2012 Visitor Figures

View figures for previous years:

Visits made in 2012 to visitor attractions in membership with ALVA

Rank Site Total visits Charge /free % +/-
1 British Museum 5,575,946 F/C -4.70%
2 Tate Modern 5,318,688 F/C 9%
3 National Gallery 5,163,902 F/C -2%
4 Natural History Museum 5,021,762 F/C 3.05%
5 V&A (South Kensington) 3,231,700 F/C 16%
6 Science Museum South Kensington (SMG) 2,989,000 F/C 3.50%
7 Tower of London (HRP) 2,444,296 C -4.30%
8 National Portrait Gallery 2,096,858 F/C 12%
9 National Museum of Scotland (National Museums Scotland) 1,893,521 F/C 29.11%
10 St Paul's Cathedral 1,789,974 F/C -2%
11 Old Royal Naval College Greenwich 1,778,019 F 6%
12 Westminster Abbey 1,776,369 F/C -6.50%
13 Tate Britain 1,534,781 F/C 3%
14 British Library 1,413,967 F/C -4.78%
15 Chester Zoo 1,405,233 C -1.41%
16 Edinburgh Castle (Historic Scotland) 1,230,177 F/C -5.56%
17 Royal Academy of Arts 1,200,000 C *****%
18 National Maritime Museum (RMG) 1,128,944 F/C 24%
19 Roman Baths & Pump Room Bath 1,064,177 C -6%
20 Stonehenge (EH) 1,043,756 C -5.10%
21 Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum (Glasgow Museums) 1,037,594 F 5.80%
22 Houses of Parliament 1,024,890 F/C -3%
23 Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 1,023,501 C -13.90%
24 Museum of Liverpool (National Museums Liverpool) 1,011,056 F/C 53%
25 Riverside Museum (Glasgow Museums) 1,008,092 F -5.70%
26 RHS Garden Wisley 977,451 F/C -5.40%
27 ZSL London Zoo 974,433 C -10.70%
28 Canterbury Cathedral 969,088 F/C -7%
29 Scottish National Gallery (NGS) 961,311 F/C 3.90%
30 Imperial War Museum (London) 957,952 F/C -1.50%
31 Eden Project 953,688 C -4.80%
32 Ashmolean Museum (OUM) 846,180 F/C 9%
33 Merseyside Maritime Museum (National Museums Liverpool) 845,709 F/C -4%
34 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 721,827 F -8%
35 World Museum Liverpool (National Museums Liverpool) 716,579 F/C -7%
36 National Railway Museum (SMG) 716,000 F/C 0.60%
37 Museum of Science & Industry (SMG) 682,000 F/C -19.20%
38 Chatsworth House Trust (THE) 659,553 C -2.2%
39 Royal Observatory Greenwich (RMG) 628,982 F/C**** -39.84%
40 Blenheim Palace (THE) 625,055 C 9%
41 Tate Liverpool 620,124 F/C 6%
42 Gallery of Modern Art (Glasgow Museums) 595,977 F -2.10%
43 Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUM) 548,672 F -1%
44 Hampton Court Palace (HRP) 525,443 F/C -11%
45 National Media Museum (SMG) 504,000 F/C 4.80%
46 Leeds Castle (THE) 497,779 C -16%
47 National War Museum (National Museums Scotland) 492,743 F/C -2.25%
48 ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 476,226 C -5.30%
49 International Slavery Museum (National Museums Liverpool) 444,070 F 10%
50 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 434,529 F/C -7%
51 V&A Museum of Childhood 427,200 F -4%
52 Beaulieu (THE) 413,528 C 18%
53 Stirling Castle (Historic Scotland) 401,843 F/C -7.30%
54 Imperial War Museum Duxford 375,323 C -3.10%
55 Pitt Rivers Museum (OUM) 372,542 F 1%
56 Kensington Palace (HRP) 359,456 F/C 41%
57 Stourhead (NT) 352,052 F/C -11.40%
58 Wakehurst ( Royal Botanic Gardens Kew) 346,744 C -16.20%
59 Attingham Park (NT) 346,338 F/C 6.90%
60 Churchill War Rooms 343,690 C -5.70%
61 Cliveden (NT) 342,687 F/C 4.20%
62 Walker Art Gallery (National Museums Liverpool) 337,799 F 40%
63 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal (NT) 330,096 F/C -6.20%
64 Imperial War Museum (North) 328,523 F 8.60%
65 Scottish National Portrait Gallery (NGS) 327,980 F +520.4%*
66 Dover Castle (EH) 325,325 C -8.50%
67 RHS Garden Harlow Carr 320,242 F/C 7.90%
68 Waddesdon Manor (NT) 317,270 F/C -1.90%
69 Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (NGS) 314,814 F/C 4.50%
70 Burns Birthplace Museum (NTS) 299,028 C -15%
71 Urquhart Castle (Historic Scotland) 296,498 F/C -6.10%
72 Polesden Lacey (NT) 290,659 F/C 0.00%
73 People's Palace (Glasgow Museums) 289,977 F 24.60%
74 Larrybane (NT) 276,005 F/C 14.90%
75 Calke Abbey (NT) 274,197 F/C -2.00%
76 Belton House (NT) 273,825 F/C -2.20%
77 St Michael's Mount (NT) 270,196 F/C -2.40%
78 HMS Victory (NMRN) 267,425 F/C -3.51%
79 Cutty Sark (RMG) 254,397 C ****%
80 Anglesey Abbey (NT) 251,963 F/C -9.50%
81 Osborne (EH) 248,544 C 7.50%
82 Nymans Garden (NT) 243,976 F/C -16.50%
83 Kingston Lacy (NT) 229,347 F/C -2.40%
84 Hardwick Hall (NT) 224,956 F/C 27.30%
85 Culzean Castle & Country Park (NTS) 224,115 C -5%
86 Castle Howard (THE) 222,371 C -9.40%
87 Lanhydrock (NT) 214,056 F/C -4.60%
88 Pier Master House (National Museums Liverpool) 212,473 F 8%
89 Dunham Massey (NT) 207,330 F/C -6.40%
90 Mottisfont (NT) 207,101 F/C -2.70%
91 National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth (NMRN) 206,124 F/C 26.93%
92 Sheffield Park (NT) 205,129 F/C -10.20%
93 Cragside Estate (NT) 201,639 F/C 0.10%
94 Lady Lever Art Gallery (National Museums Liverpool) 200,759 F 7%
95 Tate St Ives 196,976 C -6%
96 The National Railway Museum in Shildon (SMG) 193,000 F/C -11.30%
97 Wallington Park (NT) 191,971 F/C -13.30%
98 Chartwell (NT) 191,215 F/C -4.70%
99 Corfe Castle (NT) 190,393 F/C -11.80%
100 Tyntesfield (NT) 189,329 F/C -8.50%
101 Museum of the History of Science (OUM) 189,044 F 3%
102 Harewood House (THE) 186,813 F/C -25.60%
103 Ickworth (NT) 186,353 F/C 2.70%
104 Burrell Collection (Glasgow Museums) 184,483 F -6.90%
105 Baddesley Clinton (NT) 175,951 F/C 4.80%
106 Tintagel Castle (EH) 174,167 C -12.10%
107 Killerton (NT) 165,811 F/C 0.00%
108 Bodiam Castle (NT) 163,942 F/C -12.90%
109 HMS Belfast 160,358 C -34%**
110 Hidcote Manor Garden (NT) 156,730 F/C -11.60%
111 Mount Stewart (NT) 156,001 F/C 3.80%
112 Royal Horticultural Society Hyde Hall 154,776 F/C -1.60%
113 Claremont Landscape Garden (NT) 154,382 F/C -6.80%
114 Bodnant Garden (NT) 153,373 F/C -7.70%
115 Sudbury Hall (NT) 152,966 F/C -7.90%
116 Dyrham Park (NT) 150,798 F/C -9.40%
117 Erddig (NT) 150,535 F/C -10.70%
118 Natural History Museum at Tring 147,565 F 14.40%
119 Dunster (NT) 145,867 F/C 1.70%
120 Sissinghurst (NT) 144,340 F/C -22.90%
121 RHS Garden Rosemoor 140,221 F/C -2.90%
122 Cotehele (NT) 139,193 F/C -4.10%
123 Audley End House (EH) 134,983 C -0.80%
124 Home Farm Wimpole (NT) 126,209 F/C -13.20%
125 Montacute House (NT) 124,909 F/C 4.00%
126 Trelissick (NT) 124,203 F/C -0.70%
127 1066 Battle of Hastings: Abbey & Battlefield (EH) 116,907 C -12.90%
128 St Mungo Museum of Religious Art (Glasgow Museums) 114,070 F 1.00%
129 Castle Drogo Estate (NT) 112,882 F/C -9.70%
130 Whitby Abbey Yorkshire (EH) 112,267 C -5.60%
131 Carisbrooke Castle Isle of Wight (EH) 110,646 C 2.20%
132 Fleet Air Arm Museum (NMRN) 108,577 F/C 1.81%
133 Brownsea Island (NT) 104,131 F/C -14.70%
134 Clifford's Tower York (EH) 103,488 C -11.70%
135 Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Gardens (EH) 102,936 C -14%
136 Penrhyn Castle (NT) 97,563 F/C -34.60%
137 The Queen's House (RMG) 97,057 F**** -45.19%
138 Culloden (NTS) 96,271 C 3.10%
139 Burghley House (THE) 95,410 C -11.50%
140 Hatfield House (THE) 88,997 F/C -26%
141 Housesteads Roman Fort Hadrian's Wall (EH) 76,371 C -7.20%
142 Provand's Lordship (Glasgow Museums) 70,201 F -9.70%
143 Woburn Abbey & Gardens (THE) 67,160 F/C -4.34%
144 Sudley House (National Museums Liverpool) 65,140 F -3%
145 Inverewe Gardens (NTS) 63,156 C -5.80%
146 Crathes Castle (NTS) 53,747 C -8.60%
147 Scotland Street School Museum (Glasgow Museums) 53,201 F -14.70%
148 Threave Estate (NTS) 53,161 C 8.10%
149 St Mary Magdelene Croome D'Abitot (CCT) 49,317 F +30% ***
150 Royal Navy Submarine Museum (NMRN) 44,870 F/C -14.15%
151 Holkham Hall (THE) 43,481 C 13.80%
152 Benmore Botanic Garden (Argyll) (RBGE) 41,696 C -8.30%
153 Royal Marines Museum (NMRN) 37,659 F/C 11.18%
154 Holy Trinity Goodramgate York (CCT) 36,127 F -2% ***
155 St Lawrence's Evesham (CCT) 34,502 F +2% ***
156 St Anthony's Roseland (CCT) 30,639 F +4% ***
157 St Mary the Virgin Shrewsbury (CCT) 30,057 F +2% ***
158 St Peter's Preston Park (CCT) 28,687 F 4.50%
159 Dawyck Botanic Garden (Borders) (RBGE) 27,253 C -5% ***
160 St James Cooling (CCT) 24,508 F 21%
161 All Saints Kedleston (CCT) 22,363 F -39%
162 Logan Botanic Garden (Galloway) (RBGE) 18,555 C -10.30%
163 Old Christ Church Waterloo (CCT) 18,096 F 19%
164 Pimedden Garden (NTS) 17,764 C 3.70%
165 Brodie Castle (NTS) 15,179 C -7.40%
166 St Nicholas Kings Lynn (CCT) 14,270 F -15%
167 Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (Glasgow Museums) 14,133 F 23.50%
Rank Site Total visits
1 British Museum 5,575,946
2 Tate Modern 5,318,688
3 National Gallery 5,163,902
4 Natural History Museum 5,021,762
5 V&A (South Kensington) 3,231,700
6 Science Museum South Kensington (SMG) 2,989,000
7 Tower of London (HRP) 2,444,296
8 National Portrait Gallery 2,096,858
9 National Museum of Scotland (National Museums Scotland) 1,893,521
10 St Paul's Cathedral 1,789,974
11 Old Royal Naval College Greenwich 1,778,019
12 Westminster Abbey 1,776,369
13 Tate Britain 1,534,781
14 British Library 1,413,967
15 Chester Zoo 1,405,233
16 Edinburgh Castle (Historic Scotland) 1,230,177
17 Royal Academy of Arts 1,200,000
18 National Maritime Museum (RMG) 1,128,944
19 Roman Baths & Pump Room Bath 1,064,177
20 Stonehenge (EH) 1,043,756
21 Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum (Glasgow Museums) 1,037,594
22 Houses of Parliament 1,024,890
23 Royal Botanic Gardens Kew 1,023,501
24 Museum of Liverpool (National Museums Liverpool) 1,011,056
25 Riverside Museum (Glasgow Museums) 1,008,092
26 RHS Garden Wisley 977,451
27 ZSL London Zoo 974,433
28 Canterbury Cathedral 969,088
29 Scottish National Gallery (NGS) 961,311
30 Imperial War Museum (London) 957,952
31 Eden Project 953,688
32 Ashmolean Museum (OUM) 846,180
33 Merseyside Maritime Museum (National Museums Liverpool) 845,709
34 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 721,827
35 World Museum Liverpool (National Museums Liverpool) 716,579
36 National Railway Museum (SMG) 716,000
37 Museum of Science & Industry (SMG) 682,000
38 Chatsworth House Trust (THE) 659,553
39 Royal Observatory Greenwich (RMG) 628,982
40 Blenheim Palace (THE) 625,055
41 Tate Liverpool 620,124
42 Gallery of Modern Art (Glasgow Museums) 595,977
43 Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUM) 548,672
44 Hampton Court Palace (HRP) 525,443
45 National Media Museum (SMG) 504,000
46 Leeds Castle (THE) 497,779
47 National War Museum (National Museums Scotland) 492,743
48 ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 476,226
49 International Slavery Museum (National Museums Liverpool) 444,070
50 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 434,529
51 V&A Museum of Childhood 427,200
52 Beaulieu (THE) 413,528
53 Stirling Castle (Historic Scotland) 401,843
54 Imperial War Museum Duxford 375,323
55 Pitt Rivers Museum (OUM) 372,542
56 Kensington Palace (HRP) 359,456
57 Stourhead (NT) 352,052
58 Wakehurst ( Royal Botanic Gardens Kew) 346,744
59 Attingham Park (NT) 346,338
60 Churchill War Rooms 343,690
61 Cliveden (NT) 342,687
62 Walker Art Gallery (National Museums Liverpool) 337,799
63 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal (NT) 330,096
64 Imperial War Museum (North) 328,523
65 Scottish National Portrait Gallery (NGS) 327,980
66 Dover Castle (EH) 325,325
67 RHS Garden Harlow Carr 320,242
68 Waddesdon Manor (NT) 317,270
69 Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (NGS) 314,814
70 Burns Birthplace Museum (NTS) 299,028
71 Urquhart Castle (Historic Scotland) 296,498
72 Polesden Lacey (NT) 290,659
73 People's Palace (Glasgow Museums) 289,977
74 Larrybane (NT) 276,005
75 Calke Abbey (NT) 274,197
76 Belton House (NT) 273,825
77 St Michael's Mount (NT) 270,196
78 HMS Victory (NMRN) 267,425
79 Cutty Sark (RMG) 254,397
80 Anglesey Abbey (NT) 251,963
81 Osborne (EH) 248,544
82 Nymans Garden (NT) 243,976
83 Kingston Lacy (NT) 229,347
84 Hardwick Hall (NT) 224,956
85 Culzean Castle & Country Park (NTS) 224,115
86 Castle Howard (THE) 222,371
87 Lanhydrock (NT) 214,056
88 Pier Master House (National Museums Liverpool) 212,473
89 Dunham Massey (NT) 207,330
90 Mottisfont (NT) 207,101
91 National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth (NMRN) 206,124
92 Sheffield Park (NT) 205,129
93 Cragside Estate (NT) 201,639
94 Lady Lever Art Gallery (National Museums Liverpool) 200,759
95 Tate St Ives 196,976
96 The National Railway Museum in Shildon (SMG) 193,000
97 Wallington Park (NT) 191,971
98 Chartwell (NT) 191,215
99 Corfe Castle (NT) 190,393
100 Tyntesfield (NT) 189,329
101 Museum of the History of Science (OUM) 189,044
102 Harewood House (THE) 186,813
103 Ickworth (NT) 186,353
104 Burrell Collection (Glasgow Museums) 184,483
105 Baddesley Clinton (NT) 175,951
106 Tintagel Castle (EH) 174,167
107 Killerton (NT) 165,811
108 Bodiam Castle (NT) 163,942
109 HMS Belfast 160,358
110 Hidcote Manor Garden (NT) 156,730
111 Mount Stewart (NT) 156,001
112 Royal Horticultural Society Hyde Hall 154,776
113 Claremont Landscape Garden (NT) 154,382
114 Bodnant Garden (NT) 153,373
115 Sudbury Hall (NT) 152,966
116 Dyrham Park (NT) 150,798
117 Erddig (NT) 150,535
118 Natural History Museum at Tring 147,565
119 Dunster (NT) 145,867
120 Sissinghurst (NT) 144,340
121 RHS Garden Rosemoor 140,221
122 Cotehele (NT) 139,193
123 Audley End House (EH) 134,983
124 Home Farm Wimpole (NT) 126,209
125 Montacute House (NT) 124,909
126 Trelissick (NT) 124,203
127 1066 Battle of Hastings: Abbey & Battlefield (EH) 116,907
128 St Mungo Museum of Religious Art (Glasgow Museums) 114,070
129 Castle Drogo Estate (NT) 112,882
130 Whitby Abbey Yorkshire (EH) 112,267
131 Carisbrooke Castle Isle of Wight (EH) 110,646
132 Fleet Air Arm Museum (NMRN) 108,577
133 Brownsea Island (NT) 104,131
134 Clifford's Tower York (EH) 103,488
135 Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Gardens (EH) 102,936
136 Penrhyn Castle (NT) 97,563
137 The Queen's House (RMG) 97,057
138 Culloden (NTS) 96,271
139 Burghley House (THE) 95,410
140 Hatfield House (THE) 88,997
141 Housesteads Roman Fort Hadrian's Wall (EH) 76,371
142 Provand's Lordship (Glasgow Museums) 70,201
143 Woburn Abbey & Gardens (THE) 67,160
144 Sudley House (National Museums Liverpool) 65,140
145 Inverewe Gardens (NTS) 63,156
146 Crathes Castle (NTS) 53,747
147 Scotland Street School Museum (Glasgow Museums) 53,201
148 Threave Estate (NTS) 53,161
149 St Mary Magdelene Croome D'Abitot (CCT) 49,317
150 Royal Navy Submarine Museum (NMRN) 44,870
151 Holkham Hall (THE) 43,481
152 Benmore Botanic Garden (Argyll) (RBGE) 41,696
153 Royal Marines Museum (NMRN) 37,659
154 Holy Trinity Goodramgate York (CCT) 36,127
155 St Lawrence's Evesham (CCT) 34,502
156 St Anthony's Roseland (CCT) 30,639
157 St Mary the Virgin Shrewsbury (CCT) 30,057
158 St Peter's Preston Park (CCT) 28,687
159 Dawyck Botanic Garden (Borders) (RBGE) 27,253
160 St James Cooling (CCT) 24,508
161 All Saints Kedleston (CCT) 22,363
162 Logan Botanic Garden (Galloway) (RBGE) 18,555
163 Old Christ Church Waterloo (CCT) 18,096
164 Pimedden Garden (NTS) 17,764
165 Brodie Castle (NTS) 15,179
166 St Nicholas Kings Lynn (CCT) 14,270
167 Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (Glasgow Museums) 14,133

NT = National Trust
NTS = National Trust for Scotland
EH = English Heritage
THE = Treasure Houses of England
RBGE = Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
OUM = Oxford University Museums
RMG = Royal Museums Greenwich
NGS = National Galleries Scotland
HRP = Historic Royal Palaces
SMG = Science Museum Group
NMRN = National Museum of the Royal Navy
CCT = Churches Conservation Trust

* Gallery re-opened 11 Dec following refurbishment i.e. closed Jan-Nov 2011
**HMS Belfast was closed from December 2011 to April 2012
*** The figures are comparing September 2011 with September 2012
**** Decreases for the Observatory & Queen's House can be directly attributed to closure of the sites during the Olympic period. The Cutty Sark was opened 26 April 2012
***** The Royal Academy of Arts has no % comparison

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