Sir John Soane's Museum

Analysis

Sir John Soane's Museum is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in April 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 provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Sir John Soane's Museum reported income of £4.2m and spending of £4.0m, spending 94% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £2.7m to £4.2m (+54%), an average of +12% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2023, when income rose by 22%. Over the whole period it spent 91% 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, Sir John Soane's Museum sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Bowes Museum (£4.2m), The Hepworth Wakefield (£4.2m) and Huo Family Foundation (UK) Limited (£4.2m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 62%, trading 18%, charitable activities 17% and investments 1.1%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £70k. Charitable activities took 71% of spending and raising funds 28%. Reserves of £4.3m would cover about 13 months of spending at that rate. It employed 74 people.