(Above) Museum director Tony Tibbles presents the millionth visitor to the venue with a hamper of items from the museum shop. Pic courtesy National Museums Liverpool

National Museums Liverpool has praised the impact of the city’s year as European Capital of Culture after the Merseyside Maritime Museum became the first venue in the organisation’s 22-year history to attract a million annual visitors.

The figure represents a marked increase on last year’s showing, when the museum recorded just over 600,000 visitors.

“These are fantastic figures and reflect the growing interest in everything to do with the sea,” reflected Maritime Museum director Tony Tibbles, who saluted the “outstanding quality” and “irresistible attraction” of the museum’s exhibitions and collections.

“Figures have been boosted by the huge influx of visitors to Liverpool for Capital of Culture year. Our new exhibition along with the Magical History Tour and the continuing success of the International Slavery Museum, within the building, have all helped.”

The opening of a nearby shopping centre has improved access to the centre, leading to an overall increase across the NML venues of 30% this year, reporting a total of more than two million visitors. World Museum Liverpool welcomed nearly 800,000 of those, and the Walker Art Gallery enticed 400,000 viewers.