THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY

Registered charity 205846 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as NATIONAL TRUST, NATIONAL TRUST CYMRU, THE NATIONAL TRUST

To look after places of historic interest or natural beauty permanently for the benefit of the nation across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Causes: Environment/conservation/heritage · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£766.2m
Latest spending
£824.4m
Registered
1962
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the Trust ended the year in a solid financial position with total income of £766.2 million and total expenditure of £824.4 million, resulting in a net decrease in funds. The Trust holds total unrestricted funds of £447.2 million, which significantly exceed its stated operating margin target of 20% of operating income, indicating strong liquidity and capacity to fund conservation projects.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Fundraising cost ratio: 6.3% of fundraised income, as disclosed
“Fundraising costs of £7.8m include the costs associated with our total fundraising income of c. £123m.” — page 14
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: 20% of operating income (held: £447.2m)
“Achieving a margin of 20% means that for every 80 pence we spend on operating activities we aim to generate at least £1 of income so that at least 20 pence is available to fund capital projects, maintenance and conservation tasks at our properties, implement our strategy and strengthen our reserves.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: The National Trust (Enterprises) Limited, National Trust (Renewable Energy) Limited, Historic House Hotels Limited
“The National Trust owns 100% of the share capital of The National Trust (Enterprises) Limited, Historic House Hotels Limited and National Trust (Renewable Energy) Limited.” — page 108
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by KPMG LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — National Trust (matched by registered charity number).

Public-sector contracts awarded

From the official Contracts Finder and Find a Tender notices (supplier matched by exact registered name). Contract income is distinct from grants.

BuyerContractAwardedValue
National Highways LimitedSEDPS-NH-0020-Biodiversity Unit Feasibility 2025/26 - Lot 1013/01/2026£520k
National Highways LimitedSEDPS-NH-0020-Biodiversity Unit Feasibility 2025/26 - Lot 913/01/2026£134k
National Highways LimitedSEDPS-NH-0020-Biodiversity Unit Feasibility 2025/26 - Lot 813/01/2026£46k

UK research funding (UKRI Gateway to Research)

Property (HM Land Registry)

3,300 registered titles in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (3124 freehold); recorded price paid £44.7m. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Trustpilot: National Trust scores 2.1/5 from 1,527 reviews (source) — reviews usually concern the charity’s shops or services, not its charitable performance.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 28/02/2025)

Total income
£766.2m
Total spending
£824.4m
Cost of raising funds
£75.3m
Reserves (reported)
£1637.6m
Employees
8,746

Reported reserves equal ~23.8 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 2.7 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 9.8% of total income — above the median for charities its size (2.9%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
28/02/2025£766.2m£824.4m
29/02/2024£723.8m£767.7m
28/02/2023£671.1m£733.3m
28/02/2022£643.3m£591.9m
28/02/2021£507.7m£514.5m

Common questions

Is THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Trust ended the year in a solid financial position with total income of £766.2 million and total expenditure of £824.4 million, resulting in a net decrease in funds. The Trust holds total unrestricted funds of £447.2 million, which significantly exceed its stated operating margin target of 20% of operating income, indicating strong liquidity and capacity to fund conservation projects. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by KPMG LLP.

Who funds THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY as a grant recipient include THE VINEHILL TRUST, THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITED, THE PENNIES FOUNDATION, THE MEDLOCK CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN ANDREWS CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
THE VINEHILL TRUSTFY2022£6.2mApprenticeships in stonemasonry, carpentry and joinery
THE ORR MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION LIMITEDFY2025£1.5m
THE VINEHILL TRUSTFY2023£1.5mHeritage
THE PENNIES FOUNDATIONFY2022£836k
THE MEDLOCK CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2025£250k
JOHN ANDREWS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£142k
THE NOSTELL TRUSTFY2023£130kGrants to National Trust
THE NOSTELL TRUSTFY2024£122kGrants to National Trust
THE MEDLOCK CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£100k
THE MEDLOCK CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£100k
THE NOSTELL TRUSTFY2025£95k
SUPPORT STAFFORDSHIREFY2022£88kPeak District & South Yorkshire Branch CPRE
THE REECE FOUNDATIONFY2022£75k
THE PENNIES FOUNDATIONFY2021£65kGrant to institution
UBS UK Donor-Advised FoundationFY2021£61k
THE MEDLOCK CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£60k
MISSION INDIAFY2023£50kGrants to institutions/organisations
THE LINBURY TRUSTFY2023£50kSupporting restoration and public access to the South Downs through the Changing Chalk Project. First payment of a four-year £125k grant.
Richard Oatley Trust Number TwoFY2024£50kRural Communities
THE ADA HILLARD CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£48k
THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITEDFY2024£40kMuseum
THE ADA HILLARD CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£38k
THE ADA HILLARD CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£36k
THE REECE FOUNDATIONFY2023£35k
THE NORTHWICK TRUSTFY2023£30k
THE MURIEL AND GERSHON COREN CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2022£30k
THE PENNIES FOUNDATIONFY2023£28k
THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2021£25k
THE LIDBURY FAMILY TRUSTFY2025£24k
THE MURIEL AND GERSHON COREN CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2026£20k
THE WOODLAND TRUSTFY2024£18kGrants
THE KATHLEEN SMITH FOUNDATIONFY2024£16k
THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£15k
WILLIAM ADLINGTON CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£15kEnvironment and Conservation
THE PILGRIM TRUSTFY2023£15kConservation and preservation of Kedleston Hall's Peacock Dress.
THE OFENHEIM CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£13k
THE OFENHEIM CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£12k
BROWNSEA OPEN AIR THEATRE LIMITEDFY2023£11k
THE MURIEL AND GERSHON COREN CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONFY2025£10k
JOHN & HILARY PRITCHARD TRUSTFY2024£10kWinchester City Mill repair fund
THE JOHN S COHEN FOUNDATIONFY2022£10kConservation & Environment
DEVELOPMENTS IN LITERACY UK (UK)FY2023£10kHeritage and nature conservation
THE NORTHWICK TRUSTFY2022£10k
THE ICTHIUS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£10k
THE CHARLOTTE BONHAM-CARTER CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£10k
THE CHARLOTTE BONHAM-CARTER CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2024£10k
THE NORTHWICK TRUSTFY2024£10k
THE FIELDROSE CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£10k
PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2023£10k
THE ICTHIUS CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£10k

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Heritage Fund24/06/2026£993k"#LC Shropshire Hills Landscape Connections"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund15/04/2026£205k"Explore Mottistone: A Gateway to the Isle of Wight’s Coastal Heritage"
The National Lottery Community Fund27/03/2026£24kTyfu gyda Natur / Growing with Nature
The National Lottery Heritage Fund09/12/2025£1.1m"#LC Mourne Gullion Landscape Connections"
Sport England07/11/2025£2.5mNational Trust Partnership
The National Lottery Heritage Fund27/10/2025£43k"#COED6 Glan Faenol : Ymestyn Gwreiddiau - Spreading Roots"
ARCADIA08/10/2025£1.3mTowards the restoration of the historic parkland at Tatton Park
The National Lottery Heritage Fund25/09/2025£245k"Midlands Nature Accelerator Project"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund10/09/2025£157k"The Nature & Nurture Hub: Arlington"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund12/06/2025£282k"Reconnecting Scotney"
The National Lottery Heritage Fund01/04/2025£292k"NT Project 2025"
Postcode Lottery25/02/2025£1.1mRegular Grant 2025
ARCADIA22/02/2025£11kTowards a patronage
ARCADIA31/01/2025£117kTowards Hedgerow planting
The National Lottery Heritage Fund15/01/2025£239k"Keys to the Castle – Unlocking Bodiam’s Past, Present and Future"
Foundation Scotland07/01/2025£10kSeaton Delaval Rose Garden
UK government18/11/2024£1.6mSandilands Biodiversity Enhancement
The National Lottery Heritage Fund17/09/2024£237k"Reconnecting the Rooms"
UK government28/08/2024£150kNCF: FFTN - Stage 1 National Trust
UK government15/08/2024£23kConservation and Enhancement Scheme
UK government15/08/2024£21kConservation and Enhancement Scheme
UK government15/08/2024£18kConservation and Enhancement Scheme
UK government02/07/2024£117kHosting Material Paint History: Developing a cross section of National Trust collection & interiors scientific samples.
City Bridge Foundation28/06/2024£91kGrant to National Trust Morden Hall Park
UK government21/06/2024£400kCastlefield Viaduct

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with Historic Suffolk.

Side by side with its peers

CharityIncomeTop pay bandStaff >£60kReserves vs policyFundraising costGoing concern
THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY£766.2m——unclear6.3%no doubt
Historic Suffolk FY2024£251k—0unclear—no doubt
THE NOSTELL TRUST FY2025£156k—0unclear—no doubt
LONDON HISTORIC PARKS AND GARDENS TRUST FY2024£269k—0unclear—no doubt
HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT WILDLIFE TRUST FY2025£9.9m——unclear—no doubt
THE NATIONAL MANUSCRIPTS CONSERVATION TRUST FY2025£228k—0unclear—no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.