The latest figures from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) show improved attendances in September, with most museums reporting even better figures for October.
The Natural History Museum (NHM) had a very tough August with numbers down 136,000 on August 2004 to 292,000. But there were only 25,000 fewer visitors in September compared with the same month in 2004 and October was also a good month, although numbers were still 15 per cent below 2004.
An NHM spokeswoman said: 'Our catering income in August was badly affected, but has recovered each month to date. We hope that the recovery will mean we can hit our financial forecasts for this year.'
The National Gallery had 268,000 visitors in August, down 175,000 from August 2004. The gallery was particularly unfortunate as tube marketing activity for its paying Stubbs and the Horse exhibition was launched the same day as the 7 July bombings. October attendances of nearly 300,000 are almost 25,000 up on the previous month, although nowhere near the October 2004 figure of 425,000.
A National Gallery spokeswoman said: 'There will be a knock-on from the Stubbs attendance figures being down. However, we always make allowances for fluctuations in our visitor numbers when we are financially planning, so the gallery is in a very stable position.'
Alan Beard, the deputy director of Tate, said: 'While we were affected by the events in London in July, a strong exhibition programme has resulted in a steady increase in visitor figures at Tate Britain and Modern.'
Visitor figure changes
British Museum
August 2004: 490,457 / August 2005: 359,917
September 2004: 360,254 / September 2005: 320,651
National Gallery
August 2004: 443,000 / August 2005: 268,000
September 2004: 325,000 / September 2005: 276,839
Natural History Museum
August 2004: 427,512 / August 2005: 291,656
September 2004: 210,593 / September 2005: 186,187
Science Museum
August 2004: 267,589 / August 2005: 169,551
September 2004: 120,510 / September 2005: 111,200
Tate (Modern and Britain)
August 2004: 621,384 / August 2005: 404,272
September 2004: 392,866 / September 2005: 426,921
The Natural History Museum (NHM) had a very tough August with numbers down 136,000 on August 2004 to 292,000. But there were only 25,000 fewer visitors in September compared with the same month in 2004 and October was also a good month, although numbers were still 15 per cent below 2004.
An NHM spokeswoman said: 'Our catering income in August was badly affected, but has recovered each month to date. We hope that the recovery will mean we can hit our financial forecasts for this year.'
The National Gallery had 268,000 visitors in August, down 175,000 from August 2004. The gallery was particularly unfortunate as tube marketing activity for its paying Stubbs and the Horse exhibition was launched the same day as the 7 July bombings. October attendances of nearly 300,000 are almost 25,000 up on the previous month, although nowhere near the October 2004 figure of 425,000.
A National Gallery spokeswoman said: 'There will be a knock-on from the Stubbs attendance figures being down. However, we always make allowances for fluctuations in our visitor numbers when we are financially planning, so the gallery is in a very stable position.'
Alan Beard, the deputy director of Tate, said: 'While we were affected by the events in London in July, a strong exhibition programme has resulted in a steady increase in visitor figures at Tate Britain and Modern.'
Visitor figure changes
British Museum
August 2004: 490,457 / August 2005: 359,917
September 2004: 360,254 / September 2005: 320,651
National Gallery
August 2004: 443,000 / August 2005: 268,000
September 2004: 325,000 / September 2005: 276,839
Natural History Museum
August 2004: 427,512 / August 2005: 291,656
September 2004: 210,593 / September 2005: 186,187
Science Museum
August 2004: 267,589 / August 2005: 169,551
September 2004: 120,510 / September 2005: 111,200
Tate (Modern and Britain)
August 2004: 621,384 / August 2005: 404,272
September 2004: 392,866 / September 2005: 426,921
