Daily Visitors to DCMS Sponsored Museums and Galleries
These experimental statistics show the number of daily visits to DCMS sponsored museums and galleries. For final visitor figures, refer to the monthly report.
Documents
Details
- Last update: 13 November 2020
- Next update: TBC
- Geographic coverage: England
- Frequency of release: Paused during lockdown
Summary
For the period 2-4 November 2020, visits were at 19.3% of the daily average in November over the three previous years.
Museums and galleries closed on 5 November 2020 in compliance with national lockdown measures.
Eight of the DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries were open or partially open to visitors and able to supply data during the week commencing 2 November.
These were the National Museums Liverpool, the Wallace Collection, Imperial War Museums (with the exception of the HMS Belfast), the Science Museum Group, the Natural History Museum, the National Gallery, the V&A and the British Museum. Some venues are unable to supply data on a weekly basis, and others are occasionally unable to supply data in time for publication.
During the period covered by these statistics, some museums were not open every day. The average is adjusted for days that venues are closed, but not for shortened opening hours.
The level of footfall reported reflects a number of factors. These include:
- The restrictions on numbers necessary to allow for social distancing
- Limited opening hours adopted by some museums
- The phased reopening of most of the venues
- The importance of tourist visits. In 2018/19, overseas visitors represented 48% of total visits to DCMS-Sponsored museums.
Visitor numbers naturally fluctuate from day to day due to many factors, including the weather, day of the week, public holidays, and public transport/parking availability. The time series of weekly total visitors will give a better indication of the trend in visitor numbers.
Estimates only include venues as they reopened, with restrictions on visitor numbers; visitor counts fluctuated as those venues opened more fully, and as others began to open.
As museums began to reopen after lockdown, a number did so incrementally; for instance by opening a limited number of sites - or parts of a site - and/or by reducing opening hours or days.
About
This statistical series is paused during lockdown.
These experimental statistics have been developed by the DCMS statistics team, in partnership with the DCMS sponsored museums, to help monitor the effect of lifting the COVID-19 restrictions. They will be developed throughout the re-opening period in line with user feedback. To provide comments or suggestions for improvement, please email evidence@dcms.gov.uk.
Data collection methods vary between institutions, and each uses a method appropriate to its situation. All data is collected according to the .
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.
The UK Statistics Authority
This release is published in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics (2009) produced by the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA). The UKSA has the overall objective of promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good. It monitors and reports on all official statistics, and promotes good practice in this area.
Pre-release access
The contains a list of ministers and officials who have received privileged early access to this release of Museum and Gallery monthly visit 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 statistician: Rachel Moyce
For any queries please contact evidence@dcms.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
Last updated 13 November 2020 + show all updates
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New data added covering 2-4 November.
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Updated to include the latest figures (up to and including 1st November).
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Updated with latest fortnight of data (w/c 5th October, and w/c 12th October).
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Latest data, spanning the period 28 September - 4 October, uploaded.
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Uploaded latest data, covering the period 21 - 27 September.
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Upload of latest data from 14 - 20 September 2020.
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Uploaded new data for week from 7 - 13 September 2020.
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This is a weekly update to this publication.
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Uploaded new release of data covering 24th to 30th August 2020.
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Uploaded museum visitor figures for week commencing 17th August
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Uploaded museum visitor figures for week commencing 10th August
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Uploaded daily museum visitor figures for w/c 3rd August
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Uploaded daily museum visitor statistics for w/c 27th July 2020
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Uploaded the visitor figures for w/c 20 July
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First published.