The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

Analysis

The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Swindon. It was registered in November 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under environment and conservation. It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending February 2025, The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty reported income of £766.2m and spending of £824.4m, spending 108% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from February 2021 to February 2025, income grew from £507.7m to £766.2m (+51%), an average of +11% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to February 2022, when income rose by 27%. Over the whole period it spent 104% of the income it received.

Among 4,574 England and Wales charities whose main cause is environment and conservation and that reported income, The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty sits at the 100th 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 100th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Quadrature Charitable Foundation (£336.1m), The Royal Parks [limited] (£109.9m) and The Woodland Trust (£89.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 76%, donations and legacies 11%, trading 11% and investments 1.1%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £62.8m. Charitable activities took 91% of spending and raising funds 9.1%. Reserves of £1.64bn would cover about 24 months of spending at that rate. It employed 8,746 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.