Norwich Castle Museum has seen visitor numbers more than double following its reopening in autumn 2025, with 214,000 people through the doors by the end of March 2026 compared to just 91,000 in the same period the year before.

The castle is now on track to meet its target of 300,000 visitors in its first full year of full operation after the completion of the Royal Palace: Reborn redevelopment project.

The surge in visitors has had a positive effect on the wider Norfolk Museums Service finances. The service ended 2025/26 needing to draw down around £189,000 from reserves — an improvement on earlier forecasts — with the castle's reopening cited as a key factor in stabilising the revenue position.

Officers told the committee the castle is already generating income beyond ticket sales. New event spaces are being used to host contemporary dance groups, banquets, award ceremonies, and the service is actively targeting weddings as a commercial revenue stream.

The Museums Pass, which now has more than 10,000 members, was highlighted as another stable income source helping to offset any dip in visitor spending linked to cost-of-living pressures.

Committee members raised practical concerns about facilities at the castle, including toilets, the café counter, and an accessible lift. Officers confirmed the lift is operational and that the Operations Manager is actively addressing the other issues.

Looking ahead, a cross-discipline exhibition exploring the relationship between art and nature is planned for the Norwich Castle galleries in 2027, led by the museum's senior curator of climate change and a curator from the eastern area museums team.