National Museums Scotland: where does the money come from?
The National Museums Scotland had income of £40m in the year to March 2025, and 76% of it was government grant-in-aid. It welcomed 3,220,496 visitors.
What does the National Museums Scotland do?
National Museums Scotland runs four museums, including the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, plus a national collections centre. Its other museums are the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum at Edinburgh Castle. A Scottish charity and public body, it is funded by Scottish Government grant-in-aid, with its own income from admissions at some sites, exhibitions, donations and NMS Enterprises, its trading company.
In brief: national museums · Scotland, world cultures and nature · four museums · Edinburgh, East Lothian, East Kilbride
Source: the National Museums Scotland's own website, retrieved 27 September 2026.
Where does the National Museums Scotland's money come from?
Government grant-in-aid brought in £30m, 76% of the total. The rest, £10m, came from what the National Museums Scotland earns and raises itself: admissions, shops and catering, donations and other income.
- Government grant-in-aid £30m 76%
- Admissions and exhibitions £1.6m 4%
- Shops, catering and commercial £5m 12%
- Donations and legacies £2m 6%
- Other income £0.9m 2%
What did the National Museums Scotland spend, and what is it worth?
| Measure | Mar 2025 | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £40m | £40m |
| Total spending | £43m | |
| Net income before gains | -£3m | |
| Staff costs | £23m | |
| Staff | 493 | |
| Net assets | £196m | |
| Cash | £3m | |
| Visitors | 3,220,496 | |
| Income per visitor | £12.28 | |
| Grant-in-aid per visitor | £9.32 |
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
- Scottish charity (SC011130) and non-departmental public body sponsored by the Scottish Government (National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985)
- Sites
- National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, East Lothian, National Museum of Rural Life, near East Kilbride, National Museums Collections Centre, Granton, Edinburgh
- Trading company
- NMS Enterprises Limited (SC171820)
- Latest accounts
- Year to 31 March 2025
National Museums Scotland: common questions
How much money does the National Museums Scotland get from the government?
£30m of grant-in-aid in the year to March 2025, 76% of its total income of £40m.
How much does the National Museums Scotland spend?
£43m in the year to March 2025, of which staff costs were £23m.
How many people visit the National Museums Scotland?
3,220,496 in the year to March 2025 (Total visits across all four museums, year to 31 March 2025 (3,127,600 in 2023-24)), according to its annual report.
Why isn't the National Museums Scotland on the Companies House register?
The National Museums Scotland is scottish charity (SC011130) and non-departmental public body sponsored by the Scottish Government (National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985), so it publishes its accounts in an annual report rather than filing them at Companies House. Its trading company, NMS Enterprises Limited, does file there.
Spark Intel, “National Museums Scotland: where does the money come from?”, updated 28 September 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/national-museums-scotland/. Figures from National Museums Scotland's annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2025.
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