The British Museum remained the most-visited attraction in the UK for the second consecutive year, based on official statistics.
In 2024 the museum welcomed 6,479,952 visitors, marking an 11% rise compared to 2023.
Similarly, the Natural History Museum in London experienced an 11% increase in visitors, reaching 6,301,972 and securing the second spot on the list, as per BBC.
As per the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva), the UK’s top tourist spots saw a 3.4% rise in visitors compared to the previous year.
Windsor Great Park, which is part of the Crown Estate was the most popular outdoor attraction in the UK, attracting 5,670,430 visitors in the past year.
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This was a 3% increase from the previous year, making it the third most-visited attraction overall.
Bernard Donoghue, the director of Alva, described 2024 as a year of "steady but not significant growth."
He attributed this to the ongoing economic recovery from the Covid lockdowns, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and a modest number of international tourists visiting the UK.
Bernard further elaborated, “The recovery of visitor attractions and the broader cultural and heritage economies remains fragile but visitors have shown that in their leisure spending they still prioritise day trips to loved attractions."
The top 20 UK visitor attractions 2024
1. British Museum
2. Natural History Museum
3. Windsor Great Park
4. Tate Modern
5. Southbank Centre
6. V&A South Kensington
7. National Gallery
8. Somerset House
9. Tower of London
10. Science Museum
11. National Museum of Scotland
12. Kew Gardens
13. Royal Museums Greenwich
14. National Galleries Scotland: National
15. Edinburgh Castle
16. Royal Albert Hall
17. Westminster Abbey
18. National Portrait Gallery
19. The Barbican Centre
20. St Paul's Cathedral
