English National Opera

Analysis

English National Opera is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in St Martins Lane. It was registered in November 1968, 58 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, 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 00426792). It says it other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, English National Opera reported income of £26.9m and spending of £23.1m, spending 86% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £20.1m to £26.9m (+34%), an average of +7.6% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2023, when income rose by 61%. Over the whole period it spent 107% 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, English National Opera 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 Bradford Culture Company Limited (£26.8m), Oxford Archaeology Limited (£27.6m) and The Old Vic Theatre Trust 2000 (£25.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 65% and charitable activities 34%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £490k. Charitable activities took 94% of spending and raising funds 5.5%. Reserves of £4.5m would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 269 people.

Data notes from the register: The latest annual return was received after its deadline.