For anyone still clinging to the idea that museums are dusty, dated spaces reserved for school trips and rainy afternoons, Leeds has just delivered a very clear answer.
Think again.
Because while so much of modern life is spent scrolling, swiping and staring at screens, more than one million people chose instead to step through the doors of the city’s museums and galleries last year – and that says something worth paying attention to.
New figures show the eight sites run by Leeds Museums and Galleries welcomed a remarkable 1,046,372 visitors in 2025 – a strong 16 per cent rise on the year before.
That is not just an impressive statistic.
It is a powerful reminder that when culture is made accessible, relevant and enjoyable, people show up for it in their thousands.
And in Leeds, they clearly did.
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.”
One of the biggest success stories came from Leeds City Museum, where the hugely popular Miffy exhibition drew an astonishing 127,000 visitors, helping drive a 25 per cent increase in footfall.
For a small white rabbit with a famously simple expression, Miffy turned out to be one of the city’s most unlikely cultural heavyweights.
But Leeds’s standout year was never just about one exhibition.
Abbey House Museum also saw visitor numbers soar by 44 per cent, following a passionate public conversation about the site’s future – proof that local people do not simply enjoy these spaces, they value them deeply.
And that matters.
Because museums are never just about objects in glass cases.
They are about memory. Identity. Belonging.
They are where children discover something new, where families spend time together, where older generations reconnect with the past, and where cities preserve the stories that shaped them.
Abbey House, with its much-loved Victorian streets and displays of childhood toys and games, is a perfect example. It is the kind of place that quietly reminds people why local heritage still matters – not as nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake, but as a living part of the city’s story.
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 operates eight sites across the city: Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum, Temple Newsam House, Lotherton Hall, Abbey House Museum, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds Industrial Museum and Leeds Discovery Centre.
For more information on current exhibitions, family days out and upcoming events, visit Leeds Museums and Galleries online: museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk.
