London’s V&A Museum has broken its attendance for a single exhibition, with Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty attracting 493,043 people to the visitor attraction during its 21-week run.

Running through the night for its final two weekends, the exhibition was a retrospective of work by fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen, celebrated within the industry as one of the most innovative designers of his generation.

“We wanted visitors to feel drawn into his creative mind. We wanted to create a sensory, theatrical, dramatic and immersive experience,” said Kate Bethune, senior research assistant for the project, speaking to Attractions Management.

“Each gallery is a contrast to the preceding one and has a complementary soundtrack to work with it. Switches in tone and tempo draw out the spectacle and drama. It’s light on text, so as not to break the sense of immersion.”

The exhibition opened on 14 March this year – having enjoyed a run in the US in 2011 where it drew almost 700,000 visitors over a four-month run – and closed on 2 August. According to the V&A, the exhibition drew visitors from 87 different countries.

“The response has been phenomenal, said V&A director, Martin Roth. “Nearly half a million
people have visited the V&A to see Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty which is, I am proud to say, one of the most unpredictable, dramatic and spectacular exhibitions we have ever staged.

"We have had visitors attending from every corner of the globe and it’s been a remarkable experience to stay open around the clock for the first time ever to give even more people the opportunity to see this special show in McQueen’s home city.”

For an in-depth look at the record-breaking Alexander McQueen exhibition, check out the latest issue of Attractions Management, available next week.