The National Lottery Open Week returns this spring with free and discounted entry to venues across the UK

·       To say thank you for the £30million raised for Good Causes every week by players, hundreds of National Lottery funded venues across the UK will be offering free entry, discounts and special offers throughout National Lottery Open Week 

·       Any National Lottery ticket, Scratchcard or Instant Win Game can be used to unlock the offers 

·       National Lottery Open Week runs 9– 17 March and, this year, is encouraging people  to visit participating venues to open up to new experiences 

13 February 2024: This March, The National Lottery, in its 30th year, will once again be saying thank you to players for the £30million they raise for Good Causes every week with National Lottery Open Week. The focus this year is on encouraging the nation to try something new, by offering an array of free entry and special offers at hundreds of National Lottery funded venues across the UK.

From Saturday 9 – Sunday 17 March 2024, anyone with a valid online or retail National Lottery ticket, Scratchcard or Instant Win Game can enjoy a low-cost day out, thanks to special offers at hundreds of National Lottery funded venues and attractions. There is something to excite everyone this year, whether you fancy:

·       delving into the past at historical houses, castles and museums 

·       embracing nature in all its glory at wildlife hotspots

·       reliving iconic moments at famous sports venues or, 

·       enjoying a culture fix at an array of art galleries, theatres and other creative spaces.

To view all venues and offers available, visit www.NationalLotteryOpenWeek.com

The National Lottery Open Week offers in England include:

·       Embrace your wild side at the world-famous Eden Project in Cornwall with free entry from 9 – 17 March 2023.

·       Delve into history and explore Europe’s largest air museum with 2 for 1 entry at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.

·       See the Bard’s legendary works come to life with a guided tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon and visit the free exhibition ‘The Play’s The Thing’.

·       Enjoy free entry and free tours at a range of English Heritage sites including Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Audley End House and Gardens, Carlisle Castle and Dover Castle among others.

·       Drink in the culture or do some time travel with free entry to selected National Trust sites. Head to South Tyneside to visit the first electricity powered lighthouse and a half mile stretch of magnesium limestone cliffs at Souter Lighthouse and The Leas. Unleash your inner sleuth and walk in Agatha Christie’s footsteps when you visit Greenway in Dartmouth. Enjoy what nature has to offer and discover the pleasure gardens at Ickworth in Suffolk. Visit the beautiful walled gardens and explore an auricula theatre at Calke Abbey, in Derbyshire, or enjoy a waterside wander at Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire.

·       Join a free guided walk at a number of RSPB nature reserves including RSPB Haweswater in Cumbria and RPSB Arne in Dorset. Or head to RSPB Middleton Lakes in Staffordshire for a free guided bird watching for beginners walk on 16 March.

·       Work up an appetite at The Food Museum in Suffolk with free adult entry on 9-10 March.

·       Enoy a treat for the ears with a tour of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester on 9 March.

·       Board the historic SS Freshspring steamship in Devon with free entry for families and take a look inside Brindle Cold War bunkers in Lancashire with free tours on 17^th March.

·       Enjoy 50% off entry to Thinktank in Birmingham for the duration of Open Week

·       Get up close and personal with the animals at Chester Zoo with a 25% discount on a family ticket.

·       Step back in time with free entry to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley on 15 March.

·       Kick back with a movie thanks to an array of discounts at selected independent cinemas across the country.

The National Lottery Open Week offers in London include:

·       For sports lovers, enjoy 30% off tours at the iconic Wembley Stadium and see inside the dressing rooms, press room, players’ tunnel and the royal box, as well as going pitch side.

·       Climb aboard the Imperial War Museum’s iconic HMS Belfast in London with 2 for 1 entry.

·       Experience flying with the Red Arrows at the RAF Museum’s 4D theatre or fly the Eurofighter Typhoon onboard their Flight Simulator with 2 for 1 tickets.

·       Explore National Trust gems in and around London with free entry to Georgian estate, Osterley Park and House, and Polesden Lacey in Surrey.

·       On Tuesday 12 March, take advantage of free entry to the Royal Geographical Society and browse original artefacts and a selection of nearly 6,000 slides from the Edmund Hilary and Sherpa Tenzing’s 1953 Mount Everest ascent.

·       Explore the life of Charles Dickens with free entry to the Charles Dickens Museum on from 13 – 15 March.

·       Feel like royalty for the day at Historic Royal Palaces’ Kensington Palace, The Tower of London, or Hampton Court Palace, with one free child entry available for each full-price adult ticket on 9–10 March and 13–17 March (up to four adult tickets).

·       Enjoy free entry to Brunel Museum throughout National Lottery Open Week and go 16m underground on a tour of the Thames Tunnel Shaft.

The National Lottery Open Week offers in Wales include: 

·       Discover National Trust treasures including 17^th century country estate, Erddig in Wrexham; Dyffryn Gardens on the outskirts of Cardiff and the stunning Tredegar House in Newport. Go further north to roam the grounds of Plas Newydd House and Garden in Anglesey and Penrhyn Castle in Gwynedd, with free entry from 9 -17 March.

·       For bird lovers, enjoy free guided walks at RSPB South Stack in Holyhead and RSPB Lake Vyrnwy Nature Reserve in Montgomeryshire.

·       Have a cup of tea and see where the world’s finest porcelain was made, with 2 for 1 entry to Nantgarw China Works & Museum in Cardiff on 9 and 13-16 March.

·       At Wales Millennium Centre’s Llais festival, be inspired by the instrument that connects us all – the voice – with 20% off all paid tickets.

·       With 2-4-1 tickets on 16 and 17 March, take in the far-fetching views across the Irish Sea at Gwrych Castle

·       Take a dip in the Wales National Pool or pump some iron in the gym at Swansea Bay Sport Park with free access between 9-17 March. 

The National Lottery Open Week offers in Scotland include: 

·       For sports lovers, Scottish Rugby are offering National Lottery players 50% off a behind the scenes tour of the national team’s hallowed home ground, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium. Tours run twice daily, Monday-Saturday, at 11am and at 2:30pm.

·       Young bird lovers can have fun birdwatching and bug hunting with a free mini beast kit at RSPB Loch Lomond and a free children’s Explorer backpack at RSPB Loch Levan.

·       Enjoy free entry to the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian to explore some of Europe’s best collections of aircrafts, including Scotland’s Concorde.

·       Explore coastlines and castles with free entry across various National Trust for Scotland sites during National Lottery Open Week. Explore the acres of gentle Moray countryside that surround the rose-coloured Brodie Castle which houses a magnificent collection of furniture, ceramics, and artwork. Or immerse yourself in the award-winning digitally re-created version of the famous battle at Bannockburn. Tour the spectacular clifftop castle at Culzean Country Park, perched on sea cliffs atop sandy beaches and smugglers caves. Or roam the grounds of Alloa Tower where kings and queens once stood. 

·       Kids and adults alike will enjoy amazing hands-on exhibits and live science shows at Glasgow Science Centre, thanks to free entry for a child with every adult ticket purchase, on 9–10 March and 13–17 March. 

·       Step inside the iconic Kelpies at The Helix in Falkirk for a free guided tour from 9 – 17 March. 

·       For the movie buffs, make the most of discounted tickets at selected independent cinemas across Scotland.

The National Lottery Open Week offers in Northern Ireland include: 

·       Enjoy some time out and about with free entry at stunning National Trust sites across Northern Ireland. Head to County Armagh to explore the 19^th Century Irish Gentry House, The Argory, and its 315-acre estate.  Or walk through apple orchards, scenic woodlands and enjoy riverside walks at the 17th century farmhouse, Ardress House. Explore Crom Estate, Castle Coole or Florence Court in County Fermanagh or head to Mount Stewart, Castle Ward or Rowallane Garden in County Down to get your culture fix.

·       Discover 100s of species of birds and wildlife at RSPB Belfast’s Window on Wildlife with free entry for bird lovers from 9-11 and 13-17 March. 

·       Unveil the secrets and stories of the iconic Strand Cinema in Belfast with a unique heritage tour on 15 March. Or take a trip back to the showband era with a free exhibition at Enniskillen Castle.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England and Chair of the National Lottery Forum said: “In our 30th year, we’re delighted to mark the return of The National Lottery Open Week 2024. The UK is brimming with exciting things to see and do – from historical landmarks and cultural treasures to sports venues and natural landscapes. We want players to get out and experience something new by taking advantage of the low-cost and free days out at venues across the country during National Lottery Open Week. This is our way of saying thank you to the players who raise an incredible £30million each week for Good Causes, supporting venues and projects across the arts, sports, community and heritage sectors.”

Use any retail or online National Lottery ticket, Scratchcard or Instant Win Games, for special offers at selected attractions between 9 and 17 March 2024.