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The Natural History Museum celebrates its best-ever year welcoming more than 5.6 million visitors throughout 2023 - more than any other previous year
The Natural History Museum reports an impressive 22% increase on 2022 numbers, making it the second most visited UK attraction in 2023, according to The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA).
The Museum celebrates its best-ever year with a total of 5,688,786 visits to the Museum at South Kensington in 2023
August 2023 was our best-ever month for visits, with five other best-ever months reported in May, June, July, November and December, topping all previous years
345,000 visitors bought tickets to Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur where they experienced Patagotitan mayorum – the world’s most complete, gigantic dinosaur
Monday 18 March — The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) today released its members visitor figures for the year 2023, revealing that the Museum achieved a 22% increase in attendance with 5,688,786 visits last year, making it the second most visited attraction in the UK.
Museum Director Dr Doug Gurr said, "We are thrilled to have welcomed over 5.6 million visitors in 2023 – far surpassing our previous best ever year. We’re on a mission to engage as many people as possible to stand up for nature and become advocates for the planet. Thank you to all our colleagues for their hard work and passion."
As well as being a world-famous visitor attraction, we are a leading science research centre with over 370 scientists who carry out research into the biggest issues facing our planet, like biodiversity loss and food security. This research is used to inspire visitors to protect the planet through our highly popular exhibitions, events and activities.
From March 2023 to January 2024, 345,000 visitors were awe-struck by the 2.67 tonne cast of Patagotitan mayorum, the largest most complete dinosaur ever discovered, at the five-star reviewed Titanosaur: Life as the biggest dinosaur, making it our second most popular paid exhibition, and the most popular in 20 years. Titanosaur will continue to engage and inspire on a global scale as it embarks on a tour of Asia this summer.
148,000 people shared in the wonders of the natural world at Wildlife Photographer of the Year, bearing witness to evidence of human impact on nature – both positive and negative. As part of our arts programme, 260,000 visitors explored the Polar Silk Road and the threats of an Arctic trade route at a pivotal moment in its history. Meanwhile the Museum at Tring, which houses our world-leading ornithology collection and public galleries, welcomed 157,894 visitors making 2023 its second-best year.
As well as welcoming visitors through the door, we also recorded 18.8M visits to our website, and on social media there were 4M engagements with our content. Whether planning a visit, browsing our online shop, taking a virtual tour, tuning into our podcast or getting stuck into an interview with our scientists, you can enjoy the natural world through us any time you want to.
Visit Highlights for 2024
Exhibitions and activities:
Tickets are now on sale to visit our upcoming exhibition, Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre which opens May 24 in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
Stay tuned for exciting updates on the Urban Nature Project, the transformation of our gardens into a welcoming, accessible and biologically diverse green space in the heart of London
A brand-new art installation still to be announced takes centre stage in the Jerwood gallery
Exciting announcements to follow as part of the Fixing Our Broken Planet programme as we strive for a future where people and planet thrive
Our flagship offering Wildlife Photographer of the Year returns for its sixtieth awards ceremony in October 2024 accompanied by the much-loved exhibition which displays the most captivating one hundred images as selected by our expert panel of judges
Visitor Events:
The Museum’s sell-out visitor events are running throughout the year, including the perennially popular Dino Snores for Kids, Yoga at the Natural History Museum, Adventure Babies, Silent Disco and Secrets of the Natural History Museum Tour
Dawnosaurs: Relaxed Morning Visits are in full swing offering neurodivergent children (including autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, OCD and other sensory processing difficulties) the chance to enjoy the Museum with their family, free from the hustle and bustle of the general public.
ENDS
Natural History Media contact: Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151
Email: press@nhm.ac.uk
About the Natural History Museum:
The Natural History Museum is a world-leading science centre and one of the most visited attractions in the UK. A global source of curiosity, inspiration and joy. Our vision is to build a future in which both people and the planet thrive. We aim to be a catalyst for change, engaging advocates for the planet in everything that we do. Our 350 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency in all aspects of life. Visit, join and support the Natural History Museum today. Protecting the planet. It's in our nature.