Revealed: British Museum's visitor figures hit ten-year high

In 2024, the British Museum welcomed 6.5 million visitors, the highest since 2015, mainly due to increased international tourism and popular exhibits. Following a sharp decline during the pandemic year of 2020, visitor numbers have steadily risen, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by over 4%. Temporary exhibitions played a crucial role in attracting visitors. Conversely, while the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge recorded a remarkable attendance surge, other major UK museums, such as Tate Modern and the National Gallery, continue to struggle with lower visitor numbers, showing significant gaps compared to 2019.

The British Museum's visitor numbers soared to 6.5 million in 2024, the highest since 2015, largely due to a rise in international visitors and popular exhibitions.

Fitzwilliam Museum achieved record attendance with 506,000 visitors in 2024, a testament to its adventurous programming and efforts to diversify its audience.

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