Science Museum Group: where does the money come from?
The Science Museum Group had income of £115m in the year to March 2026, and 63% of it was government grant-in-aid. It welcomed 4,168,000 visitors.
What does the Science Museum Group do?
The Science Museum Group runs five museums, including the Science Museum in London and the National Railway Museum in York. Its other museums are the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford and Locomotion in Shildon. It is funded by government grant-in-aid with free general admission, and earns its own income from paid exhibitions and experiences, a trading company running shops and catering, and donations and sponsorship.
In brief: five national museums · science, industry and railways · free entry, paid exhibitions · London, York, Manchester, Bradford, Shildon
Source: Spark Intel editorial, checked 27 September 2026. Official website: sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk.
Where does the Science Museum Group's money come from?
Government grant-in-aid brought in £73m, 63% of the total. The rest, £42m, came from what the Science Museum Group earns and raises itself: admissions, shops and catering, donations and other income.
- Government grant-in-aid £73m 63%
- Admissions and exhibitions £6m 5%
- Shops, catering and commercial £18m 16%
- Donations and legacies £6m 6%
- Other income £12m 10%
What did the Science Museum Group spend, and what is it worth?
| Measure | Mar 2026 | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £115m | £120m |
| Total spending | £135m | |
| Net income before gains | -£19m | |
| Staff costs | £44m | |
| Staff | 1,050 | |
| Net assets | £659m | |
| Cash | £17m | |
| Visitors | 4,168,000 | |
| Income per visitor | £27.69 | |
| Grant-in-aid per visitor | £17.56 |
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; the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, established under the National Heritage Act 1983
- Sites
- Science Museum, London, Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, National Railway Museum, York, Locomotion, Shildon, National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, Science and Innovation Park (National Collections Centre), Wroughton
- Trading company
- SCMG Enterprises Ltd (02196149)
- Latest accounts
- Year to 31 March 2026
Science Museum Group: common questions
How much money does the Science Museum Group get from the government?
£73m of grant-in-aid in the year to March 2026, 63% of its total income of £115m.
How much does the Science Museum Group spend?
£135m in the year to March 2026, of which staff costs were £44m.
How many people visit the Science Museum Group?
4,168,000 in the year to March 2026 (Number of visits across the Group's museums, 2025-26 (Science Museum 2,639,000; Science and Industry Museum 433,000; National Railway Museum 672,000; Locomotion 212,000; National Science and Media Museum 208,000; total includes Science and Innovation Park visits); 4,003,000 in 2024-25), according to its annual report.
Why isn't the Science Museum Group on the Companies House register?
The Science Museum Group is exempt charity (Schedule 3, Charities Act 2011) and non-departmental public body sponsored by DCMS; the Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, established under the National Heritage Act 1983, so it publishes its accounts in an annual report rather than filing them at Companies House. Its trading company, SCMG Enterprises Ltd, does file there.
Spark Intel, “Science Museum Group: where does the money come from?”, updated 28 September 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/science-museum-group/. Figures from Science Museum Group's annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2026.
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