Where in the UK can you wander beneath a blue whale affectionately named Hope, gaze upon a glittering, cursed amethyst and amble past a taxidermied giant panda on a coffee break between fascinating exhibitions? Any guesses?
It’s the Natural History Museum, of course – the spectacular South Kensington museum many Londoners first encounter on school trips in their early years. Housing more than 80 million artefacts and specimens across countless galleries and myriad hidden vaults, no two visits to the museum are the same.
In fact, the Natural History Museum’s wonders attracted a record-breaking 7.1 million visitors in 2025 – making it the UK’s most-visited attraction. The visitor numbers represent an all-time record for any UK museum or gallery, and bump the British Museum off the top spot, according to figures released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA).
Natural History Museum director Dr Doug Gurr said, “We are thrilled to be the UK’s most popular visitor attraction, smashing all previous records for the sector! These exceptional results reflect our unwavering focus on delivering a fantastic day out for every visitor, as well as the dedication of our colleagues who work tirelessly to create unforgettable experiences and world-class exhibitions.
“We should all take heart from these figures. Welcoming 7.1 million visitors demonstrates the enormous public appetite to engage with the wonders of the natural world and UK cultural attractions. That’s why we are committed to creating more space to welcome visitors through our NHM150 campaign – opening a brand-new or revitalised permanent gallery every year until our 150th anniversary in 2031.”
The news marks just the beginning of an exciting year for the museum. In addition to the continuation of Our Story with David Attenborough, a captivating immersive look at the history of our planet, May sees the arrival of a new blockbuster exhibition, Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep. Making its European debut, the exhibition invites visitors to come face to face with some of the fiercest predators to ever live and embark on an electrifying adventure through ancient waters teeming with real-life sea monsters such as Ichthyosaurs, Plesiosaurs and Mosasaurs.
The most-visited attractions in the UK, with 2025 visitor numbers
1. Natural History Museum: 7,116,929
2. The British Museum: 6,440,120
3. The Crown Estate, Windsor Great Park: 4,978,299
4. Tate Modern: 4,514,266
5. National Gallery: 4,147,544
6. Southbank Centre (building only): 3,423,648
7. V&A South Kensington: 3,332,300
8. Somerset House: 2,895,010
9. Tower of London: 2,817,852
10. Science Museum: 2,640,417
