National Museums Liverpool: where does the money come from?
The National Museums Liverpool had income of £37m in the year to March 2025, and 69% of it was government grant-in-aid. It welcomed 2,320,472 visitors.
What does the National Museums Liverpool do?
National Museums Liverpool runs seven museums and galleries, including the Walker Art Gallery, World Museum and the Museum of Liverpool. Its other venues are the Maritime Museum, the International Slavery Museum, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery on the Wirral. It is the only national museum group in England based wholly outside London, and is funded by government grant-in-aid with free general admission, plus income from exhibitions, shops, venue hire and donations.
In brief: national museums · seven venues · free entry · Liverpool and the Wirral
Source: the National Museums Liverpool's own website, retrieved 27 September 2026.
Where does the National Museums Liverpool's money come from?
Government grant-in-aid brought in £26m, 69% of the total. The rest, £11m, came from what the National Museums Liverpool earns and raises itself: admissions, shops and catering, donations and other income.
- Government grant-in-aid £26m 69%
- Admissions and exhibitions £0.3m 1%
- Shops, catering and commercial £4m 12%
- Donations and legacies £5m 14%
- Other income £1.5m 4%
What did the National Museums Liverpool spend, and what is it worth?
| Measure | Mar 2025 | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £37m | £43m |
| Total spending | £40m | |
| Net income before gains | -£3m | |
| Staff costs | £21m | |
| Staff | 460 | |
| Net assets | £320m | |
| Cash | £6m | |
| Visitors | 2,320,472 | |
| Income per visitor | £16.08 | |
| Grant-in-aid per visitor | £11.14 |
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
- Exempt charity (Schedule 3, Charities Act 2011) and non-departmental public body sponsored by DCMS
- Sites
- World Museum, Walker Art Gallery, Merseyside Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Lady Lever Art Gallery, Sudley House, Museum of Liverpool
- Trading company
- NML Trading Limited (02676330)
- Latest accounts
- Year to 31 March 2025
National Museums Liverpool: common questions
How much money does the National Museums Liverpool get from the government?
£26m of grant-in-aid in the year to March 2025, 69% of its total income of £37m.
How much does the National Museums Liverpool spend?
£40m in the year to March 2025, of which staff costs were £21m.
How many people visit the National Museums Liverpool?
2,320,472 in the year to March 2025 (Total number of visits across NML venues, year to 31 March 2025 (2,372,670 in 2023-24)), according to its annual report.
Why isn't the National Museums Liverpool on the Companies House register?
The National Museums Liverpool is exempt charity (Schedule 3, Charities Act 2011) and non-departmental public body sponsored by DCMS, so it publishes its accounts in an annual report rather than filing them at Companies House. Its trading company, NML Trading Limited, does file there.
Spark Intel, “National Museums Liverpool: where does the money come from?”, updated 28 September 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/national-museums-liverpool/. Figures from National Museums Liverpool's annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2025.
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