Press room

• The Barbican has risen five spots in ALVA’s 2024 rankings placing it in the top 5% of the UK’s 400 leading visitor attractions
   
• With almost 30,000 visitors a week, the multi-arts centre is now the City of London’s most visited cultural destination
   
• The Barbican is undergoing a major transformation to ensure it is restored, revitalised and relevant for future generations
   

The Barbican Centre has risen five places in the latest Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) rankings, moving from 24th to 19th, after welcoming more than 1.54 million visitors in 2024. 

It is now the most-visited attraction in the City of London, overtaking St Paul’s Cathedral, and places it within the top 5% of the country’s 400 leading cultural destinations.

With a 17% year-on-year increase, the Barbican recorded the joint-highest growth (alongside the Southbank Centre) among large UK attractions, i.e. those with over one million annual visitors (excluding the newly reopened National Portrait Gallery). 

David Farnsworth, Interim CEO of the Barbican Centre said: “This jump in visitor numbers is incredibly heartening and underscores the vital role of the arts in society. At a time when people are looking for connection, inspiration, and fresh perspectives on the world around them, it’s spaces like the Barbican, that provide opportunities for joy, exploration and creativity.

“As we embark on the most transformative period in our history, this news reaffirms our ambition to create an even more dynamic, relevant, and inclusive arts centre for generations to come.”

The Barbican’s growing visitor numbers reflect a wider increase in cultural engagement, reinforcing the power of the arts in bringing people together, sparking dialogue, and shedding light on the complexities of the world. 

ALVA’s 2024 figures show an overall rise in visits to cultural institutions, showing that, despite economic and societal challenges, people continue to prioritise meaningful cultural experiences. 

David adds; “Whilst all these numbers are encouraging, the arts and culture sector faces significant ongoing challenges. As a cultural leader, the Barbican has a responsibility to support our wider creative ecosystem and we will do this by continuing to collaborate, push boundaries, provide opportunities for artists everywhere and give our audiences joyful experiences every time they visit.”

In December 2024, the City of London Corporation, the Barbican’s founder and principal funder announced £191 million towards the first five-year phase of the Barbican Renewal programme. 

The City contribution represents around 80% of the amount needed for the full five-year plan, and a major fundraising campaign will be launched in 2025 to support the complete restoration and refurbishment of key public spaces, including the foyers, lakeside and conservatory. 

Subject to planning permission, construction will begin in 2027 with this first phase complete in time for the Barbican’s 50th anniversary in 2032.