Annual Review for the year ended 31 December 2025

Black Country Living Museum is an independent open-air museum in Dudley that brings the industrial history of the Black Country to life through historic buildings, costumed characters and a busy schools programme. Its Annual Review covers 2025, a year in which it welcomed 366,840 visitors and was named VisitEngland's Large Visitor Attraction of the Year.

View Report

Report snapshot

52 Views

About

Black Country Living Museum tells the story of the Black Country through living interpretation, with costumed characters bringing its historic streets and buildings to life. Schools visit in large numbers for its learning programme, volunteers play a central role in the visitor experience, and visitors can ride historic transport and the Steam Gallopers. The museum also hosts corporate events and is planning its future through the Forging Ahead development and a site Master Plan for new collections and stories.

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 Black Country Living Museum welcomed 366,840 visitors in 2025, down 2.8% from 377,024 in 2024, of whom 265,886 (72%) were paying visitors.

Key Metric 2 School visitors rose 6% to 58,881 in 2025.

Key Metric 3 Volunteers contributed 16,716 hours, and the museum moved from a £723,675 deficit in 2024 to a net surplus of £158,001 before tax in 2025 (GBP).

Key Outcomes

The museum was named Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2025 at the VisitEngland Awards, recognising its 'compelling vision, fabulous customer service' and storytelling.
School visits grew by 6% year on year, reaching 58,881 pupils.
Financial sustainability improved, with a £158,001 surplus replacing the previous year's £723,675 deficit, helped by £600k of staff cost savings and strong retail performance.

Geography

West Midlands

Organisation Free

Black Country Living Museum Trust Registered Charity

Year 2026

Sector Arts, Culture & Heritage

Geography West Midlands

Category Arts, Culture & Heritage

Related reports

All Arts, Culture & Heritage reports →

Historic Royal Palaces

2024/25 Annual Review

2025 Enhanced

Impact Snapshot

Key Metric 1

Total income £138,600,000 and total expenditure £108,350,000 (year ended 31 March 2025, charity no. 1068852); 5 million people welcomed through palace gates; £138.6m income...

Key Metric 2

Over 160,000 members making 300,000+ visits generating £5.8m membership income plus £814k Gift Aid; 217,400 £1 Universal Credit tickets sold; 304,000 visitors to Untold...

Key Metric 3

89% of visitors gained a better understanding of stories (discovery); 83% felt happier after their visit (joy); 76% were inspired to learn more; 28,365...

83% of visitors felt happier after their visit; 89% gained better understanding of palace stories; 94% charitable activities allocation of total expenditure; Tomorrow's Tower campaign secured £1.9m including £1m from Sandys Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund development grant

Arts, Culture & Heritage Sustainability

Read report

National Youth Jazz Orchestra

National Youth Jazz Orchestra Annual Report 2024–25

2025 Enhanced

Impact Snapshot

Key Metric 1

3,943 young people reached across 279 learning sessions in 16 programmes; 46 public performances reaching 8,517 audience members

Key Metric 2

100+ Emerging Professionals supported with 159 paid performance opportunities; 32% from regions beyond London; 32% from African, Asian, Caribbean or Mixed Heritage backgrounds

Key Metric 3

46% of Under-18 participants receive bursaries; 46% benefit from free access (Pupil Premium, free school meals or low-income families)

Largest single concert audience of 1,500 for British Standard Time at Berlin's Konzerthaus; NYJO Under 18s alumni have gone on to Birmingham Conservatoire, Leeds Conservatoire and Cambridge University

Arts, Culture & Heritage London

Read report

The Albany