Council-run museums in Leeds have welcomed more than a million visitors in a year, new figures show.
The city’s eight Leeds Museums and Galleries sites attracted a combined 1,046,372 people during 2025, marking a 16 per cent increase on the previous year and highlighting the continuing strength of Leeds’s cultural offer.
Statistics released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions show strong growth across the service, with Leeds City Museum among the standout performers. Visitor numbers there rose by 25 per cent, helped by the success of its Miffy exhibition, which drew 127,000 people. The exhibition celebrated the 70th birthday of the much-loved rabbit created by Dutch artist and illustrator Dick Bruna.
Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall also recorded a sharp rise in visitor numbers, with a 44 per cent increase following a strong public response to consultation on the site’s future. Opened in 1927, the museum is home to three replica Victorian streets as well as displays of childhood games and toys from across the ages.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture said:
“These incredible visitor numbers are a huge endorsement of our wonderful museums and galleries and the hard work, diligence and creativity of our curators, site teams and volunteers, who all contribute so much to creating such a fantastic experience for hundreds of thousands of people.
“It also speaks volumes about the boundless appetite people in Leeds and all over the world have for discovering more about history, culture and the arts as they come and explore our sites and world class collection.
“The council is very proud that our commitment to culture has enabled such a successful year for our museums and galleries and given so many people the chance to have fun, learn and be inspired.”
Alongside its success in attracting visitors in person, Leeds Museums and Galleries has also expanded its digital reach, with visits to its new website rising by 50 per cent.
Dr David Hopes, head of service for Leeds Museums and Galleries added:
“As well as thanking our staff and volunteers for their tireless work, I’d also like to thank the people of Leeds for continuing to visit their local museums and galleries.
“The extraordinary collections built by generations of local people are a precious resource and belong to every citizen. We deeply appreciate public support as we continue to invest in making our museums and galleries even better.”
Leeds Museums and Galleries, one of the largest services of its kind in the country, runs Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum, Temple Newsam House, Lotherton, Abbey House Museum, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds Industrial Museum and Leeds Discovery Centre.
For more information on Leeds Museums and Galleries, please visit www.museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk
