World Museum rated number one free visitor attraction in the North West

World Museum in Liverpool has been announced as the number one spot for the ’20 Most Visited Free Attractions in the Northwest’ in Visit England’s Annual 2023 Trends Report Survey.  

Established in 1851, World Museum boasts an impressive and diverse array of collections and objects from around the world which includes an Ancient Egypt gallery, Aquarium, Bug House, Planetarium and World Cultures Gallery. World Museum’s researchers and curators are experts on a range of areas, from Egyptology to Botany to Geology. 

Visitors can experience the wonders of life and the universe across the museum’s six floors, revealing millions of years’ worth of history, culture and science through immersive, thoughtful and dynamic collections. Also currently on display is the impressive exhibition Bees: A Story of Survival, running until May 2025. 

The Annual Trends report by Visit England provides an overview of the visitor attraction sector using results from a mix of online and postal surveys.  

Report highlights include attractions in England reporting an 11% increase in the volume of total visits from 2022 to 2023 (however this is still  28% below 2019 levels). And Museums/Art Galleries and Places of Worship receiving the highest increase in visits year on year (20%) and (19%) respectively. 

This year, all three of the top attractions listed are operated by National Museums Liverpool (NML), with the Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool taking second and third place. In addition, NML’s International Slavery Museum, Walker Art Gallery and Lady Lever Art Gallery also placed in the top 20 attractions list.  

Laura Pye, Director of National Museums Liverpool said:

“We are immensely proud that World Museum has been recognised as the number one free attraction in the North West in Visit Britain’s Annual 2023 Trends Report. This, alongside the inclusion of several other National Museums Liverpool sites in the top 20, underscores the exceptional dedication of our team and the vibrant cultural offerings we provide. Our museums are committed to making culture accessible to all, and this recognition is a testament to the memorable experiences we strive to deliver to our visitors every day.” 

Lord Hall, Chair of Liverpool City Region Visitor Economy said: “We are thrilled to see so many of National Museum Liverpool’s venues recognised in Visit Britain’s Annual 2023 Trends Report. This recognition is a testament to NML’s outstanding contribution to our cultural landscape and its pivotal role in attracting visitors to the Liverpool City Region. We are proud of this achievement and look forward to welcoming even more visitors to experience the rich heritage and dynamic offerings of our city” 

National Museum’s Liverpool recently unveiled their new programme for Autumn/Winter 2024 which includes a celebration of LGBTQ+ icon and music legend Holly Johnson, a bedazzling 1920s garment exhibition and an incredible collection of work by Black British women and non-binary artists.  

The full programme of activity for National Museums Liverpool can be seen on the website HERE.

Look back at the history of Liverpool’s oldest gallery, World Museum in a recent feature we published HERE.