National Museum of Scotland welcomes record two million visitors this year

THE National Museum of Scotland has welcomed a record two million visitors through its doors this year.

The Edinburgh museum said it marks the first time it has hit the milestone in its 150-year history.

Visitor numbers are now running at almost three times the level they were before the redevelopment of the Chambers Street museum started a decade ago, bosses said.

The two-millionth visitor for 2017 was Zac Lewis, 10, from Edinburgh, who popped into the attraction with his mother Eriko Kono.

What a day! Today we welcomed our 2 millionth visitor this year to the National Museum of Scotland. Here's 10-year-old Zac coming face to face with a 2 million-year-old tiger skull pic.twitter.com/lGfiVf55z8

— National Museums Scotland (@NtlMuseumsScot) November 21, 2017

Dr Gordon Rintoul, director of National Museums Scotland, said: “Welcoming over two million visitors in a calendar year for the first time in our history is a huge achievement.

“Through the efforts of our staff, the creativity of our design teams and the support of many funders, we have been able to create a truly world class museum.

“Since opening 10 award-winning new galleries of art, design, fashion, science and technology last summer, we have had terrific feedback from our visitors, whether they are from Scotland or many countries across the world.”

Now the most popular museum in the UK outside of London, the National Museum of Scotland is approaching the completion of a 15-year, £80 million masterplan to transform it, with the remaining two galleries to be unveiled in 2019.