The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, Wales, has met its first year target of 200,000 visitors six weeks ahead of its anniversary celebrations in October.

The £33.5m museum – which tells the human stories of industry and innovation over the past 300 years – has been well received by visitors of all ages and from all over the world.

Visitor research carried out by Cardiff-based Beaufort Research on 880 adult visitors to the museum showed that 85 per cent came from Wales and 15 per cent from the rest of the UK and overseas. Most visitors spent a few hours in the museum.

The majority (72 per cent) said it was very enjoyable and nearly two thirds said that it was better than they had expected. Eighty-six per cent were impressed with the range of interactive displays.

Among the Welsh visitors, 90 per cent felt that Swansea should be really proud of the museum.

Steph Mastoris, head of the museum, said: “It has proved itself by exceeding its visitor target for the first year, generating new visitors to the area and stimulating new businesses on the waterfront.”

The National Waterfront Museum Swansea opened to the public in October 2005 in the Swansea Maritime and Cultural Quarter. Entry to the museum is free. Details: www.museumwales.ac.uk