The number of people visiting Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ sites is continuing to rise, with figures reaching a record high of 1.75 million visits in 2012-13, 9% above target.

Over the last 12 months, Amgueddfa Cymru’s seven museums collectively welcomed over 50,000 more visitors than in 2011 - 12, with four of the museums enjoying their best years ever (National Museum Cardiff, National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, National Wool Museum in Dre-fach Felindre and the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon).

National Museum Cardiff, which has developed its offer with a new National Museum of Art, refreshed natural history galleries and a strong changing programme of exhibitions and family events welcomed a record 477,399 visitors. The number of visitors to the city centre Museum has grown significantly over the last two years with an increase of 29% since 2010 – 11.

The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea with its strong events programme, reached a total of 271,452 visitors - 6% more than the previous year. Playing an important role in the local community, the industrial National Wool Museum in Drefach Felindre attracted an impressive 34,309 visitors - an extra 3,931 visitors. The National Roman Legion Museum also achieved its best ever visitor figures, with 71,992 people welcomed by the Museum in Caerleon.

St Fagans: National History Museum’s successes came in July 2012 when it was given the largest ever grant awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales to redevelop the site, then in September when it was named the UK’s most loved museum by the consumer magazine Which?. In addition, 2012 – 13 saw the National Slate Museum celebrating its 40th Anniversary and the Olympic Torch Relay at Big Pit: National Coal Museum.

http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/cultureandsport/2013/130410nmw/?lang=en