The horizontal bar chart compares the annual number of visitors to the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the British Museum over a six-year period from 2007 to 2012.
Overall, it is clear that the National Gallery and the British Museum experienced a significant upward trend in popularity. In contrast, the Victoria and Albert Museum saw its visitor numbers fluctuate and ultimately decline by the end of the period. By 2012, the National Gallery had emerged as the most visited attraction among the three.
Regarding the two museums that saw growth, the National Gallery started as the least popular in 2007 with roughly 6 million visitors, but this figure climbed steadily, nearly tripling to approximately 16 million by 2012. Similarly, the British Museum began at 12 million, and while it dipped to a low of about 6 million in 2008 and 2009, it recovered strongly to reach 14 million in the final year.
Looking at the Victoria and Albert Museum, it initially held the highest attendance alongside the British Museum at nearly 14 million in 2007. However, after a slight increase in 2008, the numbers plummeted to a low of approximately 7 million in 2010. Although there was a minor recovery to 10 million in 2012, it failed to return to its initial levels.