Durham Cathedral Museum sees record high attendance with 'droves' of visitors

Durham Cathedral Museum Sets Attendance Record

Durham Cathedral Museum achieved its highest-ever visitor numbers, attracting nearly 30,000 people from July 11 to November 2. This turnout exceeded expectations by over 40%.

Popular Exhibition Featuring Rare Magna Cartas

The surge in visitors was driven by an exhibition showcasing three rare Magna Cartas, marking the 800th anniversary of the 1225 issue. The display included the 1225 issue, the 1300 issue, and the only surviving 1225 copy.

Highest Weekly Attendance During Final Exhibition Week

The exhibition's last week, which coincided with the October half term, saw more than 2,500 visitors—the museum's busiest week since its opening in 2016.

“It's been wonderful to see the public interest in the Magna Cartas on display. The exhibition celebrated the 800th anniversary of the 1225 issue and, showing this alongside our 1300 issue and the only surviving 1225 issue, has brought people out in their droves. We definitely got the message out there that these are very rare documents from our collection and that the opportunity to see them only comes around every eight years or so. The last week of the exhibition alone certainly proved that as people did not want to miss their chance to see a part of global history right here in the North East.”

Andrew Usher, Chief Officer: Visitor Experience and Enterprise at Durham Cathedral

The successful exhibition reflects the high public interest in historical artifacts and showcases Durham Cathedral Museum’s role in preserving and sharing global heritage.

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The Northern Echo The Northern Echo — 2025-11-06

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