Lara Croft statue coming home after fundraising campaign success

A statue of Tomb Raider heroine Lara Croft is set to take pride of place in her home city of Derby thanks to a successful fundraising campaign.

Last month, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise the cash needed to buy the nine-foot-tall fibre-glass model of the video game adventurer, which is currently in storage in London

The fundraising campaign saw supporters pledge £33,314 to buy it.

More than 200 fans and supporters from all over the world offered anything from £10 to £2,500 in order to help seal the deal.

Derby City Council is also supporting the project using grant funding secured for local regeneration. This external investment will fund the artwork’s installation and display at Derby Market Hall.

The statue appeal was set up by Derby-born Tomb Raider fan Luke Earle, who organises the annual unofficial Tomb Raider Day event at QUAD every October.

He said: “We have had so much interest and an incredible number of pledges from fans everywhere and we’re really grateful to the city council for making the key pledge that ensured we hit our target.”

Luke launched the fund hoping to bring the statue to the city in time to mark the 30th anniversary of the first Tomb Raider game, which was produced by Core Design, then based in Ashbourne Road.

The statue was last seen in public in Camden Market in London, where it stood outside the entrance to the Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience, which shut in 2023.

Once it is in position Luke hopes that it will help attract Tomb Raider fans to the city, who already come here to pay homage to the game by visiting Ashbourne Road, Lara’s star in Iron Gate and Lara Croft Way.

Luke has also loaned items from his own Tomb Raider collection to Derby Museums for its Lara Croft exhibition at Pickfords’ House.

He said: “Derby has a lot to gain from having this statue put on public display in the city centre where residents and visitors alike can see her.

“Although the original game was published 30 years ago, Tomb Raider and Lara Croft are as popular as ever.

“A new game is coming out next year alongside a TV series and just two years ago she was voted the most iconic video game character of all time in a public vote organised by BAFTA.

“Her fans will be really, really happy to know that this fund has been successful and I’m sure that many of them will already be planning to come to Derby to see her soon.”

Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, the city council’s cabinet member for city centre, culture and tourism, said: “Lara Croft embodies Derby’s pioneering spirit and the creative talent that put our city on the global video games map.

“From a small local studio, Tomb Raider grew into a worldwide phenomenon, spawning three blockbuster films and building an enduring cultural legacy.

“With one of the city’s roads already named in Lara’s honour, we’re thrilled to welcome her home to Derby Market Hall on her 30th anniversary.

“This statue will be a tribute to our heritage and inspire Derby’s future game designers and creative pioneers.”

Rob Gorton, chair of the Destination Derby Board, which helps drives tourism and economic growth for the city, said: “Speaking on behalf of the DDB, I am delighted to hear that Lara is coming home! 

“Having the statue in Derby will help us to tell the story of how the Tomb Raider game was created in the city.

“We know many people from across the world visit every year to attend the annual Tomb Raider event and the statue is one more great reason to visit Derby – the Pioneering City.”

The 30th anniversary of Lara Croft is the cover story of the current edition of Innovate Magazine. To read the feature, click here.