<P> Museum purposes vary from institution to institution . Some favor education over conservation, or vice versa . For example, in the 1970s, the Canada Science and Technology Museum favored education over preservation of their objects . They displayed objects as well as their functions . One exhibit featured a historic printing press that a staff member used for visitors to create museum memorabilia . Some seek to reach a wide audience, such as a national or state museum, while some museums have specific audiences, like the LDS Church History Museum or local history organizations . Generally speaking, museums collect objects of significance that comply with their mission statement for conservation and display . Although most museums do not allow physical contact with the associated artifacts, there are some that are interactive and encourage a more hands - on approach . In 2009, Hampton Court Palace, palace of Henry VIII, opened the council room to the general public to create an interactive environment for visitors . Rather than allowing visitors to handle 500 - year - old objects, the museum created replicas, as well as replica costumes . The daily activities, historic clothing, and even temperature changes immerse the visitor in a slice of what Tudor life may have been . </P> <P> This section lists the 20 most visited museums in 2015 as compiled by AECOM and the Themed Entertainment Association's annual report on the world's most visited attractions . For 2016 figures see List of most visited museums . The cities of London and Washington, D.C. contain more of the 20 most visited museums in the world than any others, with six museums and four museums, respectively . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Museum </Th> <Th> City </Th> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> Visitor count (annually) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Louvre </Td> <Td> Paris </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> 8,600,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> National Museum of China </Td> <Td> Beijing </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 7,290,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> National Museum of Natural History </Td> <Td> Washington, D.C. </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 6,900,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> National Air and Space Museum </Td> <Td> Washington, D.C. </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 6,900,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> British Museum </Td> <Td> London </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 6,820,686 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> The Metropolitan Museum of Art </Td> <Td> New York City </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 6,533,106 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> Vatican Museums </Td> <Td> Vatican City (Rome) </Td> <Td> Vatican City </Td> <Td> 6,002,251 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Shanghai Science and Technology Museum </Td> <Td> Shanghai </Td> <Td> China </Td> <Td> 5,948,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> National Gallery </Td> <Td> London </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 5,908,254 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> National Palace Museum </Td> <Td> Taipei </Td> <Td> Taiwan </Td> <Td> 5,301,860 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> Natural History Museum, London </Td> <Td> London </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 5,284,023 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> American Museum of Natural History </Td> <Td> New York City </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 5,000,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> Tate Modern </Td> <Td> London </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 4,712,581 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> National Gallery of Art </Td> <Td> Washington, D.C. </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 4,104,331 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> National Museum of American History </Td> <Td> Washington, D.C. </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 4,100,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> State Hermitage Museum </Td> <Td> St. Petersburg </Td> <Td> Russia </Td> <Td> 3,668,031 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> Musée d'Orsay </Td> <Td> Paris </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> 3,440,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> Victoria and Albert Museum </Td> <Td> London </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 3,432,325 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> The Science Museum </Td> <Td> London </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 3,356,212 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> Reina Sofía </Td> <Td> Madrid </Td> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> 3,249,591 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Museum </Th> <Th> City </Th> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> Visitor count (annually) </Th> </Tr>

What is the number one most visited museum in the world
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