Royal Historical Society

Analysis

Royal Historical Society is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and arts/culture/heritage/science, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending June 2025, Royal Historical Society reported income of £684k and spending of £790k, spending 115% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2021 to June 2025, income grew from £506k to £684k (+35%), an average of +7.8% a year. Over the whole period it spent 100% 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, Royal Historical Society sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 92nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Beavers Arts Limited (£683k), Music for Youth (£686k) and William and Edith Oldham Charitable Trust (£682k).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 71%, investments 27% and donations and legacies 1.4%. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 1.3%. Reserves of £4.4m would cover about 64 months of spending at that rate. It employed 5 people.