Record year as 220,000+ visitors make tracks for Dorset’s Tank Museum

Published by

Andrew Diprose

Tankfest 2023 attracted more than 24,000 visitors over the three-day event

Over 220,000 people made tracks for The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset throughout 2023, making it a record-breaking year.

To mark its centenary, the museum opened the successful new exhibition ‘Tanks for the Memories’, showing how the tank has been portrayed in popular culture through games, toys, film and the media.

Rosanna Dean, visitor experience general manager, said: “2023 has been a landmark year for the museum, with more visitors than ever before.

“As a rural, regimental museum, we are delighted that the story of tanks and their crews has attracted audiences of all ages from all over the world.”

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2023 also saw increased investment in accessibility, with the introduction of a wellbeing room, sensory backpacks, BSL tours and quiet mornings.

Rosanna added: “The museum continues to innovate the customer experience with powerful exhibitions, an inspiring education programme, and a focus on inclusion and accessibility that welcomes all visitors.”

The 17 per cent growth in visitor numbers from 2022 coincided with a milestone year in the museum’s online community.

The military museum became the first museum YouTube channel to hit over 1,000,000 views, making headlines in international press.

Bringing the story of tanks to the world has created a new generation of military history enthusiasts who want to visit the collection in person.

The Tank Museum is Dorset’s largest indoor attraction and home to the best collection of armoured vehicles in the world, including the world’s only running Tiger I and the first prototype tank, Little Willie.

Andrew Diprose