Number of visitors to the British Museum in London, England 2011-2023

Attendance to the British Museum in London, England, rose significantly in 2022/2023 over the previous fiscal year, after falling dramatically with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the sharp annual increase, the number of visitors to the renowned cultural institution remained below pre-pandemic levels, totaling roughly 4.5 million between April 2022 and March 2023. 

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overseas museum visitors

The lockdown measures in combination with the international travel restrictions adopted during the health crisis caused the number of overseas visitors to the British Museum to fall to just around three thousand in 2020/2021. While this figure bounced back to over two million between April 2022 and March 2023, visits by overseas travelers remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels. Overall, the total number of overseas visitors to DCMS-sponsored museums in England was still over 50 percent below pre-pandemic figures in 2022/2023.

How is the British museum funded?

As a government-sponsored museum, the British Museum receives funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), allowing free general admission to the museum’s permanent collection for all. Meanwhile, the institution also generates income through a series of channels, such as admissions to temporary shows, retail sales, and donations. In 2022/2023, the income from admissions to the British Museum exceeded three million British pounds, while the income through fundraising or charitable giving surpassed 30 million British pounds.