Our funding is helping to protect the historic building and interpret and share its heritage. Flexibility has been built into Leicester Cathedral's spaces, enhancing its function as a cultural venue while maintaining its sacred atmosphere.

The transformation has improved the cathedral's lighting and decoration, and installed an accessible, environmentally-friendly heated limestone floor. The new floor respects the cathedral's historic setting and better meets the needs of the cathedral and its visitors.

The final phase of the project is a Heritage Learning Centre joined to the cathedral, which will open in late summer 2024. This multi-purpose space will be a hub for reflection and engagement, housing an interactive exhibition and dedicated learning and community area.

Our funding has also supported:

• repairs to crumbling stonework, including restoring parapets and rebuilding buttresses and facing stones
• adding new grotesques, carved to look like creatures with local associations or significance
• building capacity and recruiting and training staff and volunteers to deliver an activity programme to welcome broader audiences

Leicester Cathedral was recently featured on the BBC TV show Digging for Britain (segment begins at 49 minutes).

The Reverend Canon Karen Rooms, Acting Dean of Leicester, said: “We are restoring and renewing Leicester Cathedral so that it can be its very best as a place of worship, heritage, pilgrimage, hospitality, learning, sanctuary and celebration."

Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Thanks to National Lottery players, visitors from far and wide will be able to visit the cathedral and see the fantastic conservation work and improvements that have been undertaken."