Historic Houses member sites see 14% surge to 21.3 million visitors – Blenheim Palace takes top spot

Blenheim Palace

Our latest survey has found that there was a 14% increase in visitor numbers at its member places last year. Over 21.3 million visits were made in 2025, with nearly a million (980,678) of those to number one attraction, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.  

In second place was Chatsworth House, Derbyshire (with 679,232 visits) followed by Hever Castle, Kent (recording 389,928 visits)

Full breakdown of top 10, based on paid visitor numbers only: 

However, despite growing by more than 10%, total visitor numbers are yet to return to pre-pandemic levels of 26 million in 2019. Nearly a third (31%) of respondents reported that revenue has also yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.   

Historic Houses member places have a huge economic impact. Our data estimates the total economic benefit of our member places to be £1 billion in 2025, despite the currently challenging economic circumstances. 

Historic Houses member places make a vital contribution to rural communities as a consequence of the jobs that they provide. Our analysis estimates that in 2025, member places directly employed over 12,000 FTE staff.   But the cost of doing business continues to increase, with member houses reporting a staggering 72% increase in the cost of their insurance policies. 

Ben Cowell, Director-General of Historic Houses said: “Historic Houses member properties currently face some of the most challenging trading conditions for decades. Increased costs of doing business compound the problems of ever-increasing levels of taxation and a slow and cumbersome planning system. A supportive fiscal and regulatory framework has never been more essential to ensure historic house businesses can deliver their full public value.”