A press release celebrating a “rare” 90% accreditation score for The Harris Museum Preston, a free Art Gallery & Library, has come under scrutiny after the institution declined to provide the underlying assessment data or evidence supporting key claims, stating that the report and scoring are confidential.
Is it a rare achievement?
On 16 March 2026, The Harris announced it had achieved a 90% quality score following its first-ever assessment under the VisitEngland Quality Scheme, describing the result as “exceptional” and “a rare achievement for a first assessment visit.” The announcement positioned the accreditation as a significant milestone following the museum’s £19 million redevelopment and reopening on 28 September 2025, with praise attributed to the quality of facilities, exhibitions, and visitor experience. However, subsequent correspondence between the institution and a journalist raises questions about the evidential basis for some of these claims, particularly around transparency, benchmarking, and the availability of supporting data.
These claims are presented alongside commentary from a VisitEngland assessor and a senior council figure, both of whom reinforce the positive framing of the outcome.
We requested a breakdown of the evidence
In a follow-up media enquiry,a Harris Museum spokesperson was asked to provide further detail to explain the headline score. The questions included requests for:
- A breakdown of the 90% score across categories
- Identification of any areas for improvement
- Access to the full assessment report
- Evidence supporting the description of the score as “rare”
The response from the Harris Marketing Team was consistent across multiple questions, “The report and scoring are confidential. The VisitEngland Quality Rose Marque indicates that The Harris is endorsed by VisitEngland and has passed the assessment.”
Their spokesperson did mention:
- “Every area [was] evaluated to very good or excellent quality standards”
- The result reflects “a significant milestone” for the institution
- The accreditation “positions it firmly among England’s high-quality accredited visitor attractions”
Not knowing what the basis was for the 90% score means we don’t know what the assessor team looked at and what they took into account when deciding on the results.
Visitor feedback and monitoring
While the Harris declined to provide detailed assessment data, it did outline how it monitors visitor satisfaction independently. According to the response, this includes:
- Visitor surveys and event evaluations
- Monitoring of TripAdvisor and Google reviews
- Social media engagement analysis
- Direct on-site feedback collection.
The institution also confirmed that feedback is gathered through physical feedback card stations within the building, allowing visitors to share comments and suggestions. No specific data or trends from this feedback were disclosed, although the Harris stated that feedback is actively used to address concerns and improve visitor experience.
The response did include some numerical data relating to visitor numbers following the reopening. It states that:
- Between the re-opening in 28 September and 31 December 2025, The Harris welcomed 154,497 visitors (a little over 11,000 per week)
- Prior to the redevelopment which started in 2022, the weekly average footfall was 6,730 visitors
In relation to the broader economic impact of the redevelopment, the Harris indicated that it is too early to provide detailed data. The response states, “While it is still too early to provide data on overall impact, there are clear early signs of increased activity bringing in visitors from further afield.”
It also references wider developments in Preston, including the opening of Animate and improvements to the city’s food and beverage offer, as contributing to a more positive visitor experience. When asked about next steps following the accreditation, the reply was, “The Harris will continue to follow the advice and recommendations provided by VisitEngland to guide future improvements.”
No specific recommendations or improvement areas were disclosed, due to the stated confidentiality of the assessment report.
Accessibility measures outlined
The Harris provided detailed information on accessibility features within the building, including:
- Step-free access throughout public areas
- Lift access to upper floors
- Accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility
- Seating throughout galleries
- Quiet hours for sensory-sensitive visitors
- Hearing loops and large print materials
- British Sign Language trained staff.
The response also states that the institution works with external organisations, including Disability Equality North West and Direct Access, to support accessibility improvements. These measures are presented as part of an ongoing effort to improve access and inclusion, with feedback actively encouraged.
More transparency in the scoring system would allow proper comparison with other visitor places
While the accreditation itself indicates that the venue has met VisitEngland’s required standards, the fact that we don’t know what exactly was scored and what the score in each field was, or how other musea compare, makes it difficult to get too excited about a 90% accreditation.
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