Garsington Opera Limited
Analysis
Garsington Opera Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Buckinghamshire. It was registered in May 1991, 35 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02567390). It says it other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending October 2025, Garsington Opera Limited reported income of £9.9m and spending of £9.1m, spending 92% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from October 2021 to October 2025, income fell from £10.1m to £9.9m (-2.1%), an average of -0.5% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to October 2023, when income rose by 18%. Over the whole period it spent 72% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Garsington Opera Limited sits at the 99th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Royal Institution of Great Britain (£9.8m), The Engineering and Technology Board (£10.0m) and Leeds Theatre Trust Limited (£9.7m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 52%, charitable activities 30%, trading 3.3% and investments 2.5%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £286k. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 14%. Reserves of £3.0m would cover about 4 months of spending at that rate. It employed 27 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 49%
- Legacies 2.9%
- Charitable activities 30%
- Trading 3.3%
- Investments 2.5%
- Other 12%
In the charity's own words
Established in 1989, Garsington Opera is a professional opera company which has established a reputation for producing opera of the highest standard with a repertoire that combines both well known operas and discoveries of little known works. Garsington Opera has played a full a role as possible in the local community and an educational programme is run in local schools.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Royal Institution of Great Britain | London | £9.8m |
| The Engineering and Technology Board | London | £10.0m |
| Leeds Theatre Trust Limited | Leeds | £9.7m |
| Japan House London Trust | London | £10.1m |