Visitor Attractions Data

Each year Cumbria Tourism runs a visitor volume survey amongst visitor attractions across the county.

Looking back ten years, 44 attractions provided data in both 1999 and 2009. These attractions showed an decrease in visitor numbers over this period of time of -2.7%. Over the last 5 years (2005-2009) with a larger sample size of 72 attractions providing data in both years, there has been a 2.0% increase in visitor numbers. Even more positive is the 6.7% increase in visitor numbers to the 69 attractions that gave us figures in both 2008 and 2009. Between 2007-2008 there was almost no change in visitor numbers so this is a definite change in fortunes, and possibly partly a result of the economic climate which seems to have increased the appeal of day trips.

Cumbria - Top 20 Visitor Attractions 2009 (by visitor numbers)

1. Windermere Lake Cruises in South Lakeland with 1,313,807 visitors
   
   
2. Rheged in Eden with 439,568 visitors
   
   
3. Ullswater Steamers in Eden with 348,000 visitors
   
   
4. Whinlatter Forest Park & Visitor Centre in Allerdale with 252,762 visitors
   
   
5. Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle with 251,808 visitors
   
   
6. Grizedale Forest Park and Visitor Centre in South Lakeland with 175,033 visitors
   
   
7. Carlisle Cathedral in Carlisle with 166,141 visitors
   
   
8. Lake District Visitor Centre Brockhole in South Lakeland with 135,539 visitors
   
   
9. Hill Top (the home of Beatrix Potter) in South Lakeland with 103,682 visitors
   
   
10. Sizergh Castle in South Lakeland with 90,063 visitors
    
    
11. Cumberland Pencil Museum in Allerdale with 80,100 visitors
    
    
12. Muncaster in Copeland with 78,474 visitors
    
    
13. The Dock Museum in Barrow with 73,239 visitors
    
    
14. The Beacon in Copland with 71,602 visitors
    
    
15. Holker Hall and Gardens in South Lakeland with 58,060 visitors
    
    
16. Carlisle Castle in Carlisle with 56,957 visitors
    
    
17. Beatrix Potter Gallery in South Lakeland with 47,244 visitors
    
    
18. Trotters World of Animals in Allerdale with 45,559 visitors
    
    
19. Homes of Football in South Lakeland with 49,661 visitors
    
    
20. Cartmel Priory in South Lakeland with 43,672 visitors
    

Source: Cumbria Tourism - Visitor Attractions Monitor
(Please note this only includes visitor attractions who have provided data for 2009, and also gave permission for their figures to be published. Please note also that some visitor numbers may be estimated).