What were Scotland's most-visited tourist attractions in 2022?

Scotland's museums, castles, gardens and galleries welcomed millions over the last two years.

National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Castle among most-visited tourist attractions in 2022 STV News

Scotland’s most visited tourist attractions in 2022 have been revealed.

Museums, castles, gardens and dozens of other venues welcomed a combined 16.2m visitors last year, according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva).

This is 128% up on the figure of 7.1 million in 2021, but still 24% down on the 2019 figure of 21.4 million due to the pandemic.

The National Museum of Scotland saw its figures nearly treble in visitors from 660,741 to 1,973,751 and topped the list of Scottish attractions.

Edinburgh Castle came in second on the list with a 218% increase in visitors from 423,866 to 1,346,188.

Edinburgh Castle came second on the list.iStock

It was followed by the Scottish National Gallery, which more than quadrupled (322%) its visitors from 302,929 to 1,277,230 – though it is one of a number of venues now operating at a lower capacity than in 2019.

The Burrell Collection made it to number nine on the list with 482,984 visitors, despite only reopening in March 2022 following extensive refurbishment.

Overall visits to all Alva attractions across the UK in 2022 increased by 69% compared with the previous year, partly due to coronavirus travel rules ending – but total visits remained 23% below the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Duncan Dornan, head of Glasgow Museums, said: “Like museums and galleries across the UK, it was a joy to reopen more venues and new exhibitions throughout 2022, and to see galleries busy again, with people enjoying a more relaxed, more traditional, and often impromptu visit to some of Glasgow’s most popular attractions. 

“One highlight was the much-anticipated reopening of The Burrell Collection in March, after major refurbishment. It has already attracted over 585,000 local and international visitors, which is a testament to the quality of the collection, creatively redisplayed in a magnificent, modern, greener museum that offers something for everyone. 

“Glasgow’s different faith groups and visitors also welcomed the reopening of the UK’s only public museum dedicated to religious life and art, St Mungo Museum, in September. 

“As a charity working for the benefit of Glasgow, and knowing the huge difference accessing culture can make to our overall wellbeing, it is encouraging to record over three million visits at Glasgow Life Museums in 2022.

“And to discover from a recent visitor survey, that for citizens a visit creates a real sense of connection to their home city and is a major draw for tourists planning a trip to Glasgow.”

Exhibit at the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition, at National Museum Of Scotland in Edinburgh.
VENUETOTAL VISITS 2022TOTAL VISITS 2021ANNUAL CHANGE
National Museum of Scotland1,973,751  660,741 199%
Edinburgh Castle1,346,168  423,866 218%
Scottish National Gallery1,277,230  302,929 322%
Riverside Museum1,173,242  312,386 276%
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh996,597  647,812 54%
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum891,114  288,212 209%
National War Museum, Edinburgh699,178  277,359 152%
Edinburgh Zoo601,285  632,132 -5%
The Burrell Collection482,984  –   
Stirling Castle418,180  148,581 181%
Glenfinnan Monument398,130  292,981 36%
Urquhart Castle357,154  107,073 234%
Glencoe Visitor Centre344,896  129,829 166%
Gallery of Modern Art318,620  75,758 321%
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art303,678  152,086 100%
Palace of Holyroodhouse301,478  100,708 199%
V&A Dundee278,426  149,763 86%
Newhailes272,737  65,470 317%
Glasgow Cathedral256,001  33,788 658%
Scottish National Portrait Gallery222,977  82,416 171%
Culzean Castle & Country Park209,002  228,911 -9%
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum182,196  141,805 28%
Highland Wildlife Park152,048  148,810 2%
Culloden Visitor Centre149,003  57,778 158%
Crathes Castle148,174  138,099 7%
People’s Palace146,389  3,245 4411%
National Museum of Rural Life99,795  56,479 77%
St Abb’s Head92,898  58,862 58%
Skara Brae90,234  38,032 137%
Pollok House86,829  8,774  
Fyvie Castle69,513  61,775 13%
Corrieshalloch Gorge65,279  70,591 -8%
Brodick Castle & Country Park63,255  47,394 33%
National Museum of Flight61,962  53,148 17%
Balmacara Estate & Lochalsh Woodland Garden58,227  50,876 14%
Blackness Castle58,168  12,663 359%
Fort George57,390  35,427 62%
Brodie Castle55,690  52,788 5%
Doune Castle55,484  3,171 1650%
Iona Abbey55,256  14,167 290%
Ben Lomond54,649  49,550 10%
Grey Mare’s Tail54,453  43,478 25%
Inverewe Gardens53,517  42,104 27%
Pitmedden Garden & Museum of Farm Life51,554  47,275 9%
Mar Lodge Estate51,293  64,479 -20%
Threave Garden50,706  81,981 -38%
Falkland Palace44,585  21,537 107%
Castle Fraser42,331  47,874 -12%
Drum Castle42,179  38,399 10%
Gladstone’s Land41,049  11,423 259%
Staffa National Nature Reserve40,413  17,792 127%
Tantallon Castle40,202  13,342 201%
Dawyck Botanic Garden39,672  33,943 17%
Melrose Abbey38,009  17,924 112%
Hermitage36,938  –   
Hill House33,740  22,293 51%
Benmore Botanic Garden33,483  30,424 10%
House of Dun31,611  22,647 40%
Dunfermline Abbey29,408  6,634 343%
Craigievar Castle29,222  13,181 122%
Craigmillar Castle28,958  11,876 144%
Logan Botanic Garden27,663  31,789 -13%
Bannockburn Heritage Centre27,512  13,994 97%
The St Mungo Museum of Religious Life And Art27,095  –   
Iona  26,982  6,157 338%
Leith Hall26,337  17,979 46%
Goatfell23,760  59,950 -60%
Elgin Cathedral22,627  5,377 321%
Greenbank Garden21,937  18,210 20%
Culross Palace21,894  10,733 104%
Ben Lawers Visitor Centre20,971  35,812 -41%
Barry Mill20,462  7,561 171%
Dunstaffnage Castle20,188  4,842 317%
Georgian House18,483  7,626 142%
Tenement House18,172  4,276 325%
Branklyn Garden17,318  17,487 -1%
Killiecrankie Visitor Centre15,946  –   
Haddo House14,650  6,160 138%
Geilston Garden12,970  13,360 -3%
Crarae Garden12,024  –   
Kellie Castle11,670  9,621 21%
Broughton House & Garden11,140  3,950 182%
Kintail Estate10,039  12,186 -18%
WWT Caerlaverock9,021  7,865 15%
Abertarff House7,296  671 987%
Canna6,205  1,352 359%
Alloa Tower5,965  4,574 30%
Hill of Tarvit5,642  2,742 106%
St Kilda5,614  4,432 27%
Holmwood House4,586  1,577 191%
Glasgow Museums Resource Centre3,859  –   
Hugh Miller’s Cottage3,842  394 875%
Malleny Garden3,187  5,030 -37%
Preston Mill & Phantassie Doocot2,793  1,835 52%
Inveresk Lodge Garden2,291  6,004 -62%
Barrie’s Birthplace1,747  1,257 39%
Robert Smail’s Printing Works1,337  727 84%

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