Things to do

Visitors inside the Palm Houses look up at the plants

Visitors to the newly reopened Palm Houses at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh are immersed in ferns and palms under the restored glass roofs. Credit: Eilidh Cameron.

Stories

Heritage sites to visit this autumn

Where will you visit? Discover the latest heritage openings made possible through National Lottery funding.

A man and two children look at a machine of an Earth spinning around the sun at the Royal Observatory Greenwich

Credit: Royal Museums Greenwich.

News

Sign up your project for National Lottery Open Week 2027

It’s a great way to acknowledge your Heritage Fund grant, reach new audiences and benefit from a UK-wide PR campaign.

06/10/2026

four children hold up large letters spelling FERN, the name of the diplodocus skeleton on display behind them

Children from the local community reveal the name of Fern the Diplodocus. Photo: Trustees of the Natural History Museum.

News

#HeritageIsOpen: ten new places to visit this summer 

From museum gardens to a 1930s lido, there are plenty of opportunities to visit heritage that we have supported this summer.

16/07/2024

A family look at a bird nesting box display

RSPB Belfast Window on Wildlife is offering free entry. Credit: Brian Morrison.

News

Hundreds of special heritage offers across the UK this spring

National Lottery Open Week is back, taking place from Saturday 9 to Sunday 17 March.

27/02/2024

The Court House, Bangor.

Projects

How a derelict building on Bangor’s seafront became Northern Ireland’s newest venue

Thanks to overwhelming community support, Open House turned a former bank and court house in Bangor into a contemporary music venue, saving it from dereliction.

13/03/2018

Donaghadee Harbour with a lighthouse and a number of boats.

Donaghadee Harbour. Credit Bernie Brown bbphotographic for Tourism Ireland

Projects

Sir Samuel Kelly Lifeboat commemorated with exhibition space in Donaghadee

Donaghadee Heritage has secured £90,000 to bring the story of the lifeboat and the town's history to life.

26/06/2023

A group of swimmers in red swimsuits jumping out of the water at Cleveland Pools

Swimmers celebrating Cleveland Pools being open for swimming once again. Credit: Suzy Slemen.

Stories

Cleveland Pools opens for swimming after 40 years

The UK's oldest open-air swimming pool has reopened, following a £9.3million restoration project that brought the site back to life.

A wooden signpost pointing one way to Plymouth 300 miles away, and another way to the Tamara Coast to Coast route with Plymouth 87 miles away.

Signage at the end of the Tamara Coast to Coast. Credit: Tamara Landscape Partnership

Projects

New 87-mile walking route links Cornwall’s north and south coasts

Improved access and support for the community means that more people can discover this diverse natural landscape.

25/09/2018

Illustrated map showing 58 UK UNESCO sites

The UNESCO illustrated map, showing 58 heritage sites across the UK. Credit: Tom Woolley / UNESCO

Projects

UNESCO launch a new illustrated map of the UK’s top heritage sites

Designed by Birmingham-based creative cartographer Tom Woolley, the map shows all 58 sites, cities and natural landscapes, helping to bring to life the huge variety of heritage on people’s doorsteps.

13/07/2022

A close up of a person conserving a painting on display in the National Portrait Gallery

A conservator works on a painting ready for the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery. Credit: David Parry

News

What can you see when the National Portrait Gallery reopens?

Following a transformational project, supported by a £9.4million National Lottery grant, the National Portrait Gallery in London has reopened its doors.

15/06/2023

Children and adults take part in traditional heritage crafts

Ulster Folk Museum is offering free entry on 25 and 26 March

News

Free entry and special offers at hundreds of heritage places this spring

From 18-26 March, for National Lottery Open Week, heritage venues across the UK are running special offers for anyone with a National Lottery ticket or scratchcard.

13/03/2023