Good programming and new innovations see rise in museum visitor figures 6 Mar 2014

Beamish flourishes with visitor figures up 19%

Beamish has announced visitor figures of 589,474 for the past 12 months.  The figures are the best in the museum’s 43 year history, 19% up on the previous year, and almost double the numbers recorded 5 years ago.  The museum has invested heavily in new attractions, including a 1940s farm which has just opened. Making tickets valid for 12 months has also had a significant effect.

Huge success at National Railway Museum among ALVA's 2013 visitor figures

ALVA has published the 2013 visitor figures for the 56 leading visitor attractions which make up its group. The figures include:

  • The new Library of Birmingham saw a remarkable 1,152,556 visitors in its first four months, with large queues for entry
  • The National Railway Museum in York received 30% increase in visitors - largely because of a special exhibition drawing together its own Mallard with the other five surviving A4 class locomotives from around the planet
  • The British Museum remained the most popular visitor attraction for the 7th year running with a 20% increase in its visitor numbers to 6,701,036
  • The good summer brought an additional 8% of visitors to outdoor attractions
  • The most popular free attraction outside London was the National Museum of Scotland with 1,768,090 visitors
  • Zoos continue to be popular, with Chester Zoo leading with 1,409,249 visitors 

ALVA (highlights), ALVA (all venues, ordered by popularity)