Queer Britain
Queer Britain is the UK's first and only national LGBTQ+ museum (charity no. 1180240), operating from King's Cross, London since May 2022. It runs permanent galleries, exhibitions, oral-history and community-residency programmes funded by donations, memberships, patrons and corporate sponsors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Queer Britain does
Queer Britain is the UK's first and only dedicated national LGBTQ+ museum, operating as a registered charity (Queer Britain Museum Ltd, charity no. 1180240, company no. 11253032) at a single physical site in Granary Square, King's Cross, London since 4 May 2022. The museum preserves and presents queer British history through permanent galleries, themed displays (six new sections launched February 2026: Resist!, Body and Mind, The World Around Us, Queer Creativity, Club Kids, Live, Laugh Love), rotating exhibitions, oral history projects (Virtually Queer, The Quilt podcast), and a Community Residency Programme targeting underrepresented groups including Traveller+, Migrant Men+ and ESEA communities. It runs Museum Lates, walking tours, an annual Madame F Queer Britain Art Award, private tours for groups up to 25, venue hire, and an annual summer music takeover at King's Cross.
The business model is community-led and donation-funded — the museum receives no government funding. Core revenue streams include pay-what-you-can admissions, four-tier membership subscriptions (£10–83.35/month), a four-tier patron programme (£210–2,100/month), a Corporate Supporters' Club led by Diageo alongside Levi's, Coutts, Aviva, Meta, EY and others, venue and private-tour hire, a Shopify merchandise store, and grants from Arts Council England, Art Fund, and Mindsets + Missions. Supporting infrastructure is non-technical: Shopify for e-commerce, Joinit for membership processing, Enthuse for donation payments, Outsavvy for ticketing, and Vimeo for video, with the organisation's archive physically housed at Bishopsgate Institute. Visitor count has reached 100,000+ since opening (30,000+ per year currently), served by a small team plus 800+ volunteers.
Queer Britain firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Queer Britain
- Legal name
- Queer Britain Museum Ltd
- Website
- https://queerbritain.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Queer Britain is the UK's first and only national LGBTQ+ museum (charity no. 1180240), operating from King's Cross, London since May 2022. It runs permanent galleries, exhibitions, oral-history and community-residency programmes funded by donations, memberships, patrons and corporate sponsors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Queer Britain industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cultural Museum
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cultural Heritage & Indigenous-Led Visitor Services (Tribal Tours, Heritage Sites, Co-management) (THAAAGAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)
Keywords
Where Queer Britain is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Queer Britain business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Admissions: Pay-what-you-can donation model for museum admission; no mandatory entry fee
- Membership Subscriptions: Monthly and annual membership tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) ranging from £10/month to £83.35/month, providing free entry, discounts, and exclusive access to events
- Patron Program: High-value patron program with Bronze (£210/month), Silver (£420/month), Gold (£840/month), and Platinum (£2,100/month) tiers offering private tours, curator access, archive exploration, and annual dinners
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate Supporters' Club with business members and sponsors including Diageo (main partner), Levi's (longtime partner), Aviva, Meta, EY, Herbert Smith Freehills, Skittles UK, and others
- Venue Hire: Private event hire of museum space for receptions, meetings, book launches, and community events
- Merchandise Sales: Online store selling merchandise and queer gifts through Shopify platform
- Grants and Fundraising: Grants from Arts Council England, Art Fund, Mindsets + Missions, and other institutional funders; crowdfunding campaigns
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-what-you-can admission |
| Subscription | Monthly | Bronze Membership - £10/month or £120/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Silver Membership - £20.85/month or £250/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Membership - £41.50/month or £500/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Platinum Membership - £83.35/month or £1,000/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Bronze Patron - £210/month or £2,500/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Silver Patron - £420/month or £5,000/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Gold Patron - £840/month or £10,000/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Platinum Patron - £2,100/month or £25,000/year |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Event Tickets |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Private Tours |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Queer Britain product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Queer Britain operates the UK's first and only national LGBTQ+ museum, delivering a permanent exhibition programme, temporary exhibitions, and cultural events from a physical site. It monetises this core activity through paid admission, a tiered membership and patron programme, venue hire for corporate and private events, private tours, an online retail store for merchandise, and fundraising via donations, sponsorships, and grants.
Product overview
Queer Britain is the UK's first and only national LGBTQ+ museum, operating as a single physical museum venue supplemented by digital products. The core offering includes free museum admission (with 'pay what you can' donations) and a tiered membership/patrons programme. Supporting revenue products include venue hire for private events, after-hours private tours for groups, an online Shopify store, and various public programming such as Museum Lates, walking tours, and the annual Madame F Art Award. Digital products include The Quilt podcast and the Virtually Queer oral history project. The Community Residency Programme provides creative space for underrepresented groups. The museum relies entirely on donations, memberships, patrons, and sponsors without government funding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Museum Admission
Quantifiable outcome
- 100,000+ visitors since opening in May 2022
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Queer Britain
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Queer Britain technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Queer Britain partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- UK Black PridecoreCollaboration on 20 Years of UK Black Pride exhibition (June-August 2025) celebrating the biggest LGBTQ+ event for Black and global majority people, founded in 2005. Co-founder Lady Phyll involved in exhibition development.
- NetflixsupportingCommissioned room-sized Pride flag for Heartstopper Season 3 launch, designed by Raph Dilhan with hand-embroidered fan messages. Cast visited on launch day.
- Traveller PridecoreFirst community residency partner for LGBTQ+ Traveller+ community. Residency resulted in 'We Are LGBTQ+ Travellers' exhibition featuring work by community members.
- Maureen (Love Tank Project)supportingPartnership on second community residency for LGBTQ Migrant Men+ resulting in exhibition and screening.
- Queer China UKsupportingPartnership on third community residency for LGBTQIA+ East and Southeast Asians resulting in exhibition.
- Aunt NellcorePodcast production company co-directed by Tash Walker, Shivani Dave and Adam Zmith. Collaboration on oral histories project capturing LGBTQ+ stories throughout UK, resulting in The Quilt podcast and Best Practice Guide Toolkit. Funded by Mindsets + Missions.
- Levi'scoreLongtime partner since 2019. Levi's provides archive pieces for exhibitions including Icons in Denim pop-up (first time displayed outside US), supporting Chosen Family exhibition and ongoing events. Levi's staff have participated in Pride marches.
- Christie'ssupportingPartnership on Christie's Lates Pride (May 2023) - after-hours evening dedicated to LGBTQ+ community with art exhibitions, panel discussions, and events.
- Skittles UKsupportingPartner on Queer Joy exhibition (2023) along with Gay Times and Getty Images, showcasing 50 portraits of queer people across King's Cross outdoor art benches.
- Gay TimessupportingMedia partner on Queer Joy exhibition with Skittles UK and Getty Images.
- Getty ImagessupportingContent partner on Queer Joy exhibition showcasing emerging LGBTQ+ photographers.
- gal-demsupportingMedia partner on Chosen Family exhibition (2019) with Levi's, featuring four photographers responding to theme of queer family life.
- DiageocoreTwo-year partnership announced May 2022 to capture lost LGBTQ+ contributions to UK history and culture. Diageo provides funding to support museum setup and archive development, with archivists from brands like Guinness and Johnnie Walker upskilling volunteers. Partnership celebrated 50 years of UK Pride.
- Art FundcoreArt Fund is the landlord for Queer Britain's physical home at Granary Square. As a charity owning the building, Art Fund provides the museum space and has been supportive of Queer Britain's proposal for the first UK museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ histories.
- Madame F WinecoreAnnual partnership for Madame F Queer Britain Art Award since 2021. Madame F provides sponsorship enabling cash prizes (£1,500, £1,000, £500) and winning artworks feature on merchandise. Wine donated for events.
- Goldsmiths, University of LondonsupportingResearch partnership on Queer Pandemic: Resilience in Times of Crisis oral history project. Dr Justin Bengry (Director, Centre for Queer History) leads research with undergraduate/postgraduate students.
- Kent State UniversitysupportingResearch partnership on Queer Pandemic project. Dr. Molly Merryman (Director, Kent State University Center for the Study of Gender & Sexuality) leads research team.
- M&C SaatchisupportingCreative agency providing pro bono support for various events including Mark Gatiss Mr Lucas event and parliamentary reception.
- Sounds QueersupportingLive music showcase that champions diverse voices from LGBTQ+ community. Partner on QB X Summer Sounds takeover events at King's Cross Summer Sounds festival (annual).
- Arts TrustsupportingArts organization partnering on Summer Sounds music events.
- Herbert Smith FreehillssupportingLaw firm providing pro bono legal support. Charity partner at their LGBT summer party (2018). Exhibition sponsor for We Are Queer Britain! opening.
- BFI FlaresupportingPartnership on pop-up display celebrating 40-year history of landmark film festival as part of 2026 gallery redevelopment.
- Bishopsgate InstitutecoreArchives are housed at Bishopsgate Institute and can be accessed for research purposes. Partner on various events including Mark Gatiss Mr Lucas diaries reading.
- Crack MagazinesupportingEditorial partnership on Here, There, Everywhere project mapping 50 years of British LGBTQ+ club history.
- Terrence Higgins TrustsupportingPartnership on Terry Higgins Memorial Quilt installation (June 2025) marking what would have been Terry Higgins' 80th birthday.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Queer Britain competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Stonewall (UK): Stonewall is the UK's leading LGBTQ+ rights charity, co-founded by advisors connected to Queer Britain. While not a museum, it overlaps in mission (LGBTQ+ representation, education, corporate engagement) and shares the same donor and corporate sponsor base.
- Jewish Museum London: The Jewish Museum London is a comparable niche heritage museum institution addressing cultural representation and community education. Similar in operating model as a community-focused identity museum with educational programming and corporate partnerships.
Broad incumbents
- Tate Modern: Tate Modern is a major London museum with significant overlap in audience, corporate sponsorship base, and contemporary art programming. It is an incumbent in the broader London museum ecosystem where Queer Britain competes for visitor attention, sponsorships, and cultural relevance.
- Museum of London: The Museum of London covers broader British history and social themes. Comparable as a London museum institution with educational programming, corporate venue hire, and overlapping school group audiences - though serving a wider subject scope than Queer Britain's LGBTQ+ focus.
- Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A): The V&A is a major London design and decorative arts museum with broad visitor appeal. It serves as an incumbent comparable to Queer Britain in scale, visitor mix, and corporate engagement strategy, though operating across much wider subject matter.
- Design Museum: The Design Museum is a London contemporary museum led by Lycia Lobo (Queer Britain's Board Chair) as COO. It shares comparable operational scale, London visitor base, corporate sponsorship model, and leadership overlap.
Direct peers
- Schwules Museum: Berlin's Schwules Museum is the world's first LGBTQ+ museum, founded in 1985. It is the most direct comparable to Queer Britain as a dedicated LGBTQ+ museum/heritage institution with exhibitions, archive, and educational programming serving similar audiences.
- Leslie Lohman Museum of Art: New York's Leslie Lohman Museum of Art is a dedicated LGBTQ+ visual arts museum. It is directly comparable as a niche museum institution serving queer artistic and cultural heritage with exhibitions, education, and community programming.
- Bishopsgate Institute: Bishopsgate Institute is a London-based heritage and cultural institution housing Queer Britain's physical archives. Directly comparable as a queer/LGBTQ+ archive and cultural institution serving overlapping audiences and offering similar educational programming.
- ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives: ONE Archives at the USC Libraries is the oldest active LGBTQ+ archive in the US. Comparable to Queer Britain as an LGBTQ+ heritage institution with archive, exhibitions, and community-driven content - though more archive-focused than museum.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Queer Britain social profiles
Digital presenceQueer Britain compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Queer Britain financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Queer Britain leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Queer Britain funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Queer Britain M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Queer Britain
What does Queer Britain do?
Queer Britain operates the UK's first and only national LGBTQ+ museum, delivering a permanent exhibition programme, temporary exhibitions, and cultural events from a physical site. It monetises this core activity through paid admission, a tiered membership and patron programme, venue hire for corporate and private events, private tours, an online retail store for merchandise, and fundraising via donations, sponsorships, and grants.
Is Queer Britain a public or private company?
Queer Britain is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Queer Britain founded?
Queer Britain was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Queer Britain based?
Queer Britain is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Queer Britain make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Donations and Admissions are the primary driver. The others are membership Subscriptions, patron Program, corporate Sponsorship, venue Hire, merchandise Sales and grants and Fundraising.
Who are Queer Britain's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Stonewall (UK) and Jewish Museum London. Broad incumbents are Tate Modern, Museum of London, Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and Design Museum. Direct peers are Schwules Museum, Leslie Lohman Museum of Art, Bishopsgate Institute and ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives.
Does Queer Britain have an API?
No public API is recorded for Queer Britain.
What industry is Queer Britain in?
Queer Britain's product category is Cultural Museum. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAGAL, Cultural Heritage & Indigenous-Led Visitor Services (Tribal Tours, Heritage Sites, Co-management), with a secondary code of CRALAJAG, Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops. Its NAICS code is 7121 and its SIC code is 7900.