The National Lottery Heritage Fund has committed £9.7 million to support conservation and development work at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

The First Light Project aims to preserve the Observatory’s historic listed buildings while introducing new interactive spaces for public engagement. Planned additions include the Astronomers’ Court, a covered courtyard for live experiments and object-handling sessions, and a roof terrace designed for telescope livestreams and astronomy events.

Paddy Rodgers, Director of Royal Museums Greenwich, said the funding “will assure its continuance for years to come as a place of awe and wonder that continues to further the public understanding of astronomy.”

The project is expected to be completed by early 2028.

Good to know: The Royal Observatory’s first director was appointed by King Charles II, who instructed him to “apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying of the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places for the perfecting of the art of navigation.”

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“World Space Week is the perfect time to announce our role as a funding partner in this transformational project—a testament to the wonders of history, astronomy, and science.

The Royal Observatory is a beacon of science and learning, and a World Heritage Site of national and international importance. Thanks to National Lottery players, this magical place will continue to inspire for generations to come.

It speaks strongly to our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for, and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”

While the Heritage Fund continues to champion cultural and scientific preservation, the National Lottery and the Gambling Commission are preparing for an upcoming court case involving businessman Richard Desmond, where legal costs have reportedly doubled amid the ongoing lottery licence dispute.