Hampstead Heath

Analysis

Hampstead Heath is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in May 1990, 36 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science, amateur sport and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space.

In the financial year ending March 2025, Hampstead Heath reported income of £11.5m and spending of £11.4m, spending 100% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £9.5m to £11.5m (+21%), an average of +4.9% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 40%. Over the whole period it spent 93% 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, Hampstead Heath sits at the 99th 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 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Wigmore Hall Trust (£11.5m), Northamptonshire Arts Management Trust (£11.6m) and The Friends of the Royal Academy (£11.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 86% and investments 14%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £489. Charitable activities took 96% of spending and raising funds 1.7%. Reserves of £23.6m would cover about 24 months of spending at that rate. It employed 83 people.