The National Lottery at 25
The National Lottery celebrates its 25th Birthday in 2019 and the £40billion raised for good causes in that time has had an extraordinary impact on life here in the UK, ushering in a golden age for UK heritage.
Since the first draw took place on 19 November 1994, The National Lottery has brought about a renaissance in our national heritage, transforming many of our great institutions and reaching into every community in the land.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s investment amounts to £8billion so far. From Bute to Blaenavon and Derry to Dungeness, we’ve funded more than 44,000 projects in our 25 years.
Explore below to discover stories of people across the UK celebrating, reviving and sharing their heritage thanks to The National Lottery.
Stories
Nine ways to celebrate 2019
2019 was a year of looking back – to all the projects we’ve funded since the first National Lottery draw in 1994 – and looking forward, with our new name, structure and ways we give out our grants. This is just a few of the things we were proud to have achieved in 2019... A revolution in heritage
Blogs
Telling the nation's stories
Our outgoing chair Sir Peter Luff looks back at five years at The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Stories
25 years: our advent calendar
Heritage can be so many things – memories, archives, parks, museums, landscapes, culture... This month we present just a small selection of some fantastic projects supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund over the past 25 years. We'll be sharing a different project on each day of advent
Stories
25 years: astronaut Tim Peake celebrates National Lottery funding for world of science
Major Tim Peake reveals ten top scientific attractions in the UK to celebrate The National Lottery’s 25th Birthday - and the £596million it was awarded to science museums and science and education projects.
Stories
25 years: The Silverstone Experience says #ThanksToYou!
In October 2019, the brand-new Silverstone Experience opened its doors to the public at the famous motor racing circuit. Housed in a former Second World War RAF hangar, and seven years in the making, it allows visitors to journey through the history of motor sport and Silverstone’s fascinating
Stories
Free offers across the UK for National Lottery players
It's to say "Thank You" for raising more than £40billion for good causes over the last 25 years. A celebration of 25 years Last night (20 November), activist and actress Lily Cole flicked the switch to illuminate the Eden Project’s Biomes, transforming them into iconic National Lottery balls. The
Stories
25 years: what has The National Lottery ever done for us?
This week marks the 25th Birthday of the first National Lottery draw so it’s a good time to ask: what has the National Lottery ever done for us? Thankfully Jimmy Carr and a host of famous faces are on hand to help with the answer. In a parody of the ‘What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us’ scene from
Stories
25 years: we share our memories
It's 25 years since The National Lottery began. In celebration, staff from The National Lottery Heritage Fund take a look back at some of our favourite memories.
News
Inspiring Medicine galleries open at the Science Museum
Opening just a few days before The National Lottery’s 25th Birthday, support for Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries brings National Lottery investment at the London museum to nearly £34million. "Telling those stories has opened up whole worlds of scientific heritage to be enjoyed and to inspire new
Stories
25 years of funding for UK heritage: our film
As the largest dedicated grant funder of the UK’s heritage, our distribution of National Lottery funding has reached every corner of the country. Over the past 25 years we've helped deliver significant benefits to historic and treasured buildings, wildlife and habitats, parks and the great outdoors
News
25 years: stars launch free offers for National Lottery players
The offers are to say "Thanks to You" to people who buy National Lottery tickets. They also give National Lottery players the chance to see how their money has transformed the UK’s heritage over the past 25 years. Big Narstie, Derry Girls' Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Love Island’s Anton Danyluk and
Stories
10 ways to help make a difference to the natural world
Together, our gardens and outdoor spaces create a vast living landscape. With an estimated 24million gardens in the UK, you can help make a big difference to the natural world right on your doorstep.