As the country recovers from the pandemic, more and more people are getting out and about, visiting some of the country’s most loved tourist attractions, according to new data – and the North West is no exception.
As part of English Tourism Week 2023, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions has released the latest visitor figures from their members, which includes museums, galleries, country parks, heritage sites and more from all over the country. ALVA reports that visitor numbers across these sites have increased by an average of 118% in 2022.
ALVA have also highlighted that, amid the cost of living crisis, free attractions in particular have seen a significant increase in visitors.
In the North West, Liverpool’s World Museum proved most popular, welcoming 670,000 visitors in 2022, while Dunham Massey was the most visited in the Greater Manchester area with 525,000 recorded visitors last year. The most visited attraction in the country, however, was Windsor Great Park, in Berkshire, which welcomed 5.6million visitors last year.
If you’re looking for something fun to do on your next day off or during the school holidays, here’s a round up of some of the most visited attractions within an hour’s drive of Manchester.
1. Science and Industry Museum
Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry is among the most visited tourist attractions in the North West, according to ALVA. Credit: The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
2.
The RHS Garden Bridgewater, located in Worsley, Salford, is the fifth largest RHS site in the country. The 154-acre garden was 1st Earl of Ellesmere between 1840 and 1845. RHS members have free access to the garden. You must book your visit in advance, it costs £12.35 for adults and £5.95 for children. Credit: RHS Photo: RHS Garden Bridgewater
3. Museum of Science and Industry
The Science and Industry Museum is a largely interactive museum that focuses on scientific, technological and industrial history, of which Manchester is particularly famous for. Entry is free and there is no need to book in advance. (Credit: Sofia Fedeczko)
4. Imperial War Museum North
The Imperial War Museum North is located at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The newest addition to the museum is the cascading Poppies sculpture by ceramic artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper. Entry is free but booking is recommended. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images