Forget ancient artefacts. Derby’s latest treasure hunt involves a life-sized Lara Croft statue, a £30,000 crowdfunding campaign and a mission to bring gaming’s greatest heroine home.

Think of video game icons and there’s a good chance one name springs to mind before all the others: Lara Croft.

She’s battled dinosaurs, raided ancient tombs, starred in blockbuster films and become one of the most recognisable characters on the planet. For almost thirty years, Lara has been Britain’s gaming superstar, a pixel-powered adventurer who helped define an entire generation of entertainment.

But here’s the thing many people don’t realise: before she became a global phenomenon, Lara Croft was born in Derby.

Yep. Derby.

Back in 1996, the team at Core Design created Tomb Raider in the city, unleashing one of gaming’s most enduring characters onto the world. The result? Millions of copies sold, countless imitators, and a cultural icon who put Derby firmly on the gaming map.

Now a group of fans wants to make sure the city gets the recognition it deserves by giving Lara a permanent homecoming.

The campaign aims to raise £30,000 to acquire, restore, transport and install the original Lara Croft statue that stood proudly at London’s Tomb Raider Experience between 2021 and 2023.

And no, this isn’t some hastily knocked-up replica.

This is the statue. The one seen by thousands of visitors, photographed endlessly by fans and already part of Tomb Raider history.

If the campaign succeeds, the statue will become a centrepiece inside Derby Market Hall, giving visitors, gamers and curious passers-by a chance to come face-to-face with one of Britain’s greatest gaming exports.

And, let’s be honest, it’ll also make for a pretty spectacular selfie.

‘Must visit’ for video game pilgrims

Every October, Tomb Raider devotees already descend on Derby from across the globe to celebrate Lara’s legacy. For many, the city is effectively a pilgrimage site.

A permanent statue would finally give those fans somewhere tangible to gather, swap stories and pay tribute to the character who inspired them.

Think of it as Derby’s answer to the Rocky steps in Philadelphia, only with fewer tracksuits and considerably more dual pistols.

Fans say Derby is no stranger to celebrating its heroes. Florence Nightingale already has three statues in the city and they believe Lara deserves her place among them. After all, while Nightingale revolutionised nursing, Lara helped revolutionise gaming, becoming one of the most successful and influential fictional characters ever created in Britain.

Not bad for someone who started life on a computer screen in Derby.

At first glance, this might sound like a project for gaming enthusiasts.

In reality, it’s also a celebration of Derby’s creative heritage.

The statue would recognise not only Lara Croft herself but the artists, designers and developers at Core Design whose work transformed the video games industry forever.

Britain’s gaming sector is one of its biggest creative success stories, and few names are more synonymous with that success than Lara Croft.

Want your name in gaming history?

The statue campaign has been organised by Luke Earle, the brains behind Tomb Raider Day, the UK’s largest unofficial annual Tomb Raider fan event, held in Derby. He also recently put together a major exhibition at Derby Museums exploring Lara Croft’s history and cultural impact through hundreds of original artefacts.

Anyone pledging at the £60 level towards his campaign will have their name added to the statue’s base.

Meaning decades from now, visitors from around the world won’t just see Lara Croft. They’ll see the names of the people who helped bring her home.

It’s not every day you get the chance to leave your mark on a piece of gaming history.

Funds raised will cover everything from acquiring the statue and carrying out restoration work to transportation, installation, interpretation panels and long-term preservation.

Eventually, ownership will be transferred to a new Community Interest Company dedicated to protecting and celebrating Derby’s video game heritage, ensuring Lara remains accessible to the public for generations to come.

Because this isn’t really about bronze, resin or concrete.

It’s about recognising a character who conquered the world, a creative team that changed an industry, and a city that deserves credit for both.

Three decades after Lara Croft first emerged from Derby and into global pop culture, supporters reckon it’s finally time for Britain’s most famous adventurer to come home.

And frankly, it’s hard to argue with that.

You can donate to the Kickstarter HERE