Natural History Museum most popular tourist attraction in 2025

Natural History Museum most popular tourist attraction in 2025

In 2025, the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London, emerged as the United Kingdom’s most visited tourist destination, surpassing all other museums and galleries with over 7.1 million visitors. This attendance represented a 13% increase compared to the previous year, marking the first time the institution claimed the top spot in the annual rankings. The iconic blue whale skeleton displayed in the museum’s Hintze Hall has played a significant role in drawing record crowds.

The British Museum, which had held the number one position for the two preceding years, was overtaken but still remained among the top five most popular attractions, alongside Windsor Great Park (The Crown Estate), Tate Modern, and the National Gallery. The British Museum is anticipated to experience renewed interest later in the year, with the scheduled display of the Bayeux Tapestry beginning in September. This upcoming exhibit is expected to attract considerable attention.

Bernard Donoghue OBE, director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva), highlighted that although the total visits to 409 member sites rose by 2% to 165 million in 2025, visitor numbers are yet to reach the pre-pandemic figure of 170 million from 2019. He emphasized the resilience of visitor attractions, noting that despite economic uncertainties and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, people continue to prioritize cultural and leisure experiences. Donoghue remarked, “Visitor attractions are the places that people prize most and provide the experiences that people, even in a cost-of-living crisis, are most loathe to give up.”

Dr Doug Gurr, the director of the Natural History Museum, expressed pride in the achievement, attributing the success to the museum’s commitment to delivering memorable experiences and high-quality exhibitions. He stated, “These exceptional results reflect our unwavering focus on delivering a fantastic day out for every visitor, as well as the dedication of our colleagues who work tirelessly to create unforgettable experiences and world-class exhibitions.” Beyond London, popular sites such as Edinburgh Castle, Royal Museums Greenwich, and the National Museum of Scotland also reported strong visitor numbers, while various special events and exhibitions contributed to growth at multiple other venues across the UK

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