MUSEUMS in Bradford city centre and Keighley were among the most visited West Yorkshire tourist attractions last year.

Data from Visit Britain, which was quoted in a West Yorkshire Combined Authority report, showed that the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford was the most visited attraction in Bradford, attracting 177,847 visitors last year.

The top four attractions were all based in Leeds, with Leeds Art Gallery topping the list.

Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley which is run by Bradford Council, was tenth most popular, receiving 57,630 visitors.

Visitor numbers rose by 44 per cent across all West Yorkshire tourist attractions between 2021 and 2022.

Speaking at a Combined Authority culture committee meeting in Dewsbury on Friday, WYCA officer Peter Glover said the increase, “reflects the fact the country was emerging from the pandemic,” at that time.

“There was a similar picture nationally,” he added.

West Yorkshire’s top 10 attractions by visitor numbers (2022)

Leeds Art Gallery – 308,147

Harewood House, Leeds – 292,566

Leeds City Museum – 242,638

Lotherton Hall & Gardens, Leeds – 208,771

National Science and Media Museum, Bradford – 177,847

Nostell Priory, Wakefield – 142,426

Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds – 132,175

Whistlestop Valley, Huddersfield – 68,858

The Hepworth, Wakefield – 67,645

Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley – 57,630

Calderdale’s most popular attraction was Halifax Minster, with 23,500 visitors, the report said.