Country house museum in top 15 free attractions

Barnsley Council-run Cannon Hall Museum is among the top 15 most popular free visitor attractions in England

A council-run museum has been named in the top 15 most popular free visitor attractions in England, according to new figures.

Cannon Hall Museum in Barnsley is also the most-visited attraction in Yorkshire that does not charge for entry, Visit England confirmed.

In total, Barnsley Museums sites received more than two million visitors in 2024, and 36.3m tourists came to South Yorkshire - a year-on-year increase of 5%, based on data from the Local Visitor Economy Partnership.

The region's mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: "South Yorkshire is home to an incredible array of culture, creativity and character."

Cannon Hall was acquired by the council from the Spencer-Stanhope family in the 1950s and opened as a museum. It has a Georgian walled garden, glasshouses and Victorian pleasure grounds.

The data estimated that tourists brought in £3.7bn for the region's economy.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster was the most popular paid-for attraction in 2024, with more than 894,000 people buying tickets.

Commenting on the data, Sarah McLeod, chair of the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, said: "By working collaboratively, we can drive sustainable growth, ensuring that - now more than ever - we encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more with our local businesses."

The South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership consists of Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield councils, the South Yorkshire mayoral office, and representatives from the private sector.

Coppard added: "Our heritage and culture doesn't just enrich our lives and shape who we are - it drives our economy too. With a £3.7bn boost and more than 32,000 jobs supported, the impact of arts, culture, and tourism is clear. When we invest in our people, our places and our stories, we create growth and opportunity, and we build hope."

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