Tate Britain has announced record attendance figures despite reduced numbers of visitors to London.

Visitors to the Tate galleries numbered 1.7 million in 2005 and 1.3 million in 2004, with Tate Enterprises making a profit of £3.2m and £3.5m, respectively.

This period featured three of the top five most popular exhibitions – Edward Hopper, Turner Whistler Monet and Frida Kahlo – in the history of the Tate.

In addition, the Tate Collection was launched, including works by Reynolds, Bonington, Nauman, Gilbert & George and Ofili as well as a profusion of Latin American art. The Collection resulted in a 31 per cent increase in visitors to the displays.

Elsewhere, Tate Britain has also announced that the Turner Prize will be shown at Tate Liverpool in 2007 in support of its status as the European Capital of Culture in 2008. This will be the first time that the prize has been held outside London since it began in 1984.

The Turner Prize will exhibit the work of the four shortlisted artists – to be announced in May 2007 – at the Albert Dock galleries from October 2007 to January 2008.

The exhibition will be supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Liverpool Culture Company.

In its place next autumn, Tate Britain will present an exhibition celebrating the history of the Turner Prize over the last 23 years.

A chronological selection of key British artists and the reception of the prize by the press, artists and the public will be shown.

The Turner Prize will return to Tate Britain in 2008. Details: www.tate.org.uk

Photograph: Tate Britain courtesy of Britain on View