thirds of 5-10 year olds (66.3%) and well over half of 11-15 year olds (59.7%) attended a museum or gallery at least once in 2008/09.19

• In 2008, children under 16 made up 28% of all visits to Renaissance hub museums.20

• School visits are increasing. Year 1-11 visits to Renaissance hub museums increased by 8.2% between 2006/07 and 2008/09. Pre-5 and Reception visits to hub museums increased by 17.7% between 2006-07 and 2008-09.21

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Resource type: Research | Published: 2013