The Harris reopens to record crowds as Wallace & Gromit draw over 15,000 visitors

Wallace & Gromit in A Case at the Museum, drew crowds of blockbuster proportions, with 105,177 visitors in its first eight weeks at The Harris in Preston.

The exhibition, which reopened the historic venue in September with an appearance from the duo’s creator Nick Park, averaged 14,500 visitors a week in its opening month, more than doubling pre-closure attendance and signalling a strong resurgence in regional museum-going.

By the end of 2025, The Harris had welcomed 154,497 visitors, with the success of Wallace & Gromit in A Case at the Museum underlining the cultural and economic impact of high-profile exhibitions beyond the capital.

Attendance was particularly strong during the opening month, with another notable surge in the final week, reflecting sustained interest throughout the exhibition’s run.  The week between Christmas and New Year saw queues snaking across The Flag Market to seek a glimpse of the exhibition before it closed, with visitors coming from far and wide. A daily 1pm cut off had to be introduced to manage the numbers and visitor expectations, which was successful in maintain the queues.

Visitor feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising both the exhibition itself and the wider reopening of The Harris:

“The Wallace and Gromit exhibition is the stuff of DREAMS… if you head straight up to the top floor you’ll find this gem of an exhibition. 10/10.”

“The Harris is a great asset to Preston and they have done a fantastic job with the renovation. It was also good to see the place very busy. My kids loved the Wallace and Gromit exhibition which is well worth a visit.

“Seeing the Wallace & Gromit items from the actual films was brilliant, admiring both the detail and pure charm of the work that has gone into these objects - amazing! A grand morning out.”

Wallace & Gromit in A Case at the Museum has played a central role in reintroducing The Harris to the public following its long-term refurbishment, welcoming back loyal audiences while attracting new visitors to the city.

The Wallace & Gromit exhibition has now closed and the Harris now looks ahead to its future exhibition programme for 2026 including highlights such as The Harris Open 2026, The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings and Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear. Building on the success of its reopening and reaffirming its position as a leading cultural destination for Preston and the wider region.

Councillor Hindle Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said: “We have been surprised and genuinely delighted by the reaction to The Harris’ opening exhibition. The level of engagement, especially in the first month and during the final week, has been incredibly encouraging and we hope this continues into the New Year. We would like to thank everyone for their patience, enthusiasm, and continued support as we welcomed visitors back to The Harris.”