The British Museum has been confirmed as the most popular UK attraction for the 10th year running, with 6,420,395 people passing through its doors in 2016.

Figures released today by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) revealed that all of the 10 most popular spots are in London, with the National Gallery, the Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum and the Southbank Centre completing the top five.

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The most popular tourist attraction outside of London last year might come as a surprise, with Chester Zoo pipping the likes of Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge and the Roman Baths and Pump Room to the honour.

The most popular attraction outside of London last year was Chester Zoo credit: GETTY

A big rise in visitor numbers was seen at the Tate Modern, which unveiled a new 10-storey extension in June; exactly 5,839,197 people visited last year, up 24 per cent on 2015. Kew Gardens saw an 19 per cent increase in visitors, while Hampton Court Palace, the National Museum of Scotland, Glasgow’s Riverside Museum, Blenheim Palace, Cliveden, Urquhart Castle, and Sissinghurst were among the other attractions to witness a significant rise in popularity.

1.38m people visited Stonehenge last year

Conversely, visitor numbers fell sharply at the Southbank Centre (-23 per cent), the Tate Britain (-15.8 per cent), Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (-17 per cent), and the National Football Museum (-26 per cent).

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A number of UK attractions such as Alton Towers, Legoland, Madame Tussauds and Thorpe Park are not members of the ALVA, so do not appear on its list.

The 20 most popular UK attractions

British Museum - 6.42m National Gallery - 6.26m Tate Modern - 5.84m Natural History Museum - 4.62m Southbank Centre - 3.9m Somerset House - 3.44m Science Museum - 3.24m V&A Museum - 3.02m Tower of London - 2.74m Royal Museums Greenwich - 2.45m National Portrait Gallery - 1.95m Chester Zoo - 1.9m Kew Gardens - 1.83m Westminster Abbey - 1.82m National Museum of Scotland - 1.81m Edinburgh Castle - 1.78m Royal Albert Hall - 1.66m Scottish National Gallery - 1.54m St Paul’s Cathedral - 1.52m British Library - 1.5m

The 10 most popular attractions outside London