THE HORNIMAN PUBLIC MUSEUM AND PUBLIC PARK TRUST
Provision of a public, educational Museum and Gardens
Latest income
£10.4m
Latest spending
£9.5m
Registered
1990
Accounts read
FY2025
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net income of £1,046,000 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in a surplus. Free reserves stood at £2,604,000, which is significantly above the trustees' stated minimum policy target of £700,000. The pension scheme is in surplus, and the auditors confirmed there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
Highest-paid employee band: £120,001 - £130,000 — below the median for charities its size (£130k)
“Total remuneration £120,000-£130,000” — page 30
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Employees paid over £60,000: 4
“In addition three members of key management personnel listed received emoluments in the range £70-£80k (2024 - 2) and one in the range £80-90k (2024 - 1). No other members of staff received emoluments above £70K.” — page 50
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: £700,000 (held: £2.6m)
“The Trustees have reviewed the level of Free Reserves and consider £700K to be a minimum level”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Trustee donations
“During the year donations totalling £1k were made to the Trust by three Trustees (2024 £8k, seven Trustees).” — page 59
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Governance: Internal audit opinion was Limited
“This year, the internal audit opinion was Limited, stating that “There is considerable risk that the system of internal control, governance and risk management will fail to meet management's objectives. Significant improvements are required to improve the adequacy and / or effectiveness of governance, risk management and internal control.”” — page 36
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Horniman Museum Enterprises Limited
“Horniman Museum Enterprises Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, began trading on 1 April 2005 and its results have been consolidated from that date.” — page 28
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
In the news
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Nick Merriman — Chief Executive
Funders the charity credits
- Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Total income
£10.4m
Total spending
£9.5m
Cost of raising funds
£1.0m
Reserves (reported)
£2.6m
Employees
143
Trustees
- Michael Salter-Church MBEchair
- DIANA MAINE
- Edmund Philip Neuberger
- Eva Appelbaum
- Mayowa Ochere
- Naila Yousuf
- Nicholas Wyver
- Patrick Toshio Barker
- Rodney Phillip Taylor
- Roma Angela Nelson Dibua
- Simon Hesketh
- Somi Umolu
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £10.4m | £9.5m |
| 31/03/2024 | £10.1m | £9.1m |
| 31/03/2023 | £9.8m | £9.6m |
| 31/03/2022 | £7.9m | £8.6m |
| 31/03/2021 | £7.2m | £7.6m |
Common questions
Is THE HORNIMAN PUBLIC MUSEUM AND PUBLIC PARK TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net income of £1,046,000 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in a surplus. Free reserves stood at £2,604,000, which is significantly above the trustees' stated minimum policy target of £700,000. The pension scheme is in surplus, and the auditors confirmed there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Moore Kingston Smith LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of THE HORNIMAN PUBLIC MUSEUM AND PUBLIC PARK TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £120,001 - £130,000 band, and 4 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds THE HORNIMAN PUBLIC MUSEUM AND PUBLIC PARK TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name THE HORNIMAN PUBLIC MUSEUM AND PUBLIC PARK TRUST as a grant recipient include KUSUMA TRUST UK, THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION, GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION, THE EIGHTY EIGHT FOUNDATION, NATIONAL ART COLLECTIONS FUND.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | FY2025 | £500k | Nature + Love |
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | FY2024 | £500k | Nature + Love |
| THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £343k | Towards Nature + Love gallery and garden redevelopment project to widen audiences and support environmental sustainability ambitions |
| GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £300k | Museums & Heritage |
| THE EIGHTY EIGHT FOUNDATION | FY2025 | £17k | |
| NATIONAL ART COLLECTIONS FUND | FY2024 | £13k | London |
| THE EIGHTY EIGHT FOUNDATION | FY2024 | £4k | Stated amount |
| DR RADCLIFFE'S TRUST | FY2023 | £4k | The Cut Of Her Cloth |
| WE ARE UNLIMITED ARTS | FY2023 | £3k | Note 7 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 30/11/2021 | £7.2m | "Nature + Love" |
| Greater London Authority | 01/12/2020 | £14k | Grant to Horniman Museum and Gardens |
| Greater London Authority | 01/05/2019 | £2k | Grant to Horniman Museum and Gardens |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £90k | Music in the Making - Gallery Improvements |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £947k | National portfolio organisation 2018 - 2022 |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 21/04/2016 | £272k | "Acquisition of four historic keyboard instruments from Finchcocks for use and display" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 30/09/2014 | £3.5m | "Collections People Stories" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 23/03/2009 | £979k | "Horniman Gardens" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 11/01/2007 | £19k | "Horniman Abolition of Transatlantic Slavery Commemorations 2007." |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 20/11/2006 | £47k | "Horniman Gardens" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 27/05/2005 | £40k | "Horniman Africa 2005" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 06/06/2003 | £222k | "Acquisition of the Boosey & Hawkes Collection and Archive" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 23/07/1998 | £9.9m | "Horniman 2001, Forest Hill" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 26/01/1998 | £227k | "Horniman 2001 Development Study" |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 26/11/1997 | £9k | "Horniman Gardens, Restoration Plan" |
| UK government | — | £6k | DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE JULIA RAUSING TRUST | 1 | £761k |
| THE MASTER CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £733k |
| LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM FRIENDS | 1 | £639k |
| THE JOHN R. MURRAY CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £205k |
| THE BOWERMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £27k |
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | 1 | £25k |
| THE BOLTINI TRUST | 1 | £8k |
| THE FINNIS SCOTT FOUNDATION | 1 | £750 |
Charities like this
- THE GUNNERSBURY MUSEUM AND PARK DEVELOPMENT TRUST
- PETWORTH FESTIVAL
- LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM LIMITED
- LONDON HISTORIC PARKS AND GARDENS TRUST
- HEUGH GUN BATTERY TRUST LIMITED
- SEFTON PARK PALM HOUSE PRESERVATION TRUST
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE HORNIMAN PUBLIC MUSEUM AND PUBLIC PARK TRUST | £10.4m | £120,001 - £130,000 | 4 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE GUNNERSBURY MUSEUM AND PARK DEVELOPMENT TRUST | £2.5m | £90,000 - £99,999 | 1 | below | — | no doubt |
| PETWORTH FESTIVAL | £560k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM LIMITED | £19.9m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| LONDON HISTORIC PARKS AND GARDENS TRUST | £269k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| HEUGH GUN BATTERY TRUST LIMITED | £174k | — | 0 | below | — | no doubt |