A report commissioned by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council in 2006 found that there were 42 million visits to museums and galleries, 50% more than the number of people who annually visited the West End and Broadway theatres combined.
‘Museums a hub to UK economy’, Arts Industry, 12 January 2007

Despite free admission to national museums and galleries beginning in December 2001, admissions income rose from £19,176 to £21,738 between 1997-98 and 2005-06.
Museums and Galleries in Britain: economic, social and creative impacts, Travers, T, London School of Economic, 2006

Research by the Centre of Cultural Policy and Management at Northumbria University reported that, in 1988, 15% of the population of the North East claimed to have visited an art gallery or museum in the previous year, the lowest proportion nationally, with London being highest at 26%.  In 2002, 77% said that they would not feel out of place in a gallery, museum or theatre, with that figure rising to 94% in 2004.
‘Development on the Quayside’, Arts Professional, 14 February 2005

In 2004-05, visits to the British Museum, the National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the Victoria and Albert Museum totalled over 23 million. 
REALISE your right to art, Hayward Gallery, 2005

In 2004, it was approximated that 30 million people visited museums and galleries in London each year.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, there were an estimated 10,143,997 overseas visits out of 27,247,147 total visits to London’s 65 museums and art galleries.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, 794,042 people visited the Royal Academy of Arts.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, 4,618,632 people visited Tate Modern.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, 1,178,235 people visited Tate Britain.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, 4,607,311 people visited the British Museum.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, 4,130,793 people visited the National Gallery.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, 2,611,338 people visited the Victoria and Albert Museum.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, 1,484,331 people visited the National Portrait Gallery.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

Visits to the Victoria and Albert Museum grew by 33% in the first year after free entry was introduced (2001-02).
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

32% of Londoners surveyed in 2001 were likely to have seen an exhibition or collection of art, photography or sculpture, compared with 21% or less in other regions.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2001, people aged 65 and over accounted for the largest proportion of visits to galleries in London.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2001, it was estimated that people from south-east England accounted for 41% of gallery visits in London.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2001, Tate Modern was the most popular gallery in the world. Attendances in the first 12 months reached 5.25 million, more than twice the expected figure. Of these, 71% were from the UK and just over half of those were from the London area. Three quarters of the audience were on their first visit and half were younger than 35.
‘Tate Modern comes top of the popularity chart’, The Times, 12 May 2001

In its first year of opening, more than 70% of visitors to Tate Modern were from the UK and 37% were from the London region.
‘Tate Modern draws biggest crowds’, Financial Times, 12 May 2001