Derby's Tomb Raider Exhibit Celebrates 30 Years of Lara Croft

Pickford's House in Derby has been transformed into a Tomb Raider exhibit marking 30 years since Lara Croft's creation — fitting for a city that considers her one of its most famous exports. The original Core Design studio where the first Tomb Raider was developed sat in Derby, and the exhibit leans into that local pride.

The piece is written by a staff writer with the surname Croft, who grew up on Arnold Street — a short walk from Core Design's original offices. Born in 1994, they were two years old when the first Tomb Raider shipped in 1996, making the personal connection to the franchise's birthplace genuinely striking rather than just a fun coincidence.

Tomb Raider debuted in 1996 from Core Design, a Derby-based studio, and turned Lara Croft into one of gaming's most recognisable characters almost overnight. The series went on to span multiple console generations, a reboot trilogy from Crystal Dynamics, and two Hollywood films. Derby has long held a quiet pride in that legacy, and a dedicated exhibit at a local heritage site is a tangible way the city is marking the milestone.

The full feature is available on Push Square, and with the 30th anniversary drawing attention back to Lara's roots, it's a good moment for both longtime fans and Derby locals to revisit where it all started.