Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales: where does the money come from?
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales had income of £49m in the year to March 2025, and 65% of it was government grant-in-aid. It welcomed 1,475,181 visitors.
What does Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales do?
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales runs seven national museums, including National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History and Big Pit National Coal Museum. It was established by Royal Charter in 1907 and is a registered charity sponsored by the Welsh Government. General entry is free, and its own income comes from exhibitions, shops, catering, venue hire and donations. Its museums cover art, natural history, archaeology and Welsh industrial life.
In brief: national museums of Wales · seven museums · free entry · Cardiff, Swansea, Blaenavon, Llanberis and beyond
Source: Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales' own website, retrieved 27 September 2026.
Where does Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales' money come from?
Government grant-in-aid brought in £32m, 65% of the total. The rest, £17m, came from what Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales earns and raises itself: admissions, shops and catering, donations and other income.
- Government grant-in-aid £32m 65%
- Shops, catering and commercial £4m 9%
- Donations and legacies £1.8m 4%
- Other income £11m 22%
What did Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales spend, and what is it worth?
| Measure | Mar 2025 | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £49m | £50m |
| Total spending | £44m | |
| Net income before gains | £4m | |
| Staff costs | £22m | |
| Staff | 533 | |
| Net assets | £178m | |
| Cash | £12m | |
| Visitors | 1,475,181 | |
| Income per visitor | £32.89 | |
| Grant-in-aid per visitor | £21.50 |
Net income is before investment gains and property revaluations. For a charity it is the surplus kept for the collection and buildings, not a profit paid out.
- Legal form
- Royal Charter body (RC000369) and independent registered charity (525774); Welsh Government Sponsored Body funded by grant-in-aid
- Sites
- National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History, Big Pit National Coal Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, National Slate Museum, National Wool Museum, National Waterfront Museum (joint venture with City & County of Swansea), National Collections Centre, Nantgarw
- Trading company
- NMGW Enterprises Ltd (02449244)
- Latest accounts
- Year to 31 March 2025
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales: common questions
How much money does Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales get from the government?
£32m of grant-in-aid in the year to March 2025, 65% of its total income of £49m.
How much does Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales spend?
£44m in the year to March 2025, of which staff costs were £22m.
How many people visit Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales?
1,475,181 in the year to March 2025 (In-person visits to all Amgueddfa Cymru sites, year to 31 March 2025 (KPI out-turn; narrative says 'over 1.475 million')), according to its annual report.
Why isn't Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales on the Companies House register?
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales is royal Charter body (RC000369) and independent registered charity (525774); Welsh Government Sponsored Body funded by grant-in-aid, so it publishes its accounts in an annual report rather than filing them at Companies House. Its trading company, NMGW Enterprises Ltd, does file there.
Spark Intel, “Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales: where does the money come from?”, updated 28 September 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/museum-wales/. Figures from Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales' annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2025.
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