Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.8bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Museum attendance still lags following the end of the pandemic
- Museums have been slow to recover visitor numbers since the pandemic, when sites were temporarily closed. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which directly owns many national museums, including the British Museum, Science Museum and Natural History Museum, reported a collective 10.8% drop in annual visitor numbers in 2024-25 compared to 2019-20. This trend is also reflected in smaller local authority and independent museums. A survey by Arts Council England found that the annual visitor numbers of non-national museums were down 10% in 2023-24 compared to 2019-20. From 44,364 average visitors in 2019-20 to 30,198 in 2023-24. Additionally, three in four of the largest local authority museums and two-thirds of museums part of a local authority multi-site organisation have seen visits remain down compared to five years ago, according to the same survey.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Museums need to find new ways to boost revenue amid low attendance
- With UK museums facing stagnant visitor numbers, these organisations must find new ways to boost income. The easiest way to do this for ticketed museums is to raise ticket prices. The average entry fee has grown modestly from £5 in 2019-20 to £6.50 in 2023-24, according to a survey by Arts Council England. However, many regional museums compete with nearby national museums that offer free admission, which means increasing ticket prices can deter households from visiting, leading institutions to seek alternative income sources rather than risk deterring visitors with higher prices.
Biggest companies in the Museums in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (£m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
The National Trust | 321.8 | |
The Natural History Museum | 168.9 | |
The British Museum | 154.3 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including National Museums, Local Authority Museums and University Museums. National Museums is the largest segment of the Museums in the UK.
Trends and Insights
National Museums are world renowned
- National museums are funded and overseen directly by the central government of each devolved nation. They tend to be large institutions that house collections of national importance; as a result, substantial amounts of public funding are provided to support them. Entry to visit these museums' permanent collections is free, as public funds support them. Examples of these museums include the British Museum, Tate galleries and the National Museum of Scotland.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry operate museums of all kinds, including art museums, museums of natural history, science and technological museums, historical museums and open-air museums. Commercial art galleries aren’t included in the industry.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom include National Museums, Local Authority Museums, University Museums, Independent Museums, Historic properties and Other museums.Companies
Companies covered in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom include The National Trust, The Natural History Museum and The British Museum.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom include grant-in-aid, dcms, virtual reality (vr) and augmented reality (ar).Industry Code
SIC 91.02 - Museums in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Museum attendance is lagging. Public attendance at museums, especially regional sites, has failed to recover from the pandemic, forcing museums to find alternative revenue st...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Museums in the industry operate at different scales. National, local and independent museums are all popular. National museums dominate the industry as their reputation attra...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
London is a hive of culture. Some of the largest and most popular museums are located in the region. The city is rich in culture and attracts a high number of tourists, featu...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
The Museums industry has so much to offer. Establishments in the industry operate at different sizes and cover a range of topics. However, the biggest names tend to receive t...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The National Trust seeks to boost its position. The company poured £221.2 million into property projects and acquisitions in 2024-25 to enhance its attractions.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of The National Trust's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of The Natural History Museum's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of The British Museum's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for The National Trust, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for The Natural History Museum, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for The British Museum, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Sites are supported by government funding. Most museums receive some form of public funding. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport supports 15 museums and galleries in ...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The industry is mostly charitable. Most museums in the UK are registered charities, so profits are mostly reinvested into operations.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
- Assets (2019-2023)
- Liabilities (2019-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Museums industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
The market size of the Museums industry in the United Kingdom is £1.8bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 825 businesses in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Museums industry in the United Kingdom?
The Museums industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Museums industry in the United Kingdom?
The Museums industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Museums industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Museums industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 5.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Museums industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Museums industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom are The National Trust, The Natural History Museum and The British Museum
What does the Museums industry in the United Kingdom include?
National Museums and Local Authority Museums are part of the Museums industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom is The National Trust.
How competitive is the Museums industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Museums industry in the United Kingdom.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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