Annual visitor numbers for three London museums between 2007 and 2012

The bar chart illustrates the annual visitor numbers for the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the British Museum between 2007 and 2012. Units are measured in millions.

Overall, the National Gallery experienced a significant upward trend in attendance, while the Victoria and Albert Museum saw its visitor numbers fluctuate considerably over the six-year period. The British Museum also showed volatility but finished the period as the second most visited institution.

In 2007, the Victoria and Albert Museum was the most popular, with 13.5 million visitors, followed by the British Museum at 12.0 million and the National Gallery at 6.2 million. By 2008, the National Gallery’s figures rose to 7.8 million, whereas the British Museum’s attendance halved to 6.0 million. The Victoria and Albert Museum maintained its 13.5 million figure in 2008 before dropping sharply to 8.8 million in 2009.

By 2012, the National Gallery had become the most visited, reaching a peak of 15.8 million. The British Museum also recovered significantly, rising from a low of 6.0 million in 2009 to 14.0 million by 2012. Conversely, the Victoria and Albert Museum saw a more modest recovery, ending the period at 10.0 million visitors, which was lower than its initial 2007 levels.