2008 Visitor Figures

View figures for previous years:

Visits made in 2008 to visitor attractions in membership with ALVA

Rank Site Total visits Charge /free % +/-
1 British Museum 5,932,897 F 9.50%
2 Tate Modern 4,862,581 F -6%
3 The National Gallery 4,382,614 F 6%
4 Natural History Museum 3,698,500 F 2.70%
5 Science Museum (South Kensington) 2,705,677 F -0.30%
6 Tower of London (HRP) 2,161,095 C 9.60%
7 Victoria and Albert Museum (South Kensington) 2,065,300 F -15%
8 National Maritime Museum 2,051,270 F 21%
9 National Portrait Gallery 1,843,266 F 15%
10 St Paul's Cathedral 1,687,861 F/C 4%
11 Tate Britain 1,618,309 F 1%
12 Westminster Abbey 1,481,150 F/C 39.90%
13 Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum (Glasgow) 1,445,098 F/C -35.30%
14 Chester Zoo 1,373,459 C 2.10%
15 Kew Gardens 1,306,401 F/C -8.50%
16 British Library 1,255,832 F -7%
17 Edinburgh Castle (Historic Scotland) 1,128,394 C -8%
18 Eden Project 1,093,510 C -3.10%
19 Tate Liverpool 1,080,327 F 67%
20 ZSL London Zoo 1,039,030 C -8.20%
21 Merseyside Maritime Museum 1,020,712 F 69%
22 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 992,507 C 1%
23 Canterbury Cathedral 981,360 F/C -6%
24 Houses of Parliament 918,289 F/C -8.30%
25 Stonehenge (EH) 883,603 C 2%
26 National Gallery Complex (Edinburgh) 842,958 F/C -10.30%
27 Imperial War Museum (London) 833,893 F/C 11%
28 Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley 814,220 F/C 2%
29 National Railway Museum 810,381 F -0.30%
30 World Museum Liverpool 787,767 F 9%
31 York Minster 759,662 F/C -7.30%
32 National Media Museum 745,857 F 4%
33 St Fagans National History Museum (Wales) 621,913 F -3.30%
34 National Museum of Scotland 614,894 F -27%
35 Leeds Castle (TH) 578,072 C 8%
36 Gallery of Modern Art (Glasgow Museums) 562,595 F -18.80%
37 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 559,228 F/C 10.20%
38 Chatsworth (TH) 553,000 C -8.80%
39 The Falkirk Wheel (British Waterways) 500,829 F/C -2.50%
40 Hampton Court Palace (HRP) 492,891 C 1.00%
41 National War Museum (Scotland) 474,133 F 1%
42 ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 468,669 C -6%
43 Blackpool Tower & Circus 464,426 F/C -0.40%
44 Discovery Museum (Tyne & Wear) 462,868 F 5%
45 Museum of Transport (Glasgow Museums) 456,324 F -14.80%
46 Wakehurst Place (RBG/NT) 442,130 F/C -5.90%
47 Stirling Castle (Historic Scotland) 403,778 C -8%
48 Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool) 396,356 F 55%
49 Imperial War Museum Duxford 382,581 C -14%
50 Blenheim Palace (TH) 374,021 C -1.90%
51 Royal Armouries (Leeds) 370,395 F 3.90%
52 Stourhead (NT) 339,023 F/C -9%
53 National Museum Cardiff 335,998 F -5.30%
54 Waddesdon Manor (NT) 334,498 F/C -11%
55 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal (NT) 328,551 F/C -3%
56 Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens 313,138 F -5%
57 Beaulieu (TH) 312,279 C 0.50%
58 Dover Castle (EH) 293,676 C -2%
59 Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms 288,592 C -5%
60 Urquhart Castle (Historic Scotland) 270,097 C -3%
61 Laing Art Gallery (Tyne & Wear Museums) 268,977 F 5%
62 V&A Museum of Childhood 252,900 F -29%
63 People's Palace (Glasgow Museums) 252,205 F -2.50%
64 HMS Belfast 244,288 C -5%
65 Larrybane (NT) 240,267 F/C 8%
66 Imperial War Museum (North) 239,853 F 9%
67 Scottish National Portrait Gallery 236,500 F/C 19%
68 National Waterfront Museum (Wales) 228,779 F -8%
69 Harewood House (TH) 226,067 C -7.20%
70 Polesden Lacey (NT) 220,680 F/C -14%
71 Osborne House (EH) 217,989 C 1%
72 Royal Horticultural Society, Harlow Carr 217,050 F/C -1%
73 Attingham Park (NT) 216,483 F/C 21%
74 Tate St Ives 210,816 C -14%
75 Burrell Collection (Glasgow Museums) 202,750 F -5.30%
76 Belton House (NT) 199,548 F/C -5%
77 St Michael's Mount (NT) 194,692 F/C -4%
78 Sheffield Park (NT) 192,312 F/C -2%
79 Anglesey Abbey (NT) 191,549 F/C 9%
80 Penrhyn Castle (NT) 187,271 F/C -12%
81 Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art 184,954 F/C 7.10%
82 Nymans Garden (NT) 182,279 F/C 1%
83 Pier Master's House (National Museums Liverpool) 181,829 F 38%
84 Wallington Park (NT) 180,301 F/C -5%
85 Cliveden (NT) 179,528 F/C -7%
86 Sudbury Hall (NT) 177,556 F/C 290%
87 Chartwell (NT) 173,764 F/C 4%
88 Cragside Estate (NT) 173,757 F/C -14%
89 Tintagel Castle (EH) 167,597 C -6%
90 Big Pit (Wales) 165,121 F 5.70%
91 Sissinghurst (NT) 164,120 F/C 4%
92 Bodiam Castle (NT) 162,470 F/C -4%
93 Kingston Lacy (NT) 161,654 F/C -4%
94 Corfe Castle (NT) 161,446 F/C 15%
95 South Shields Museum & Art Gallery(Tyne & Wear) 160,331 F -9%
96 Ickworth (NT) 158,332 F/C 4%
97 Lady Lever Art Gallery (NM Liverpool) 157,460 F -16%
98 Culzean Castle & Country Park (National Trust for Scotland) 156,108 F/C -13%
99 St Mungo Museum of Religious Art (Glasgow Museums) 152,352 F -9.10%
100 Bodnant Garden (NT) 148,099 F/C -6%
101 Claremont Landscape Garden (NT) 146,407 F/C 11%
102 Locomotion (NM of Science & Industry) 142,544 F n/a%
103 Hardwick Hall (NT) 139,360 F/C 2%
104 Mount Stewart (NT) 134,838 F/C 8%
105 Mottisfont (NT) 134,740 F/C 5%
106 Royal Horticultural Society, Rosemoor 133,140 F/C 0%
107 Killerton (NT) 131,881 F/C -2%
108 National Conservation Centre (NM Liverpool) 128,170 F 68%
109 Hidcote Manor Garden (NT) 125,269 F/C -17%
110 Calke Abbey (NT) 124,319 F/C 9%
111 Dyrham Park (NT) 124,024 F/C 4%
112 National Slate Museum (Wales) 122,936 F 7.20%
113 1066 Battle of Hastings:Abbey & Battlefield (EH) 121,752 C 7.00%
114 Natural History Museum at Tring 119,907 F -0.50%
115 Royal Horticultural Society, Hyde Hall 118,975 F/C 4%
116 Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire (EH) 118,217 C -6%
117 Baddesley Clinton (NT) 118,116 F/C 8%
118 Cotehele (NT) 118,057 F/C 1%
119 Home Farm Wimpole (NT) 117,977 F/C -9%
120 Dunham Massey (NT) 116,694 F/C 0%
121 Clifford's Tower, York (EH) 114,243 C -2%
122 Provands Lordship (Glasgow Museums) 113,183 F -8.50%
123 Castle Drogo Estate (NT) 113,175 F/C 2%
124 Trelissick (NT) 112,964 F/C -3%
125 Brownsea Island (NT) 111,447 F/C -12%
126 Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight (EH) 111,220 C 0%
127 Dunster (NT) 110,439 F/C 5%
128 Dean Gallery (National Galleries of Scotland) 109,509 F/C -17.70%
129 Anderton Boat Lift (British Waterways) 108,995 C -5.14%
130 Erddig (NT) 108,234 F/C -5%
131 Montacute House (NT) 107,269 F/C -3%
132 Kenwood House, London 105,690 F -14%
133 Tyntesfield (NT) 100,991 F/C -11%
134 Lanhydrock (NT) 97,055 F/C -48%
135 Housesteads Roman Fort, Hadrian's Wall (EH) 96,925 C -3%
136 Burghley House (TH) 86,247 C -3.90%
137 Woburn Abbey (TH) 77,771 C 8%
138 Royal Armouries (Fort Nelson, Portsmouth) 75,493 F -4.30%
139 Arbeia Roman Fort (Tyne & Wear Museums) 69,023 F -11%
140 Sudley House (National Museums Liverpool) 64,407 F 76%
141 National Roman Legion Museum (Wales) 64,192 F -1.40%
142 Scotland Street School Museum (Glasgow Museums) 61,419 F 10.40%
143 Segedunum Roman Fort (Tyne & Wear Museums) 44,938 C 6%
144 All Saints, Kedleston, Northants (CCT) 39,817 F -13.08%
145 St Peter, Sudbury, Suffolk (CCT) 39,331 F 20.57%
146 Holy Trinity, Goodramgate (CCT) 38,535 F 10.07%
147 Shipley Art Gallery (Tyne & Wear Museums) 34,201 F 5%
148 Stephenson Railway Museum (Tyne & Wear) 32,231 F -24%
149 Monkwearmouth Station Museum (Tyne & Wear) 28,547 F N/A%
150 National Wool Museum (Wales) 24,344 F 11%
151 St Leonard's, Bridgnorth Shropshire (CCT) 23,558 F 25.10%
152 St Mary, Shrewsbury (CCT) 18,392 F 34.69%
153 St John, Stamford Lincs (CCT) 17,973 F 14.76%
154 Glasgow Museums Resource Centre 4,903 F -42.70%
155 Martyr's School (Glasgow Museums) 2,484 F 50.40%
156 Castle Howard (TH) 207 C -3.90%
Rank Site Total visits
1 British Museum 5,932,897
2 Tate Modern 4,862,581
3 The National Gallery 4,382,614
4 Natural History Museum 3,698,500
5 Science Museum (South Kensington) 2,705,677
6 Tower of London (HRP) 2,161,095
7 Victoria and Albert Museum (South Kensington) 2,065,300
8 National Maritime Museum 2,051,270
9 National Portrait Gallery 1,843,266
10 St Paul's Cathedral 1,687,861
11 Tate Britain 1,618,309
12 Westminster Abbey 1,481,150
13 Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum (Glasgow) 1,445,098
14 Chester Zoo 1,373,459
15 Kew Gardens 1,306,401
16 British Library 1,255,832
17 Edinburgh Castle (Historic Scotland) 1,128,394
18 Eden Project 1,093,510
19 Tate Liverpool 1,080,327
20 ZSL London Zoo 1,039,030
21 Merseyside Maritime Museum 1,020,712
22 Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath 992,507
23 Canterbury Cathedral 981,360
24 Houses of Parliament 918,289
25 Stonehenge (EH) 883,603
26 National Gallery Complex (Edinburgh) 842,958
27 Imperial War Museum (London) 833,893
28 Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley 814,220
29 National Railway Museum 810,381
30 World Museum Liverpool 787,767
31 York Minster 759,662
32 National Media Museum 745,857
33 St Fagans National History Museum (Wales) 621,913
34 National Museum of Scotland 614,894
35 Leeds Castle (TH) 578,072
36 Gallery of Modern Art (Glasgow Museums) 562,595
37 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard 559,228
38 Chatsworth (TH) 553,000
39 The Falkirk Wheel (British Waterways) 500,829
40 Hampton Court Palace (HRP) 492,891
41 National War Museum (Scotland) 474,133
42 ZSL Whipsnade Zoo 468,669
43 Blackpool Tower & Circus 464,426
44 Discovery Museum (Tyne & Wear) 462,868
45 Museum of Transport (Glasgow Museums) 456,324
46 Wakehurst Place (RBG/NT) 442,130
47 Stirling Castle (Historic Scotland) 403,778
48 Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool) 396,356
49 Imperial War Museum Duxford 382,581
50 Blenheim Palace (TH) 374,021
51 Royal Armouries (Leeds) 370,395
52 Stourhead (NT) 339,023
53 National Museum Cardiff 335,998
54 Waddesdon Manor (NT) 334,498
55 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal (NT) 328,551
56 Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens 313,138
57 Beaulieu (TH) 312,279
58 Dover Castle (EH) 293,676
59 Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms 288,592
60 Urquhart Castle (Historic Scotland) 270,097
61 Laing Art Gallery (Tyne & Wear Museums) 268,977
62 V&A Museum of Childhood 252,900
63 People's Palace (Glasgow Museums) 252,205
64 HMS Belfast 244,288
65 Larrybane (NT) 240,267
66 Imperial War Museum (North) 239,853
67 Scottish National Portrait Gallery 236,500
68 National Waterfront Museum (Wales) 228,779
69 Harewood House (TH) 226,067
70 Polesden Lacey (NT) 220,680
71 Osborne House (EH) 217,989
72 Royal Horticultural Society, Harlow Carr 217,050
73 Attingham Park (NT) 216,483
74 Tate St Ives 210,816
75 Burrell Collection (Glasgow Museums) 202,750
76 Belton House (NT) 199,548
77 St Michael's Mount (NT) 194,692
78 Sheffield Park (NT) 192,312
79 Anglesey Abbey (NT) 191,549
80 Penrhyn Castle (NT) 187,271
81 Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art 184,954
82 Nymans Garden (NT) 182,279
83 Pier Master's House (National Museums Liverpool) 181,829
84 Wallington Park (NT) 180,301
85 Cliveden (NT) 179,528
86 Sudbury Hall (NT) 177,556
87 Chartwell (NT) 173,764
88 Cragside Estate (NT) 173,757
89 Tintagel Castle (EH) 167,597
90 Big Pit (Wales) 165,121
91 Sissinghurst (NT) 164,120
92 Bodiam Castle (NT) 162,470
93 Kingston Lacy (NT) 161,654
94 Corfe Castle (NT) 161,446
95 South Shields Museum & Art Gallery(Tyne & Wear) 160,331
96 Ickworth (NT) 158,332
97 Lady Lever Art Gallery (NM Liverpool) 157,460
98 Culzean Castle & Country Park (National Trust for Scotland) 156,108
99 St Mungo Museum of Religious Art (Glasgow Museums) 152,352
100 Bodnant Garden (NT) 148,099
101 Claremont Landscape Garden (NT) 146,407
102 Locomotion (NM of Science & Industry) 142,544
103 Hardwick Hall (NT) 139,360
104 Mount Stewart (NT) 134,838
105 Mottisfont (NT) 134,740
106 Royal Horticultural Society, Rosemoor 133,140
107 Killerton (NT) 131,881
108 National Conservation Centre (NM Liverpool) 128,170
109 Hidcote Manor Garden (NT) 125,269
110 Calke Abbey (NT) 124,319
111 Dyrham Park (NT) 124,024
112 National Slate Museum (Wales) 122,936
113 1066 Battle of Hastings:Abbey & Battlefield (EH) 121,752
114 Natural History Museum at Tring 119,907
115 Royal Horticultural Society, Hyde Hall 118,975
116 Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire (EH) 118,217
117 Baddesley Clinton (NT) 118,116
118 Cotehele (NT) 118,057
119 Home Farm Wimpole (NT) 117,977
120 Dunham Massey (NT) 116,694
121 Clifford's Tower, York (EH) 114,243
122 Provands Lordship (Glasgow Museums) 113,183
123 Castle Drogo Estate (NT) 113,175
124 Trelissick (NT) 112,964
125 Brownsea Island (NT) 111,447
126 Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight (EH) 111,220
127 Dunster (NT) 110,439
128 Dean Gallery (National Galleries of Scotland) 109,509
129 Anderton Boat Lift (British Waterways) 108,995
130 Erddig (NT) 108,234
131 Montacute House (NT) 107,269
132 Kenwood House, London 105,690
133 Tyntesfield (NT) 100,991
134 Lanhydrock (NT) 97,055
135 Housesteads Roman Fort, Hadrian's Wall (EH) 96,925
136 Burghley House (TH) 86,247
137 Woburn Abbey (TH) 77,771
138 Royal Armouries (Fort Nelson, Portsmouth) 75,493
139 Arbeia Roman Fort (Tyne & Wear Museums) 69,023
140 Sudley House (National Museums Liverpool) 64,407
141 National Roman Legion Museum (Wales) 64,192
142 Scotland Street School Museum (Glasgow Museums) 61,419
143 Segedunum Roman Fort (Tyne & Wear Museums) 44,938
144 All Saints, Kedleston, Northants (CCT) 39,817
145 St Peter, Sudbury, Suffolk (CCT) 39,331
146 Holy Trinity, Goodramgate (CCT) 38,535
147 Shipley Art Gallery (Tyne & Wear Museums) 34,201
148 Stephenson Railway Museum (Tyne & Wear) 32,231
149 Monkwearmouth Station Museum (Tyne & Wear) 28,547
150 National Wool Museum (Wales) 24,344
151 St Leonard's, Bridgnorth Shropshire (CCT) 23,558
152 St Mary, Shrewsbury (CCT) 18,392
153 St John, Stamford Lincs (CCT) 17,973
154 Glasgow Museums Resource Centre 4,903
155 Martyr's School (Glasgow Museums) 2,484
156 Castle Howard (TH) 207

EH = English Heritage
RBG = Royal Botanic Gardens
TH = Treasure Houses for England
CCT = The Churches Conservation Trust
HRP = Historic Royal Palaces
NT = National Trust

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