The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Also known as: The Shakespeare Birth Place Trust, The Shakespeare Trust
To promote in every part of the world the appreciation and study of the plays and works of William Shakespeare.To maintain and preserve the Shakespeare birthplace properties for the benefit of the nation.To provide and maintain a museum and a library of books, manuscripts, records of historical interest and objects of antiquity with reference to Shakespeare, his life works and times.
Activities & Mission
To promote in every part of the world the appreciation and study of the plays and works of William Shakespeare.To maintain and preserve the Shakespeare birthplace properties for the benefit of the nation.To provide and maintain a museum and a library of books, manuscripts, records of historical interest and objects of antiquity with reference to Shakespeare, his life works and times.
Grants
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust makes grants as part of its work.
- Gives grants to
- individuals
- Total spending (2025)
- £10,405,000
- Only charities with income over £500,000 file a separate grants figure.
- Who it helps
- other defined groups and the general public
- What it supports
- general charitable purposes, education and training, arts, culture, heritage, or science and the environment, conservation, or heritage
As recorded with the Charity Commission. To ask about applying, use the contact details and check the trustees and latest accounts below.
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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.
Local Authority
Financial Information
Financial Efficiency
Higher than 64% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M (sample: 126). How is this calculated?
Higher than 32% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M. How is this calculated?
Lower overhead than 21% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £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 | £8,681,000 | £10,405,000 | £7,947,000 | £26,730,000 | £3,300,000 | 155 / 64 |
| 2024 | £8,440,000 | £10,356,000 | £7,971,000 | £28,096,000 | £1,300,000 | 164 / 71 |
| 2023 | £8,733,000 | £9,072,000 | £6,799,000 | £30,232,000 | £4,730,000 | 150 / 36 |
| 2022 | £5,770,000 | £7,342,000 | £5,500,000 | £29,329,000 | £4,974,000 | 131 / 100 |
| 2021 | £3,181,000 | £6,076,000 | £4,669,000 | £28,824,000 | £5,121,000 | 129 / 100 |
Staff column shows: Employees / Volunteers
Frequently asked questions about The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
What does The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust do?
To promote in every part of the world the appreciation and study of the plays and works of William Shakespeare.To maintain and preserve the Shakespeare birthplace properties for the benefit of the nation.To provide and maintain a museum and a library of books, manuscripts, records of historical interest and objects of antiquity with reference to Shakespeare, his life works and times.
How much income did The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust report in 2025?
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust reported total income of £8.68m and reported expenditure of £10.40m for the financial year ending 2025, based on the most recent annual return filed with the Charity Commission.
How efficient is The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust?
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has a program ratio of 91.5%, meaning that share of its income goes directly to charitable activities. This is higher than 64% of UK Heritage charities with income £1M to £10M (sample of 126 charities). See our methodology for how this is calculated.
When was The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust registered as a charity?
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 7 February 1963 as charity number 209302. It has been registered for 63 years.
Who runs The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust?
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is governed by a board of 11 trustees. The chair of trustees is Viscountess Penelope Ann Cobham CBE. Trustees are legally responsible for the charity's governance and are listed in full on its profile.
Where does The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust operate?
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust operates in Warwickshire, as recorded in its Charity Commission filing.
Is The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust a registered charity?
Yes — The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 209302.
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Registry Information
Other notable Heritage charities
Major UK charities in the same primary sector, drawn from the curated priority cohort.
- Wellcome TrustIncome: £589,458,608
- The Royal National Lifeboat InstitutionIncome: £286,700,000
- Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsIncome: £194,964,000
- The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical Philosophical and Philological StudiesIncome: £106,153,895
- The Woodland TrustIncome: £89,379,000
Trustees
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 1 other charity
Also governs 2 other charities
Also governs 2 other charities
Also Known As
- The Shakespeare Birth Place Trust
- The Shakespeare Trust
Data & trust
- Register data refreshed
- 2 November 2026
- Methodology
- How metrics are calculated