Thanks to the ‘Royal Wedding effect’ Westminster Abbey has made it into the top ten most visited attractions in the UK.
Visitor numbers to the abbey have increased massively since the Royal wedding that was watched by billions of people around the globe.
The Abbey has seen a 36 per cent rise in visitor numbers since 2010, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva).
The 700-year-old building saw nearly 1.9 million people walk through its doors, wanting to see not only the place of the Royal Wedding but also the places many royals, poets and leaders are buried and the famous resting place of the Unknown Soldier.
The Abbey was ranked eighth in the top ten visitor attractions; the British Museum took the top spot with the National Gallery in second place.
The British Museum saw 5.84 million visitors last year, 0.01 per cent increase on last year.
The iconic Tower of London also saw an increase, up by 2.55 million on last year, whilst the national portrait gallery rose by 1.88 million.
Alva director Bernard Donoghue said: ‘The figures demonstrate that, for Brits who holidayed at home in record numbers last year, and for overseas visitors who came to the UK in record numbers last year, our iconic attractions are a ‘must see’ and a ‘must experience’.’
‘Even at a time of economic restraint, those attractions which have invested in refurbishment, new exhibitions, new marketing, new catering and retail products have seen a real return on investment and more money for the visitor economy.
‘Domestic visitors have prioritised visits to free attractions but not exclusively; they are mindful of getting value for money and experiencing great quality and they are finding plenty of examples of both.’
1. British Museum
2. National Gallery
3. Tate Modern
4. Natural History Museum
5. Science Museum
6. V&A
7. Tower of London
8. Westminster Abbey
9. National Portrait Gallery
10. St Paul’s Cathedral
