The city's cultural venues are experiencing an unprecedented box-office bonanza with Tate Liverpool recording its two busiest months since it opened in 1988.

The Albert Dock venue, which is hosting a major Gustav Klimt exhibition, welcomed more than 180,000 people in July – only the second time (the previous month being the first) it had broken the 100,000 barrier. It is officially the city's number one attraction in '08.

National Museums Liverpool also broke the magic million mark for the first time in the January to July period, with the eight venues combined attracting almost 1.5m people to date. Most notably the Merseyside Maritime Museum is up 90% on 2007.

Most Liverpool venues be it for theatre, music, art or museum are recording an average 30% rise on attendances last year.

The city has had a phenomenal summer programme from The Tall Ships' Races, The Open at Royal Birkdale, The Summer Pops at the ECHO Arena, The European Youth Parliament, The Beat Goes On at World Museum Liverpool, the UK's only annual Arabic Arts Festival and the Brouhaha Festival to name just a few highlights.

The public art projects Go Superlambananas and La Machine has also set the city buzzing as will the onset of autumnal blockbusters such as the Liverpool Biennial, Le Corbusier, King Lear and the MTV Europe Music Awards.

Phil Redmond, Creative Director of Liverpool Culture Company, said: ‘’These figures are fantastic and show people are engaging enthusiastically in ‘08. It really sets the stage for the rest of the year and provides a huge boost to our cultural partners. Our '08 programme has something for everyone and no one has an excuse not to try something new.”

Eight 08 fast facts:

• 60% of Liverpool people have attended a local museum or gallery in ‘08
• 80% of local residents agree that capital of culture will lead to a more positive view of the city
• 81.1% of hotel occupancy levels reached in May - Highest in the UK
• 6 million visitors to cultural events or attractions in Liverpool by July 31
• 24% of people are visiting Liverpool for the first time
• £60m economic benefit from hosting The Tall Ships' Races
• £4bn of investment in 250 major developments
• 1,000 volunteers created from establishing a new programme for 2008