The London Symphony Orchestra Limited

Analysis

The London Symphony Orchestra Limited is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 1964, 62 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 00083608). It says it provides human resources, provides buildings/facilities/open space and provides services.

In the financial year ending July 2025, The London Symphony Orchestra Limited reported income of £28.8m and spending of £24.6m, spending 85% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £11.8m to £28.8m (+145%), an average of +25% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2022, when income rose by 79%. Over the whole period it spent 92% 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, The London Symphony Orchestra Limited 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 The Mayflower Theatre Trust (£28.8m), The Eden Trust (£29.7m) and Wales Millennium Centre (£28.1m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 44% and donations and legacies 41%. Charitable activities took 93% of spending and raising funds 6.7%. Reserves of £2.8m would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 84 people.