Participation, Visits and Membership

The Participation Survey (DCMS)

According to the Participation Survey, 63% of adults visited a heritage site in 2021/22, and more adults visited historic buildings than attended sporting events or theatre performances.

• 32% of adults visited a historic building open to the public (non-religious) compared to 21% who attended live sporting events or 28% who attended a play, drama, musical, pantomime, ballet, or opera. This is similar to the percentage of adults who have attended a live music event (32%) between July and September 2022. 
• COVID-19 was the most common reason adults did not visit heritage sites in 2021/22.

Types of sites visitors engaged with

People engage with all different heritage sites

Figure PAR 6.1 – An infographic outlining the types of heritage with the biggest percentage of visitors in 2021/22. Source: DCMS Participation Survey, 2021/22.

Barriers to heritage participation, 2021/22

At the time, COVID-19 remained the biggest barrier to visiting heritage

Figure PAR 6.2 – An infographic outlining the 4 biggest reasons (by percentage) for not visiting heritage sites in 2021/22. Source: DCMS Participation Survey, 2021/22.

Engagement with heritage varies by socio-demographic characteristics  

• 73% of respondents living in the least deprived areas according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) had engaged with heritage in the last year, compared to 48% of those living in the most deprived areas
• 65% of respondents who identified as White had visited a heritage site in the last 12 months compared to 45% of respondents identifying as Black/African/Caribbean/Black British

The Taking Part Survey that preceded the Participation Survey showed a changing heritage participation gap by disability, ethnicity and socio-economic characteristics, with:

• 64% of people with limiting illness or disabilities engaging with heritage in 2005/06 compared to 71% in 2019/20
• 51% of adults from Black and Ethnic Minority groups engaging with heritage in 2005/06 compared to 57% in 2019/20
• 57% of adults from lower socioeconomic groups engaging with heritage in 2005/06 compared to 61% in 2019/20

Although the results of the Participation Survey cannot be directly compared with those of Taking Part, the Heritage Indicators will continue to monitor the results of the sector’s efforts to engage a wider audience.

Adult participation with heritage by IMD, age and ethnicity, 2021/2

Engagement with heritage can vary as socio-demographic characteristics vary

Figure PAR 6.3 – 3 bar graphs highlighting the percentage of people attending heritage sites by different demographics. Use the dropdown menu or left/right arrows to access each graph. Note: Only the range from 35% to 100% is shown to aid visibility. Source: DCMS Participation Survey, 2021/22.

Annual Visitor Attractions Survey

In 2021, 660 sites responded to the survey, reporting a total of 45.5 million visits. 

Visits by attraction type, 1989 to 2020

Overall, visits have dropped by 11% due to the pandemic

Figure PAR 6.4a – A tornado graph showing the losses and gains that different attraction types have had between 1989 to 2020. Source: Visit England.

Figure PAR 6.4b – A map showing regional losses and gains since 1989. Click the legend to filter for ranges. Source: Visit England.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on visits to historic attractions

• In 2019, the number of visits to historic attractions peaked: a 56% increase since 1989
• In 2020, visitor numbers fell dramatically, with 38% fewer visits compared to the 1989 survey start year. These results evidenced the impact of the pandemic and public health measures
• In 2021, there is evidence of recovery, with the number of visits now only 11% below 1989 levels. This represents a significant increase over 2020 but is still well below 2019 peak visitor numbers. Historic visitor attractions are yet (as of 2021 figures) to recover from the pandemic
• Visits to gardens are an exception as visitor numbers remain 124% higher than the 1989 baseline, but visits are still yet to meet their 2019 figures
• Visitor attractions in the 'places of worship' category are the only category of historic attractions that experienced declining visitor numbers over the past 3 decades compared to their 1989 baseline. They were also severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, reporting a significant drop in 2020 with only some recovery in 2021 (63% fewer visits than the 1989 baseline)

Regionally, the post-pandemic recovery shows an uneven pattern:  

• In 2020, all regions experienced a sharp decline in visitor numbers, with the North West falling below the 2000 baseline  
• While no region surpassed 2019 visitor numbers in 2021, there was an overall recovery compared to 2020
• 6 out of 9 regions recorded higher visitor numbers in 2021 than the 2000 baseline

Membership of national historic environment organisations

Between 2001 and 2020, membership to large historic environment organisations grew consistently before falling significantly as the COVID-19 pandemic and public health restrictions affected the public’s ability and readiness to take part in heritage. With restrictions lifted, membership figures show signs of recovery, with English Heritage and the Historic Houses Associations’ total memberships in 2021/22 exceeding the pre-pandemic totals for 2019/20.

Organisation membership numbers, 2007/08 to 2021/22

Heritage organisation membership has increased dramatically over time

Figure PAR 6.5a – An infographic with 3 up arrows showing the overall growth of membership at 3 heritage organisations: English Heritage, National Trust, and Historic Houses Association. Source: English Heritage, National Trust, Historic Houses Association.

Figure PAR 6.5b – A comparative bar graph showing the total membership numbers of 3 heritage organisations (English Heritage, National Trust, Historic Houses Association) in 2007/08 and 2021/22. Source: English Heritage, National Trust, Historic Houses Association.