GovWire

Last update

7 December 2023

Geographic coverage

England

Frequency of release

Quarterly

Summary

Between July 2023 and September 2023, there were 12.5 million visits to DCMS sponsored museums and galleries. Visits remained 11.2% lower than the equivalent period pre-pandemic in 2019 when comparing museums open in both time periods. Visits have been increasing each year since the pandemic and are 24.4% higher than the equivalent period last year.

The following museums were closed during the time periods being compared and are excluded in calculations for those time periods: Museum of the Home (January 2018 to June 2021), National Portrait Gallery (June 2020 to June 2023), Young V&A (April 2020 to July 2023), V&A Blythe House (April 2020 onwards) and National Science and Media Museum (June 2023 onwards).

Some parts of the National Gallery, Science and Industry Museum (Science Museum Group) and National Railway Museum are partially closed for renovation works. The National Science and Media Museum (Science Museum Group) has been fully closed for major renovations since June 2023.

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.

Figures may be subject to revision. Any amendments will be published on this website in accordance with the Departments revision statement, available in our compliance statement.

Office for Statistics Regulation

Our statistical practice is regulated by the OSR. OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics 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 evidence@dcms.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk 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 statistician: Fahim Ali

For any queries please contact evidence@dcms.gov.uk.