Headline findings for the Participation Survey (April 2024 to March 2025)
Published 30 July 2025
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/participation-survey-2024-25-annual-publication/headline-findings-for-the-participation-survey-april-2024-to-march-2025
Background
This report summarises the key findings from the Participation Survey 2024/25 annual publication. More detail can be found in the main report.
During the period April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25), a representative sample of adults in England were asked about their engagement with DCMS and digital sectors in the last 12 months. Therefore, survey questions cover participation stretching from April 2023 to March 2025, depending on when the survey was completed.
Culture
Arts
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 91% of adults reported that they had engaged with the arts in the last 12 months, a small, but significant, decrease from 2023/24 (from 91.4% to 90.6%).
The most popular ways to physically engage were:
- Reading books, graphic novels or magazines (63%),
- Cinema screening of a film or movie (54%).
The most popular ways to digitally engage were:
- Watching a pre-recorded music or dance event (20%),
- Watching a live music or dance event as it was happening (16%),
- Watching a pre-recorded arts event, including theatre, visual arts or literature (9%).
Libraries
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 31% of adults engaged with libraries at least once in the last 12 months, a 1 percentage point increase from 2023/24 (30%).
Of those who engaged with libraries physically, the most popular ways to engage were:
- Borrowing, browsing or returning items (61%),
- Using free Wi-Fi, computer or printing facilities (26%),
- Taking a child to borrow, browse or return books (26%).
Of those who engaged with libraries digitally, the most popular ways to engage were:
- Reserving or renewing books or paying a fine (46%),
- Borrowing digital or online resources (46%),
- Searching online catalogues or dictionaries or making an enquiry (44%).
Archives
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 9% of adults engaged with archives or record offices at least once in the last 12 months.
Engagement with archives or record offices was collected for the first time in 2024/25, and it was the only cultural sector to have higher digital engagement (7%) than physical engagement (3%).
Heritage
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 67% of adults engaged with the heritage sector at least once in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (69%).
The most popular places to visit were:
- A park or garden open to the public with historic or artistic features (41%),
- A historic landscape or habitat (36%),
- A city or town visited specifically for its historic nature (36%).
The most popular way to digitally engage:
- Researching your local history online (14%),
- Engaging with digital content from heritage sites (9%).
Museums and Galleries
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 45% of adults engaged with museums or galleries at least once in the last 12 months, no significant change from 2023/24 (46%).
41% of adults visited a museum or gallery in person, whilst 14% of adults digitally engaged with museums or galleries. Of the activities listed, the most popular ways to digitally engage were:
- Engaged with multimedia content from museums in England (7%),
- Researched items from a museum or gallery collection in England online (7%).
Culture time series
Figure 1.1 shows that since 2021/22, when data collection began, there has been a general upward trend for overall engagement with DCMS sectors.
It also shows that, in 2024/25, overall engagement with the arts and heritage sector decreased compared to the previous year (2023/24), overall engagement with museums or galleries remained stable, while overall engagement with libraries increased.
Figure 1.1: Physical and digital engagement in the cultural sectors, England, 2021/22 - 2024/25
Key: ▲▼ represents significant changes from the previous year.
| 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts | |||||
| Overall | 88% | 90%▲ | 91% ▲ | 91% ▼ | |
| Physical | 87% | 89%▲ | 90%▲ | 90% ▼ | |
| Digital | 27% | 28%▲ | 36%▲ | 35%▼ | |
| Libraries | |||||
| Overall | 21% | 25%▲ | 30%▲ | 31% ▲ | |
| Physical | 15% | 19%▲ | 25% ▲ | 26%▲ | |
| Digital | 12% | 13%▲ | 14% ▲ | 16%▲ | |
| Archives | |||||
| Overall | N/A | N/A | N/A | 9% | |
| Physical | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3% | |
| Digital | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7% | |
| Heritage | |||||
| Overall | 65% | 69%▲ | 69% — | 67%▼ | |
| Physical | 63% | 67%▲ | 66%▼ | 65%▼ | |
| Digital | 16% | 18%▲ | 25%▲ | 24%▼ | |
| Museums or Galleries | |||||
| Overall | 27% | 35%▲ | 46%▲ | 45% — | |
| Physical | 24% | 33% ▲ | 43% ▲ | 41%▼ | |
| Digital | 9% | 9% — | 13% ▲ | 14% — |
“I’m not interested” and “no reason in particular” were the most common barriers reported to both physically and digitally engaging with the cultural sectors.
Live Sports & Gambling
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 30% of adults reported that they had watched live sports in person in the last 12 months.
Of those who watched live sports in person, the most popular sports to watch were:
- Men’s football (61%),
- Rugby (19%),
- Some other type of sport (18%),
- Cricket (18%).
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 75% of adults reported that they had watched live sports on TV in the last 12 months, a 2 percentage point increase from 2023/24 (73%).
Of those who watched live sports on TV, the most popular sports to watch were:
- Men’s football (56%),
- Tennis (31%),
- Athletics (27%).
Who placed bets on live sports and horse racing?
5% of adults placed a bet on a sporting event while attending in person. This compares to 10% of adults who placed a bet on a sporting event online.
7% of adults placed a bet on a horse racing event while attending in person. This compares to 10% of adults who placed a bet on a horse racing event online.
Domestic Tourism
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 3 in 5 adults (62%) took a holiday in England in the previous 12 months, a 2 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (64%).
Of those who took a holiday in England:
- 36% stayed 1 to 2 nights,
- 45% stayed 3 to 6 nights,
- 15% stayed 7 to 10 nights,
- 4% stayed more than 10 nights.
Major Events
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 17% of adults were aware of Bradford City of Culture 2025, a 7 percentage point increase from 2023/24 (10%).
Of those adults who were aware of Bradford City of Culture 2025, 21% of adults would be interested in participating in the event.
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 67% of adults were aware of the UEFA Champions League Final 2024.
Of those adults who were aware of the UEFA Champions League Final 2024, 30% of adults actually participated in the event.
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25): 37% of adults were aware of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
Of those adults who were aware of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, 24% of adults would be interested in participating in the event.
Digital
During April 2024 to March 2025 (2024/25):
92% of adults used the internet in England, no significant change from 2023/24 (93%).
0.3% of adults didn’t own either a smartphone, laptop, desktop PC, tablet, games console, smart printer or smart TV.
1%of adults didn’t own either a Wi-Fi router or internet hub, smartwatch, voice-activated smart speaker device, smart home security, smart energy device, smart kitchen appliance, smart toy or baby monitor or some other smart device for the home.
41% of adults reported that they have heard of and already used 5G, a 13 percentage point increase from 2023/24 (28%).
78% of adults reported that they understood what 5G is, no significant change from 2023/24 (79%).
27% of adults who use the internet in England had taken part in digital or online skills training in the previous 12 months, a 9 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (36%). However, it should be noted that the response options for this question changed which may account for the decrease.
44% of adults had provided personal information (such as a passport number) to verify their identity online, a 5 percentage point increase from 2023/24 (38%).
38% of adults had not verified their identity online in the last 12 months, a 5 percentage point decrease from 2023/24 (44%).
In general, adults in England were more comfortable with the public sector, government and businesses using data to make better decisions and deliver services, than the public sector, government and businesses using data to uncover patterns and trends.