Society of Antiquaries of London

Analysis

Society of Antiquaries of London is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in July 1963, 63 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Society of Antiquaries of London reported income of £2.6m and spending of £3.7m, spending 138% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £3.4m to £2.6m (-21%), an average of -5.8% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income dropped by 28%. Over the whole period it spent 109% 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, Society of Antiquaries of London sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Linnean Society of London (£2.6m), The Audience Agency (£2.7m) and Sherman Cymru (£2.6m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 35%, charitable activities 24%, trading 24% and investments 18%. Charitable activities took 76% of spending and raising funds 21%. Reserves of £3.4m would cover about 11 months of spending at that rate. It employed 53 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.