For the second consecutive year, the British Museum has claimed the title of the UK’s most-visited attraction. The iconic London institution welcomed an impressive 6,479,952 visitors in 2024,

marking an 11% increase from the previous year.

Close behind was the Natural History Museum, also in London, which attracted 6,301,972 visitors — another 11% year-on-year boost. These figures come from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva), which reported a 3.4% overall rise in footfall across the UK’s top attractions compared to 2023.

Across the 400 sites monitored by Alva, total visits hit 157.2 million in 2024. While that’s a healthy recovery post-pandemic, it still trails pre-Covid numbers — 8.8% down from 2019’s 169.7 million.

Windsor Great Park was the most visited outdoor attraction, securing third place with 5,670,430 visits — a 3% increase.

Alva director Bernard Donoghue described the year as one of “steady but not significant growth,” pointing to the lingering effects of the pandemic, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and modest international tourism numbers. Despite these challenges, he noted that people continue to prioritise cultural outings and day trips.

In Scotland, Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland retained its crown as the country's most-visited site, drawing 2,314,974 people — up 6% — and climbing to 11th place UK-wide. The National Galleries Scotland: National saw a 9% jump in attendance (1,999,196), and Edinburgh Castle wasn't far behind with 1,981,152 visitors.

Titanic Belfast remained Northern Ireland’s leading attraction, pulling in 881,573 visitors (up 10%), while Cardiff’s St Fagans National Museum of History led the way in Wales with 600,690 visits.

Noteworthy surges across the UK included:

- The National Portrait Gallery, which reopened in mid-2023 after major renovations, saw a 36% rise in attendance (1,578,065).

- The Museum of Liverpool jumped 12 places to 41st, with 829,692 visits (up 19%).

- Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford gained 27%, reaching 509,703 visitors.

- The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge recorded a 25% increase, totalling 506,428 visits.

- The Young V&A, in its second year after reopening, saw a 47% surge, drawing 596,100 visitors and earning the title of Museum of the Year.

Even Buckingham Palace, open only during the summer, broke records with 646,832 visits — its best season since public tours began in 1993.

Meanwhile, the UK Parliament experienced a remarkable rebound with 560,317 visitors — a massive 196% increase, landing it at 67th place.

Top 20 UK Attractions of 2024:

British Museum – 6,479,952

Natural History Museum – 6,301,972

Windsor Great Park – 5,670,430

Tate Modern – 4,603,205

Southbank Centre – 3,734,075

V&A South Kensington – 3,525,700

National Gallery – 3,203,451

Somerset House – 3,074,736

Tower of London – 2,902,385

Science Museum – 2,827,242

National Museum of Scotland – 2,314,974

Kew Gardens – 2,273,976

Royal Museums Greenwich – 2,255,753

National Galleries Scotland: National – 1,999,196

Edinburgh Castle – 1,981,152

Royal Albert Hall – 1,753,371

Westminster Abbey – 1,717,296

National Portrait Gallery – 1,578,065

The Barbican Centre – 1,541,194

St Paul’s Cathedral – 1,493,184.

Photo by Eric Pouhier, Wikimedia commons.