The National Museum of Scotland maintained its place as the most popular attraction in Scotland, according to the latest figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) released this week.
While 10 out of the top 11 attractions were in London, led by the British Museum with 5,820,860 visitors in 2023, Scotland performed well with six of the ten most popular places outwith the British capital.
The total number of visits to ALVA sites in 2023 was 146.6million - a 19 per cent increase on the previous year, although down from the pre-pandemic record of 163.9 million visits in 2019. Meanwhile, indoor attractions saw a 23 per cent increase in visitors compared to just a 2 per cent increase in outdoor attractions.
Here are Scotland's 13 most visited attractions.
9. Glenfinnan Monument
Occupying a stunning spot on the banks of Loch Shiel, the Glenfinnan Monument is also close to the Glenfinnan Viaduct of Harry Potter fame. This helped it attract 540,853 visitors in 2023 - up 36 per cent from 2022. | Canva/Getty Images
10. Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle saw visitor numbers increase by 24 per cent in a single year to take it to 71st place on the UK list. | Canva/Getty Images
11. Gallery of Modern Art
Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art shot up 40 places to 70th in the UK with 510,936 visits in 2023. It was attributed to the huge success of Banksy's Cut and Run exhibition which ran for 10 weeks, selling out weeks in advance. Banksy said that the traffic cone-bedecked statue of the Duke of Wellington that stands outside the gallery is his favourite piece of public art. | Canva/Getty Images
12. The Burrell Collection
2023 was the first full year Glasgow's Burrell Collection had been open following an extensive refurbishment programme completed in 2022. The museum housing the art collection of Sir William Burrell and Constance, Lady Burrell, is located in Glasgow's Pollok Country Park and attracted three per cent more visitors in 2023 - up to 498,159, the 77th highest in the UK. | National World