National Lottery Open Week 2024 free and cut price entry

The National Lottery is 30 this year and from March 9-17 organisers are saying thank you to the players who raise £30 million a week for good causes, with a special open week.

Across the UK that means that anyone toting a valid online or retail National Lottery ticket, scratchcard or Instant Win Game can get free or cut price entry to hundreds of venues which have been supported or funded by the lottery.

Organisers hope it will open up fresh experiences and encourage people to try something new, whether its visiting a wildlife spot, a historic house or castle, a sporting venue, or a gallery.

There is something to tempt everyone this year, with offers in London including 30 per cent off tours at Wembley Stadium with the chance to see inside the press room, dressing rooms, players' tunnel and royal box.

Tours of Wembley Stadium are included in the offer

And in Twickenham there's two for one entry to the World Rugby Museum.

On the Thames there's two for one entry to the Imperial War Museum's iconic warship HMS Belfast, and you can go under the river with a tour of the 16 metre Thames Tunnel shaft with free entry at the Brunel Museum at Rotherhithe.

Fans of Charles Dickens can get free entry to the museum in his former home in Doughty Street, Bloomsbury from March 13-15.

And on March 12 there's free entry to the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington where you can explore the story of Tenzing and Hilary's record breaking ascent of Mount Everest in 1953 through hundreds of slides.

Kids go free at The Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace during National Lottery Open Week

The Historic Royal Palaces are also taking part, with one free child entry for each full price adult ticket on March 9-10 and 13-17 at Kensington Palace, The Tower of London and Hampton Court.​

National Trust properties are also taking part including Fenton House in Hampstead. In West London you can get free entry to Osterley Park and House, or in South London free entry to Eltham Palace and Gardens on March 16 and 17.

Other museums and venues taking part include free entry to the museum of illustrator and humourist Heath Robinson in Pinner on March 15, and free entry to the aquarium at the award-winning Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill.

National Trust properties including Fenton House in Hampstead are taking part in the open week (Image: Newquest)

Meanwhile the iconic music venue the Union Chapel in Islington is offering free tours and a gift on March 13, and there's two for one entry to the moving Foundling Museum in Bloomsbury which tells the story of the children's home set up by Thomas Coram to take in the children of mothers who could not afford to raise them.

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.

HMS Belfast is taking part in offering reduced price entry during the open week (Image: Imperial War Museum)

"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."

Since the first National Lottery draw took place on 19 November 1994, more than £48 billion has been raised for Good Causes, with 685,000 individual grants being awarded to arts, sport, community and heritage organisations.

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. For all participating venues and details of offers go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk