The National Lottery at 25

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.

Venetian Waterways boating lake

Stories

25 years: reviving the forgotten heritage of The Broads

Great Yarmouth A stone’s throw from the heart of The Broads and its sprawling landscape in the East of England, is the seaside town of Great Yarmouth. As we hear more and more that our coastal towns are suffering from neglect, National Lottery funding over the last 25 years has aimed to buck the
Cat Jessop Rochdale Pioneers Museum

Stories

25 years: inspiring passion, people and pride in Rochdale

“The River Roch ran beneath our feet encased in slabs of grey concrete but now it runs again so free as once it was and so should be..."* Set on the foothills of the sweeping Pennines, Rochdale was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. A hub of the ancient wool trade, by the 1900s the booming
Dundee landscape

Stories

25 years: the cultural renaissance of Dundee, City of Discovery

Dundee: rising from the River Tay Scotland’s fourth largest city, with a population of 150,000, sits on the Firth of Tay on the east coast of Scotland. Today, the river that shaped its past is helping define its future. Home to innovation and industry Dundee began as a strategic trading post and
Rory Sky

Stories

25 years: from church to grime, Waltham Forest celebrates its heritage

“Thank you Lottery, I feel like a winner!” - Rory Sky What links a church, a dry cleaners and grime music? A difficult question but in this London borough at least, it’s clear – it's National Lottery investment and a growing sense of pride. A place of heritage In Lloyd Park , just outside the
Saoirse-Monica Jackson

Stories

25 years: Derry Girls star takes us on a tour of her home city

Derry~Londonderry Also known as the Walled City thanks to its historic 17 th -century walls, Derry~Londonderry is Northern Ireland’s second-largest city. It is home to over 150,000 people and a wealth of heritage treasures, including museums, arts venues, cathedrals, parks and waterways. Over the