Top ten visitor attractions

24 August 2007

SEVEN MUSEUMS ARE IN TOP 10 FREE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Seven museums and galleries are in the top ten free tourist attractions in England for 2006, new figures released by Visit Britain reveal today.

Tate Modern and the British Museum are in the top three free attractions.

The Top 10:

1. Blackpool Pleasure Beach 5.7m

2. Tate Modern 4.9m

3. British Museum 4.8m

4. National Gallery 4.5m

5. Natural History Museum 3.7m

6. River Lee Country Park 3.5m

7. Xscape Castleford 3.4m

8. Science Museum 2.4m

9. V & A Museum 2.3m

10. National Portrait Gallery 1.6m

Mark Jones, Director of the V&A and Chairman of the NMDC, said: "We are delighted with these new figures and the dramatic rise in attendances to museums and galleries in 2006. The list clearly shows the important contribution that museums make to tourism in this country. Our free museums our one of our greatest assets."

Tom Wright, chief executive of Visit Britain, said: "England's attractions are a vital part of our £85 billion visitor economy. Our free museums and galleries, historic properties, gardens, and traditional and contemporary attractions of all kinds, help Britain maintain its reputation as the sixth most popular destination in the world."

Press Enquiries for National Museums Directors' Conference (NMDC):
Erica Bolton, 020 7221 5000 (5 lines)

Notes to Editors:

NMDC

The National Museum Directors' Conference represents the leaders of the UK's national museums and galleries. These comprise the national museums in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the three national libraries, and the National Archives. While its members are funded by central government, the NMDC is an independent and non-governmental organisation.