The Design Museum
The principal activity of The Design Museum is to operate charitable and educational activities located at the Museum in London and the trading activities of the subsidiary, Design Museum Enterprises Limited.
Activities & Mission
The principal activity of The Design Museum is to operate charitable and educational activities located at the Museum in London and the trading activities of the subsidiary, Design Museum Enterprises Limited.
Areas of Operation
Where this charity is registered to operate, as self-declared to the Charity Commission. These are regulatory classifications, not a list of active programmes, and don't necessarily indicate fundraising activity in each location.
Region
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 15% of UK Heritage charities with income over £10M (sample: 54). How is this calculated?
Higher than 9% of UK Heritage charities with income over £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 6% of UK Heritage charities with income over £10M. (Lower overhead is generally read as more efficient.) How is this calculated?
Latest Financial Breakdown
Income Sources
Expenditure Categories
Financial Trend
Annual Returns
As filed with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Most recent filing covers the financial year ending 2025.
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure | Charitable Spending | Net Assets | Reserves | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | £17,177,844 | £14,860,362 | £8,969,180 | £30,896,548 | £0 | 191 / 37 |
| 2024 | £12,448,300 | £13,933,516 | £8,960,489 | £28,579,063 | £0 | 180 / 60 |
| 2023 | £8,904,630 | £11,806,196 | £7,827,554 | £30,064,279 | £0 | 166 / 88 |
| 2022 | £8,233,420 | £11,537,571 | £7,067,755 | £32,965,845 | £0 | 139 / 0 |
| 2021 | £10,063,962 | £8,475,369 | £5,211,283 | £36,269,996 | £3,537,011 | 132 / 0 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Design Museum
What does The Design Museum do?
The principal activity of The Design Museum is to operate charitable and educational activities located at the Museum in London and the trading activities of the subsidiary, Design Museum Enterprises Limited.
How much income did The Design Museum report in 2025?
The Design Museum reported total income of £17.18m and reported expenditure of £14.86m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Design Museum?
The Design Museum has a program ratio of 52.2%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 15% of UK Heritage charities with income over £10M (sample of 54 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Design Museum registered as a charity?
The Design Museum was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 10 January 1989 as charity number 800630. It has been registered for 37 years.
Who runs The Design Museum?
The Design Museum is governed by a board of 12 trustees. The chair of trustees is Stuart Roden. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Design Museum operate?
The Design Museum operates in England, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is The Design Museum a registered charity?
Yes — The Design Museum is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 800630.
Details
London
W8 6AG
Registry Information
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Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
Trustees
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 3 other charities
Sectors & Classifications
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 14 May 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated