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Areas, buildings and monuments

Areas, buildings and monuments

People walking up steps to a castle with turret
Lincoln Castle. Credit: Colin McLean Photography
Safeguarding our historic buildings, monuments and archaeology for future generations.

Since 1994 we have awarded £3.3billion to more than 10,300 area, historic building and monument projects across the UK.

These projects can help to sustain jobs, support economic growth and protect heritage at risk. They can also bolster local pride, nurture traditional craft skills and help communities enjoy and make use of the places they care about.

What do we support?

Projects we fund include:

  • investment in places of worship
  • conservation and repairs to historic buildings and places
  • finding appropriate new uses for historic buildings
  • community archaeology projects

Places of worship

Places of worship are among the UK’s oldest and most cherished historic buildings. We want to help congregations become truly resilient and their buildings genuinely sustainable.

Places of worship we fund

Project ideas

Our funding could help people:

  • repair and transform a historic building at the heart of their community
  • help volunteers learn building conservation skills
  • rescue a building on a Buildings at Risk register
  • undertake a community archaeology project
  • regenerate a historic town centre or high street
  • look after and learn about a local war memorial

For more inspiration, see the stories below or browse projects we've funded.

How to get funding

Our National Lottery Heritage Grants programme is open for applications.

Find out more and apply
Visitors stand on the Hogarth Stair and look up at The Pool of Bethesda painting
Visitors stand in front of The Pool of Bethesda painting. Credit: Matthew Andrews

News

£4.9million to restore the heritage treasures of St Bartholomew’s Hospital

Thanks to the National Lottery funding, the ‘Sharing Historic Barts’ project will address urgent repairs to historic spaces situated in the Grade I listed North Wing of the hospital, including the 18th-century Great Hall. It will also provide a public programme with heritage and wellbeing at its
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral has received a £4.3million grant for their 2020s Development Appeal.

News

£5.5million awarded to conserve cathedrals and churches across the UK

From conserving magnificent stained glass windows to creating accessible facilities, these places of worship and community hubs will be thriving again – thanks to National Lottery players.
Three people standing underneath a big palm tree in a conservatory
Frankie Toner, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at National Lottery Heritage Fund with Simon Milne MBE, Regius Keeper and Emma Lacroix, Director of Development at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Credit: David Cheskin

News

£4million to save Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's iconic glasshouses

The investment will also help to look after rare, extraordinary plants, encouraging visitors of all ages to care about the environment.
Six people posing for a picture in front of a Jazz music archive, including posters and frames
Engagement Manager Dawn Bainbridge (centre) on the job – visiting a jazz archive project

Blogs

Luton: A vibrant, diverse town with a rich heritage identity

Our Engagement Manager for England, Midlands & East, Dawn Bainbridge, tells us about our work and investment into Luton’s heritage – one of our 13 Areas of Focus.
The Bradford skyline
The Bradford skyline

News

We welcome Bradford as City of Culture 2025

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced that Bradford will follow in Coventry’s footsteps to become the UK’s next City of Culture.
People sitting in a sunny park, near a bandstand
Pearson Park in Kingston upon Hull

Hub

Thriving Places

We are committed to supporting heritage projects that create better places to live, work and visit.
Three people standing at a gate. Behind them are white farm buildings. They are holding a blues circular The NAtional Lottery Heritage FUnd sign
Heritage Fund support for Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne.

Projects

Saving the Home of Auld Lang Syne

Around the world people come together singing Auld Lang Syne. National Lottery funding is helping to secure the future of the Scottish farm where Robert Burns wrote it.

People sitting on deck chairs wearing party hats in front of Birnbeck Pier
Celebrations are underway as we announce £10m of funding to bring the Grade II* listed Birnbeck Pier back to life (left to right: Gill Crocker, Marni Eddins and Lou Eddins).

News

£10million awarded to help save Birnbeck Pier

The unique Victorian landmark has been given a lifeline on its 160th anniversary, thanks to National Lottery players.
The exterior of Calverley Old Hall following the restoration.
The exterior of Calverley Old Hall following the restoration.

Projects

Reviving Calverley Old Hall in West Yorkshire

Conservation of the medieval building along with contemporary design has brought the site into new use as self-catering accommodation and a community space.

An auditorium full of people watching Wynne Evan’s Townhall Showdown
Newbridge Memo welcomed BBC Radio Wales to host Wynne Evan’s Townhall Showdown. Credit: Newbridge Memo.

Projects

Newbridge’s arts and heritage hub safeguarded for the community

This historic miners’ institute, with its 1920s Art Deco theatre, ballroom and versatile spaces now hosts a variety of activities that benefit local people.

A group of people in hard hats and hi-vis jackets standing under Glasgow Meat Market's historic sheds.
Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland (centre) with Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, and representatives of Glasgow Meat Market Regeneration CIC.

Projects

A thriving community hub is taking shape at Glasgow's Meat Market

Regeneration plans for Glasgow’s former East End Meat Market to become a thriving hub for community, sport and local business have been given a huge boost with the announcement of £2.3million of National Lottery support.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.