A 9ft (2.7m) statue of Tomb Raider character Lara Croft is to be installed in Derby, her home city, after a £30,000 fundraising appeal reached its target. The fibreglass sculpture was previously part of the Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience in Camden Market, London, and has been in storage since the attraction closed in 2023.
The statue will be installed inside Derby Market Hall, 30 years after the release of the first video game in the franchise. Derby City Council's culture and tourism lead councillor, Gurkiran Kaur, said the council was "thrilled to welcome her home".
Core Design created the character in the 1990s at a studio on 55 Ashbourne Road, Derby. Luke Earle, a Derby-born Tomb Raider fan who organised the appeal, thanked supporters, including the city council for a "key pledge".
A permanent location has been found for the statue on the balcony at the Osnabruck Square end of the venue. The statue is due to be unveiled in October.