Usually, gambling is a surefire way of getting nothing for something. But for one week of the year, you’re basically guaranteed to walk away with a prize worth more than the price of entry—and it’s all thanks to the National Lottery Open Week, which offers free entry and special offers to hundreds of the UK’s greatest heritage sites.
For the cost of a lottery ticket, you could visit the Eden Project, Eltham Palace, and Carlisle Castle, all for free, alongside countless other offers this weekend and next week (March 7 to 15, 2026). Among the National Lottery-funded venues, discover historical houses, wildlife hotspots, sports venues, art galleries and more across the UK.
How does National Lottery Open Week work?
Each week, £30 million is raised for ‘Good Causes’ by those of us playing the National Lottery. To say thanks, hundreds of participating venues offer special deals—like free entry, 50% off, or a complimentary gift—for National Lottery Open Week. You just have to show any National Lottery ticket (physical or digital) upon arrival (although you may have to pre-book your tickets online ahead of time).
Which venues in London are participating?
Last year, over 800 venues across the UK took part, with over 100,000 people taking up these one-off offers. That’s why we’ve highlighted just a handful of our favourite free and low-cost offers from the National Lottery Open Week in the capital:
- Eltham Palace and Gardens – Free entry (7–8 March, 11–15 March)
- Marble Hill – Free tour (7 March, 11 March, 14 March)
- Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens – Free tours (7–8 March, 11–15 March)
- Tower of London – 50% off tickets (7–14 March)
- Hampton Court Palace – 50% off tickets (7–8 March, 13–14 March)
- Kensington Palace – 50% off tickets (7–8 March, 11–14 March)
- The Brunel Museum – Free entry (14–15 March)
- Alexandra Palace – Free Entry for Two for BBC Studio Tours (10 March)
- Foundling Museum – 2 for 1 entry (7–8 March, 10–15 March)
- The Royal Observatory – 2 for 1 entry (7–15 March)
- Royal Geographical Society – Free tour (9 March)
- Cutty Sark – 2 for 1 entry (7–15 March)
- St Mary-at-Finchley – Free Guided Heritage Tours (7–15 March)
- 2 Willow Road – Free entry (7 March, 12 March, 14 March)
- Heath Robinson Museum – Free Entry (13 March)
- World Rugby Museum – 2 for 1 Entry (7–8 March, 10–15 March)
- Rainham Hall – Free Entry (7 March, 12–14 March)
- HMS Belfast – 2 for 1 entry (7–15 March)
- Fenton House & Garden – Free Entry (8 March, 13 March)
- Charles Dickens Museum – 2 for 1 Entry (11–13 March)
- Osterley Park & House – Free Entry (7–14 March)
- Kentish Town City Farm – Free Tour (15 March)
- Crystal Palace Park – Free Tour (7 March)
- Dulwich Picture Gallery – Free Entry to the Collection (10–15 March)
- Chelsea Physic Garden – Half Price Entry (9–13 March)
- Florence Nightingale Museum – 2 for 1 entry (7–8 March, 10–15 March)
- Tate Modern – 2-for-1 entry to Theatre Picasso (7–15 March)
To learn more about all these National Lottery Open Week offers, and more throughout London and the UK, head here.