LONDON, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Britain's top tourist attractions saw a 3.4 percent increase in visitor numbers in 2024 compared to 2023, according to figures released Friday by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA). ALVA represents some of the country's most iconic sites, including the British Museum, the National Gallery, and Canterbury Cathedral.

In total, the 400 ALVA member sites welcomed 157.2 million visitors in 2024. The top three most-visited attractions were the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, and Windsor Great Park.

Among the 400 sites, 193 reported receiving at least 38.7 million international visitors collectively.

Bernard Donoghue, CEO of ALVA, noted that in any normal year, about 52 percent of all overseas visitors to the United Kingdom (UK) come to London. "It is a brilliant testimony to the attractiveness of London around the world but also means that we need to share that benefit with the rest of the UK," he told Xinhua.

"We're looking forward to Chinese visitors coming back to the UK in pre-pandemic numbers, and we think that's probably to be by the end of next year," he said, adding that Chinese visitors are not only curious about places like Oxford and Cambridge, the Lake District, Bath, and Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, but also York, and Edinburgh, and Glasgow, and the Highlands, and other islands.

This year also marks significant cultural milestones. The 250th anniversary of English novelist Jane Austen is being celebrated with numerous events across Bristol, Bath, Winchester, and London. In addition, the National Gallery is commemorating its 200th anniversary, Donoghue noted.

Asia is London's fastest-growing visitor hub, with China's visits to London expected to grow 19 percent on 2023 levels by 2030, said Rose Wangen-Jones, Managing Director of Visit London. Enditem

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