Guinness World Records is the ultimate global authority on record-breaking achievements. We make the amazing official!
GGuinness World Records is the ultimate global authority on record-breaking achievements. We make the amazing official!
1955
The Guinness Book of Records is published, with a preface by co-founders Norris and Ross McWhirter
187,000 books sold (after four reprints) within a year
1964
1 million books sold across all editions and languages to date
1966
1.5 million copies printed
1967
Guinness Book of Records was published in Danish with the title ’Først og Størst’ (First and Biggest)
1972
The first series of Record Breakers is filmed for the BBC, hosted by Roy Castle. The first guest is Roger Bannister, talking about becoming the first man to run a mile in under four minutes
1973
Broadcaster David Frost acquires TV rights for GWR specials
1974
The Guinness Book of Records becomes the biggest-selling copyright book in history with sales to date totalling 23,950,000!
1975
First licensed product produced: Guinness Game of World Records, is launched by Dennis Fischer Toys UK
1976
A Guinness Book of Records museum opens in the Empire State Building, New York City
1972
The first series of Record Breakers is filmed for the BBC, hosted by Roy Castle. The first guest is Roger Bannister, talking about becoming the first man to run a mile in under four minutes
1973
Broadcaster David Frost acquires TV rights for GWR specials
1974
The Guinness Book of Records becomes the biggest-selling copyright book in history with sales to date totalling 23,950,000!
1975
First licensed product produced: Guinness Game of World Records, is launched by Dennis Fischer Toys UK
1976
A Guinness Book of Records museum opens in the Empire State Building, New York City
1980
Norris McWhirter is awarded the CBE in the New Year’s Honours List
1986
Alan Russell becomes editor; Norris McWhirter stays on as consultant
1987
The 1987 edition is published in 31 languages, covering more than 3.2 billion of the world’s population!
Incorporation of Guinness World Records North America, Inc
1988
The Guinness Video of Records launches
60 millionth book sold for charity at a party in HMV Oxford Street, London, raising £60,000
1990
Guinness Superlatives is renamed Guinness Publishing Limited
1991
Guinness Book of Records museum opens in Hollywood
1993
The Diana Ross Commemorative Edition is published
1994
Guinness Book of Records museum opens in Copenhagen
1996
Norris McWhirter retires
Guinness Publishing Limited opens office in New York, USA
1998
First original programme launched in the US called Guinness World Records Primetime
1999
Guinness Publishing Limited is renamed as Guinness World Records (book also changes its name from Guinness Book of Records to Guinness World Records)
Guinness World Records 2000 is printed in a single run of 2,402,000 copies, achieving the record for the largest print run of a case-bound book in colour
First original programme broadcast in the UK, France, and Sweden called Guinness World Records, L’Emission Des Records, and Guinness Rekord TV, respectively (original-branded productions go on to be available in 19 territories)
1990
Guinness Superlatives is renamed Guinness Publishing Limited
1991
Guinness Book of Records museum opens in Hollywood
1993
The Diana Ross Commemorative Edition is published
1994
Guinness Book of Records museum opens in Copenhagen
1996
Norris McWhirter retires
Guinness Publishing Limited opens office in New York, USA
1998
First original programme launched in the US called Guinness World Records Primetime
1999
Guinness Publishing Limited is renamed as Guinness World Records (book also changes its name from Guinness Book of Records to Guinness World Records)
Guinness World Records 2000 is printed in a single run of 2,402,000 copies, achieving the record for the largest print run of a case-bound book in colour
First original programme broadcast in the UK, France, and Sweden called Guinness World Records, L’Emission Des Records, and Guinness Rekord TV, respectively (original-branded productions go on to be available in 19 territories)
2000
Guinnessworldrecords.com website launches
2001
GWR is sold by Diageo (owners of Guinness) to Gullane Entertainment, owners of Thomas the Tank Engine
2002
GWR is sold to HIT Entertainment, owners of Bob The Builder
2003
100,000,000th copy of Guinness World Records sold!
2004
Craig Glenday becomes Editor-in-Chief
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visits the office and receives a copy of the 50th anniversary edition from GWR CEO Alistair Richards
The Guinness World Records 2005 Interactive DVD Game launches
2005
First Annual GWR Day takes place
Records Management Team is formed in London formally offering adjudication services to customers
Records printed on Pringles crisps for the first time!
2007
GWR Gamer’s Edition launches
GWR content on YouTube surpasses 1 million views
GWR launches on Facebook
Records Management Team becomes an international team that speaks more than 13 languages, processing 1,000 claims every week from around the world
2005
First Annual GWR Day takes place
Records Management Team is formed in London formally offering adjudication services to customers
Records printed on Pringles crisps for the first time!
2007
GWR Gamer’s Edition launches
GWR content on YouTube surpasses 1 million views
GWR launches on Facebook
Records Management Team becomes an international team that speaks more than 13 languages, processing 1,000 claims every week from around the world
2008
GWR is sold to the Jim Pattison Group
Guinness World Records: The Videogame launched for Nintendo Wii
GWRLive! events launch
2009
GWR consultancy services launch
2010
Office opens in Tokyo, Japan
First GWRLive! tour (pictured)
2011
GWR visits the White House and helps First Lady Michelle Obama launch the “Let’s Jump!” campaign on the South Lawn by adjudicating the record for most people to do jumping jacks in 24 hours – multiple venues (300,265!)
GWR achieves 100 million YouTube views
Officially Amazing becomes a GWR registered trademark
2012
Office opens in Beijing, China
1 millionth Facebook fan
Jinisi China Nights (GWR China Nights), aired in China by the state broadcaster CCTV, has peak viewing figures of 450 million people — the largest audience for GWR TV show
2013
Office opens in Dubai, UAE
Records Management Team adjudicates more than 1,000 record record attempts across the world
3 millionth GWR friend recorded on Facebook
Officially Amazing kids’ TV show launches in the UK on CBBC
GWR Science Show embarks on a tour of the UK
2014
GWR begins a year of celebrations in honour of its 60th anniversary
500,000th subscriber reached on YouTube
GWR KIDS site launches
2012
Office opens in Beijing, China
1 millionth Facebook fan
Jinisi China Nights (GWR China Nights), aired in China by the state broadcaster CCTV, has peak viewing figures of 450 million people — the largest audience for GWR TV show
2013
Office opens in Dubai, UAE
Records Management Team adjudicates more than 1,000 record attempts across the world
3 millionth GWR friend recorded on Facebook
Officially Amazing kids’ TV show launches in the UK on CBBC
GWR Science Show embarks on a tour of the UK
2014
GWR begins a year of celebrations in honour of its 60th anniversary
500,000th subscriber reached on YouTube
GWR KIDS site launches
2015
Year of the 60th Anniversary of Guinness World Records
2016
11 millionth Facebook fan and 1 millionth YouTube subscriber logged
136 million + books sold globally to date
2017
Guinness World Records Amazing Animals launches
Development work begins on GWR Attraction
GWR HQ relocates to London’s Docklands
2018
Guinness World Records Science & Stuff and Wild Things launches
New Latin American office opens in Miami, Florida, USA
2019
15 millionth Facebook fan and 4 millionth YouTube subscriber logged
143 million + books sold globally to date
A WORLD OF OFFICIALLY AMAZING RECORDS
While exploring two floors and 11 galleries, you’ll find amazing records in almost everything! From sports to art and music to nature and fashion, there’s record-breaking fun for everyone!
Set your own record! While you’re here, you’ll also compete with your friends and family in the interactive Game Zone. With tons of different activities to try, not only can you see how you measure up against each other, but you can see how your measure up to the world’s tallest man – and the world’s smallest woman! Test your reaction time in the Sports Gallery, see 1,382,101 domino bricks toppling, and try out the world’s largest Pac-Man game. There’s something amazing waiting for everyone!
