World-Famous Astronaut Tim Peake reveals his top science and education attractions in the UK to celebrate The National Lottery's 25th Birthday

Today, world-renowned British ESA astronaut, Tim Peake, reveals ten top scientific and educational attractions across the UK that have been made possible by funding from The National Lottery. This comes as part of the 25th birthday celebrations for The National Lottery and the support it has given to science and education in that time. Major Tim Peake is supporting The National Lottery’s birthday campaign because of the impact The National Lottery has had on the UK over the past 25 years.

Major Tim Peake said: “The National Lottery has played a significant part in furthering science and education over the past 25 years and this can be seen in abundance through these attractions. The Science Museum, for instance, is visited by over 3.3 million people a year who flock to see remarkable objects like The Apollo 10 command module, a truly inspiring exhibit.

“Jodrell Bank is also particularly special to me, since the inspiration for my career path was born by simply looking up to the stars and being intensely curious about what the universe was all about. Jodrell gives us that innate connection to our origins and how we came to be here. No matter what your age, every one of these experiences provide an amazing opportunity to educate and inspire – two things which are integral to being human. It’s absolutely wonderful that The National Lottery has helped make these experiences possible, which will continue to open the eyes and minds of this generation and the ones to come.”

The list of top National Lottery-funded scientific attractions includes just 10 of over 700 science projects across the UK that The National Lottery has helped to fund, thanks to its players. More than £596 million of National Lottery funding has been awarded to science-related museums and projects across the UK over the past 25 years, including institutions such as the Science Museum in London, W5 Science & Discovery Centre in Belfast and the University Museum of Zoology in Cambridge.

From discovering the great and gruesome history of medicine at the Science Museum’s new Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries, to inspiring your inner astronaut at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, there’s something to fascinate all ages in The National Lottery’s new list.

Ten Top Scientific Attractions in the UK supported by The National Lottery


Science Museum (London) – Every year millions of people flock to the Science Museum to visit its world-class collection of scientific, technological and medical advancements from across the globe. Over the last 25 years, the Science Museum has opened many significant new public galleries, supported by nearly £34million of National Lottery funding which has helped make the Science Museum what it is today. Most recently, The National Lottery has part-funded the new Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries, the world's largest space dedicated to the history of medicine housed at the museum.

Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre (Manchester, North England) - The Jodrell Bank Observatory is a UENESCO World Heritage Site offering visitors the opportunity to explore the wonders of the universe. You will find one of the biggest and most powerful radio telescopes in the world located at Jodrell Bank. The National Lottery is supporting the centre’s First Light Project which will include a spectacular new gallery and interpretation space due to open in 2021. Visitors will be able to engage with and learn about the site’s fantastic stories, amazing feats of post-war engineering, and the creation of the Grade-1 listed Lovell telescope.

Eden Project (Cornwall, South West England) – The Eden Project comprises a number of massive Biomes which house the largest rainforest in captivity, stunning plants, exhibitions and striking contemporary gardens. The Eden Project generates more than £2 billion for the regional economy – and it was created thanks to National Lottery players, who made a £56million award into The Eden Project possible. As an educational charity, The Eden projects runs exciting year-round family events and summer concerts.

Glasgow Science Centre (Glasgow, Scotland) – Opened in 2001, Glasgow Science Centre is one of Scotland’s most popular attractions, bringing science and technology alive through hundreds of interactive exhibits on four floors. The centre has received £36 million in National Lottery funding, the largest ever National Lottery grant awarded in Scotland. No matter what age you are, a visit to Glasgow Science Centre will be full of wonder.

University Museum of Zoology (Cambridge, East England) - The University Museum of Zoology was founded in 1814 and is one of the largest natural history collections in the UK, displaying thousands of specimens spanning the entire animal kingdom – from elephants, to giant ground sloths to giraffes, reptiles, insects and more. The Museum re-opened in 2018 after a five-year £4.1million redevelopment – including nearly £2million of funding from The National Lottery. The museum is part of the University of Cambridge Department of Zoology and welcomes over 150,000 visitors every year.

Royal Navy Submarine Museum (Portsmouth, South England) - The Royal Navy Submarine Museum, part of The National Museum of the Royal Navy, is a maritime museum tracing the international history of submarine development from the age of Alexander the Great to the present day. Visitors to this museum can get up close to the only remaining Second World War era submarine, HMS Alliance. Over the last decade, The National Lottery has contributed around £6.4million to the museum helping tell the Royal Navy story – so why not go and explore the decks and narrow corridors, look through the original periscope and hear the stories of those who served onboard the HMS Alliance.


Stargazing with Revitalising Redesdale (Redesdale, North East England) - Redesdale is a remote upland area in the wild heart of Northumberland. This land was once a lawless frontier but today this area is one of the most peaceful parts in England. The National Lottery awarded £2.8 million to Revitalising Redesdale, a Landscape Partnership Scheme, which aims to conserve and enhance Redesdale’s rich cultural heritage, landscape and wildlife. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the project provides opportunities for local people to get involved in conservation projects and take part in activities such as stargazing and guided walks.

W5 Science and Discovery Centre (Belfast, Northern Ireland) – W5 is an award-winning Science and Discovery Centre at the SSE Arena, with over 250 interactive exhibits in four incredible exhibition areas, with climbing, robot attractions and daily demonstrations – all of which have benefited from National Lottery funding. The SSE Arena was Northern Ireland's millennium project costing £91m to build, £45m of which was provided by National Lottery funding. W5 Science and Discovery welcomes 260,000 visitors every year.

Oxford University Museum of Natural History (Oxford, South) – This award-winning museum is home to seven million objects, which include the world's first scientifically described dinosaur and the only soft tissue remains of the extinct dodo. In June, it received over £700,000 from The National Lottery for its ambitious project, HOPE for the Future – Heritage, Outreach and Preservation of Entomology, aimed at safeguarding the museum’s nationally-significant British insect collections, create new public spaces, and embark on a major programme of community outreach and education.

National Museum Cardiff (Cardiff, Wales) – This museum is situated in the heart of Cardiff’s elegant civic centre and houses world class art, Wales’s natural history and geology collections, as well as major touring and temporary exhibitions. National Museum Cardiff is a part of a family of seven National Museums across Wales which together have received major National Lottery support over the past 25 years. Visit National Museum Cardiff to discover gigantic dinosaurs and more!

As part of The National Lottery’s 25th Birthday celebrations, all of the attractions featured in the list, alongside hundreds more nationwide, will be offering free entry, discounts, and other special offers to anyone arriving with a National Lottery ticket (past or present) over the next few days, as part of the celebration #ThanksToYou for 25 Years.

Tim Peake has various links to The National Lottery – the Science Museum is home to Soyuz TMA-19M, the capsule which transported Tim Peake and his crew into space and back as part of the Principia mission in 2015. Tim Peake’s Sokol KV-2 emergency spacesuit is also part of the Science Museum Group Collection and is now inspiring visitors to the National Space Centre in Leicester where is it on loan. In addition, Major Tim Peake is a Scouts Ambassador – The National Lottery has awarded £12million to the Scouts since 2008.

Visit www.thankstoyou.org.uk to find the full list and search all the offers taking place in your area and filter by specific interest.

Discover the positive impact playing the National Lottery has had on your community over the past 25 years by visiting www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved by using the 25th hashtag: #NationalLottery25.