Eureka children’s museum in Halifax gets more than 300,000 visitors in 2014

Eureka’s visitor numbers included 23,849 children taking part in educational workshops.

It follows the opening of the museum’s £2.9m All About Me Gallery in 2013 which allows young people to learn about their bodies and the importance of healthy living.

The 302,460 people visiting is the highest visitor number since 1998. Eureka’s chief executive Leigh-Anne Stradeski said: “Our visitor numbers have risen pretty steadily over the past five years but the 10 per cent increase we experienced this year really stands out.

“This is due in part to the opening of our brand new All About Me gallery which has received excellent reviews but the fact that we continue to draw hundreds of thousands of families and school groups from all over the UK 23 years after opening shows that our unique play-based approach to museum learning has long-term appeal and increasing relevance.”

Gary Verity, the chief executive of the Welcome to Yorkshire agency, said: “I’m delighted to see Eureka is absolutely flying and to have their best year since 1998 shows how the museum’s investment and tireless work has paid off.

“It’s further proof of just how big a year 2014 was for Yorkshire tourism and shows the critical role places like Eureka play in our diverse and world-class tourism offer for visitors nationally and globally.”