London Art Galleries Report Soar In Downturn

Visitor numbers at London art galleries and London museums hit record levels this summer as the recession led more people to holiday at home.

Half of all museums and galleries in Britain - and two thirds of the free national institutions in London - saw an increase in visitors, according to figures released today. A fifth saw a rise of at least 10 per cent.

Gallery shops and cafés enjoyed a corresponding rise in takings despite the downturn. More than half the national museums and galleries benefited from higher trading income.

The London galleries have escaped the worst of the funding cuts affecting local authority-run institutions, but two thirds have been badly hit by the fall in investment income.

Museums surveyed by The Art Fund charity said the cuts were hitting home just as running costs were climbing with 30 per cent spending more than the same period last year, thanks to rises in expenses such as utilities.