Number of visitors to the Natural History Museum in London, England 2011-2022

Attendance to the Natural History Museum in London, England, rose significantly in 2021/2022 compared to the previous fiscal year, after shrinking with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the sharp annual increase, the number of visitors to the renowned institution still lagged behind pre-pandemic levels, totaling nearly 2.5 million between April 2021 and March 2022.

What are the most visited free and paid attractions in London?

The Natural History Museum is among the institutions and museum groups funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Like many other museums in England does not charge for admission to its permanent collection. In 2020, the Natural History Museum was the second most visited free attraction in London, just behind the Tate Modern. Meanwhile, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Kew Gardens topped the list of the most visited paid attractions in London that year.

Impact of COVID-19 on attendance to DCMS sponsored museums

As for the Natural History Museum, other institutions funded by the DCMS experienced a sharp drop in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, the Tate Gallery Group – which reported the highest number of visitors among all government funded museums in England – recorded less than 600 thousand visits in 2020/2021, experiencing a 93 percent annual drop in attendance. Overall, the total number of visitors to DCMS sponsored museums added up to 2.6 million between April 2020 and March 2021.