Museums and galleries monthly visits
Monthly provisional statistics on the number of visits to the DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries are published here every quarter.
Last update
3 September 2026
Geographic coverage
England
Frequency of release
Quarterly
Summary
Between April and June 2026, there were approximately 11.5 million visits to DCMS sponsored museums and galleries. Overall visits were 0.7% higher than the equivalent period in 2025, when comparing museums open in both time periods. Overall visits were 11.8% lower than the equivalent pre-pandemic period in 2019, when comparing museums open in both time periods.
Between 2021 and the end of 2023/24 financial year, visitor numbers to sponsored museums and galleries generally increased steadily following the sharp decline to zero visitors during the pandemic. Since 2023/24, recovery appears to have broadly stabilised below pre-pandemic levels, with some variation between years. Within each year, we continue to see seasonal variation.
The following museums were closed during either April to June 2025 and/or April to June 2026, and are excluded in calculations for previous year comparisons: Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Piermaster’s House, Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building, Hartley Hut (National Museums Liverpool); Tate Liverpool; V&A Blythe House; V&A East Storehouse; V&A East Museum.
The following museums were closed during either April to June 2019 and/or April to June 2026, and are excluded in calculations for pre-pandemic comparisons: Museum of the Home; Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Piermaster’s House, Hartley Hut (National Museums Liverpool); SMG Science and Innovation Park; Tate Liverpool; V&A Blythe House; V&A East Storehouse; V&A East Museum.
Some parts of the Horniman Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich, Tate Britain and V&A South Kensington were partially closed during April to June 2026/27.
Coverage
This release provides monthly absolute visitor totals for the individual museums and galleries sponsored by DCMS. The release for April to June 2026 includes individual site breakdowns for National Museums Liverpool, which were previously reported as a single group total. This ensures our reporting approach across all DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries is consistent.
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 Department’s 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 statisticians: Victoria Maders and Sam Alder
For any queries please contact evidence@dcms.gov.uk.