Royal Museums Greenwich: where does the money come from?
The Royal Museums Greenwich had income of £55m in the year to March 2026, and 44% of it was government grant-in-aid. It welcomed 2,372,578 visitors.
What does the Royal Museums Greenwich do?
Royal Museums Greenwich runs the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory, the Queen's House and the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, London. Its sites cover the sea, the exploration of space and Britain's place in world history. It is funded by government grant-in-aid, with free entry to the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House and paid tickets for the Cutty Sark and Royal Observatory. Shops, membership and donations bring in further income.
In brief: maritime and astronomy museums · four Greenwich sites · mix of free and paid entry · London
Source: the Royal Museums Greenwich's own website, retrieved 27 September 2026.
Where does the Royal Museums Greenwich's money come from?
Government grant-in-aid brought in £24m, 44% of the total. The rest, £31m, came from what the Royal Museums Greenwich earns and raises itself: admissions, shops and catering, donations and other income.
- Government grant-in-aid £24m 44%
- Admissions and exhibitions £9m 15%
- Shops, catering and commercial £6m 12%
- Donations and legacies £15m 27%
- Other income £0.9m 2%
What did the Royal Museums Greenwich spend, and what is it worth?
| Measure | Mar 2026 | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £55m | £49m |
| Total spending | £40m | |
| Net income before gains | £15m | |
| Staff costs | £22m | |
| Staff | 516 | |
| Net assets | £347m | |
| Cash | £9m | |
| Visitors | 2,372,578 | |
| Income per visitor | £23.21 | |
| Grant-in-aid per visitor | £10.31 |
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
- Statutory corporation (National Maritime Museum Act 1934), exempt charity and executive non-departmental public body sponsored by DCMS
- Sites
- National Maritime Museum, Royal Observatory Greenwich (incl. Peter Harrison Planetarium), Queen's House, Cutty Sark, Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, Brass Foundry, Caird Library
- Trading company
- National Maritime Museum Enterprises Limited (01901478)
- Latest accounts
- Year to 31 March 2026
Royal Museums Greenwich: common questions
How much money does the Royal Museums Greenwich get from the government?
£24m of grant-in-aid in the year to March 2026, 44% of its total income of £55m.
How much does the Royal Museums Greenwich spend?
£40m in the year to March 2026, of which staff costs were £22m.
How many people visit the Royal Museums Greenwich?
2,372,578 in the year to March 2026 (Total visitors across all RMG sites in 2025-26 (NMM 1,345,346; Royal Observatory 403,659; Peter Harrison Planetarium 76,723; Cutty Sark 218,193; Queen's House 328,657)), according to its annual report.
Why isn't the Royal Museums Greenwich on the Companies House register?
The Royal Museums Greenwich is statutory corporation (National Maritime Museum Act 1934), exempt charity and executive 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, National Maritime Museum Enterprises Limited, does file there.
Spark Intel, “Royal Museums Greenwich: where does the money come from?”, updated 28 September 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/royal-museums-greenwich/. Figures from Royal Museums Greenwich's annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2026.
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