25 years: stars launch free offers for National Lottery players

25 years: stars launch free offers for National Lottery players

Big Narstie sitting in Kenwood House
British rapper and TV star Big Narstie launches hundreds of free offers for National Lottery players at 600 of the UK’s treasured and historic places.

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 comedian Elis James have all been celebrating 25 years of The National Lottery. They’ve been giving us a cheeky tour of just some of the locations that will be offering either free entry or other exclusive treats to people who turn up with a National Lottery ticket from 23 November to 1 December.

Jamie-Lee O’Donnell with National Lottery ticket
Jamie-Lee O’Donnell at SS Nomadic

Big Narstie at Kenwood House 

To launch #ThanksToYou for 25 Years, Big Narstie visited London’s Kenwood House which has recently been refurbished and reopened thanks to funding from The National Lottery.

With his unique style the MC gives an MTV Cribs-esque take on the much-loved 17th-century house nestled in Hampstead Heath - you could be mistaken for thinking he owned it!

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All aboard SS Nomadic with Jamie-Lee 

Derry Girl Jamie-Lee takes us on a tour of SS Nomadic. Built in 1911, it was designed to transfer passengers and mail to and from RMS Titanic.

It’s the only White Star Line vessel in existence today and is now, thanks to funding from The National Lottery, a major visitor attraction in Northern Ireland. Jamie-Lee seems to think it's her own private super-yacht...

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Anton works out at Abbotsford 

Fans of ITV’s Love Island know how much housemate Anton Danyluk loves to stay toned. He takes us on a very "active" canter around Scotland’s Abbotsford, former home of Victorian novelist Sir Walter Scott.

Anton explores the house’s incredible architecture, which has benefited from National Lottery investment.

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Elis James 

Cardiff Castle is now home to comedian Elis James, or so he seems to think. He takes us on a witty tour of this popular landmark in the heart of the city, which has been restored and refurbished thanks to funding from The National Lottery.

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#ThanksToYou offers

The tours showcase just a handful of the thousands of treasured and historic places funded by The National Lottery over the past 25 years, which together have brought about a renaissance in the UK’s heritage. 

Many of them have special offers for National Lottery players this autumn. 

You could explore National Trust Erddig in Wrexham, Wales - a much-loved home, garden and estate. Enjoy a stroll around the 13.5-acre walled garden and perhaps visit the cosy Hayloft restaurant for a tasty treat. One National Lottery ticket provides free entry for one adult. Valid 23-29 November.

And it's 2 for 1 entry with a National Lottery ticket at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in County Down, Northern Ireland. Explore 100 acres of stunning gardens and book a tour of the Georgian house built by Wills Hill, which is still in use as the royal residence in Northern Ireland. Valid 23 November-1 December.

Jodrell Bank at sun set
Jodrell Bank

Or how about the incredible Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Manchester? The observatory, a recent entry to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is offering free entry valid 25 November-1 December

Visit the Thanks to You website to find the full list and search all the offers taking place in your area.

25 years of funding for heritage

Over the past 25 years, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has been the largest dedicated grant funder of the UK’s heritage. We’ve awarded £8bn to more than 44,000 projects across the UK.

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