Museums and galleries monthly visits
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-27)

Monthly provisional statistics on the number of visits to the DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries are published here every quarter.

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926d203b3b9afff34e95ff1/Monthly_and_Quarterly_Visits_to_DCMS-sponsored_Museums_and_Galleries_-_to_September_2025_data_tables.ods)

Monthly and quarterly visits to DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries - to September 2025 data tables (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926d203b3b9afff34e95ff1/Monthly_and_Quarterly_Visits_to_DCMS-sponsored_Museums_and_Galleries_-_to_September_2025_data_tables.ods)

ODS, 230 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-open-document-formats-odf-in-your-organisation) format

(https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926d21aa245b0985f034086/Pre-release_access_to_DCMS-sponsored_museums_and_galleries_monthly_and_quarterly_visitor_figures_July_to_September_2025__1_.odt)

Pre-release access to DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries monthly and quarterly visitor figures July to September 2025 (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926d21aa245b0985f034086/Pre-release_access_to_DCMS-sponsored_museums_and_galleries_monthly_and_quarterly_visitor_figures_July_to_September_2025__1_.odt)

ODT, 7.55 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-open-document-formats-odf-in-your-organisation) format

Revision note:

As usual, there have been a small number of routine revisions to figures in this release. In addition, corrections were made to the number of visits to National Museums Liverpool between April 2024 and January 2025, which also has a small impact on the DCMS totals, to consistently account for the historically shared entrance to the Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum. Further details are in the table.

Last update

26 November 2025

Geographic coverage

England

Frequency of release

Quarterly

Summary

Between July to September 2025, there were approximately 12.6 million visits to DCMS sponsored museums and galleries. Overall visits were 4.4% higher to the equivalent period in 2024, when comparing museums open in both time periods. Overall visits were 10% lower than the equivalent pre-pandemic period in 2019, when comparing museums open in both time periods.

Between 2021 and the end of the 2023/24 financial year, museum visitor numbers were increasing following the closure of museums and galleries during the pandemic. Since then, whilst we continue to see typical seasonal variation, visitor numbers appear to have broadly plateaued, remaining below pre-pandemic levels.

The following museums were closed during either July to September 2024 and / or July to September 2025, and are excluded in calculations for previous year comparisons: National Museums Liverpool, SMG National Science and Media Museum, SMG Science and Innovation Park, Tate Liverpool, V&A Blythe House, V&A Storehouse.

The following museums were closed during either July to September 2019 and / or July to September 2025, and are excluded in calculations for pre-pandemic comparisons: Museum of the Home, National Museums Liverpool, SMG Science and Innovation Park, Tate Liverpool, V&A Blythe House, V&A Storehouse.

Some parts of the Horniman Museum, National Railway Museum (Science Museum Group [SMG]), and Science and Industry Museum (SMG) were partially closed during the latest period (July to September 2025). The National Science and Industry Museum (Power Hall) reopened to the public on October 17th 2025.

Coverage

This release provides monthly absolute visitor totals for the individual museums and galleries sponsored by DCMS.

Background

This statistical series provides information about visits to DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries in England.

Data is published for monthly visits to museums and galleries and this is done on a quarterly basis. It is subject to seasonal fluctuations. The general trend is for visits to be higher during school holidays. Some temporary exhibitions attract large numbers of visits and there may also be occasions when all or part of a museum or gallery is closed for refurbishment, both affecting the visitor numbers.

Data collection methods vary between institutions, and each uses a method appropriate to its situation. All data is collected according to the Performance Indicator guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dcms-sponsored-museums-and-galleries-annual-performance-indicators-202223/museums-and-galleries-performance-indicator-guidance).

Figures may be subject to revision. Any amendments will be published on this website in accordance with the Department’s revision statement, available in our compliance statement (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/865444/Compliance_Statement_-_February_2020.pdf).

Office for Statistics Regulation

Our statistical practice is regulated by the OSR (https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics (https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/the-code/) that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx). Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or via the OSR website.

Pre-release access

The pre-release access list contains a list of ministers and officials who have received privileged early access to this release of museum and gallery monthly visitor figures. In line with best practice, the list has been kept to a minimum and those given access for briefing purposes had a maximum of 24 hours.

Contact

Responsible statisticians: Victoria Maders and Sam Alder

For any queries please contact xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).