A world-first exhibition celebrating the phenomenon of Lara Croft and Tomb Raider is set to open next week – just yards from where the video game was created 30 years ago.

Called Lara Croft: 30 Years On – From Derby to Global Icon, the free exhibition will open on Friday 24 July at Pickfords’ House in Friar Gate, which is run by Derby Museums.

It will feature merchandise, mannequins, costumes and even the computer which game creators Core Design used to build the first five games in the series.

The exhibition has been put together by museum staff and video games producer Luke Earle, who is displaying key items from his 400-strong collection of Tomb Raider items.

Taking visitors through the entire 30-year history of the Tomb Raider franchise, it explores how Lara, the British-born archaeologist at the heart of the game, transcended the video game realm to become a global cultural icon.

Exhibits include special edition Lucozade – or Larazade – bottles, Japanese game posters, correspondence from the producer of the Tomb Raider films, starring Angelina Jolie, and even a 1997 copy of The Face magazine featuring Lara on the front cover.

Luke, who works at Tactile Games in Friar Gate, is the organiser of the annual Tomb Raider Day, which brings hundreds of people to Derby every October for a weekend of talks, autograph signings and all things Lara.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the original Tomb Raider game, which was designed by Core Design at its then-headquarters at 55 Ashbourne Road.

The exhibition is taking place just a short distance down the road from the building, which has since been remodelled into flats, providing a fitting location to celebrate Lara and the game which put Derby on the video games map.

Luke said: “I first got into Tomb Raider in 1996 when my dad started playing a game and from the very first minute I was hooked. What made it more special was that I went to Ashgate Junior School at the time and we walked past 55 Ashbourne Road every day.

“Thirty years on, I don’t think anyone could have imagined that the game would have become so popular and that Lara would have gone on to become a global icon in her own right.

“Her level of fame and cultural impact was incredibly rare for a video game character and what’s amazing is that she is still inspiring a new generation of video gamers and has been featured in films and TV shows as well.”

Among the more interesting exhibits are notes describing what Lara’s character was about and outlining her backstory – but refers to her by her previous name, Lara Cruz.

Luke said: “There was so much detailed work and imagination went into the Tomb Raider games and the writers made sure that she was a fully formed character.

“That attention to detail made her stand out and, combined with the visuals and the gameplay, ensured that Tomb Raider was truly ground-breaking at the time.”

The new exhibition replaces ‘Dracula Returns To Derby: 101 years and counting’ which saw a 15% increase in visitor numbers, Derby Museums events programmer Dan Webber is hoping for a similar response to Lara’s arrival at Pickfords’ House.

Dan said: “Lara is one of, if not the most, recognisable female characters in video game history and a British cultural icon, and one of the most important cultural creations to have come out of Derby.

“Her success and her legacy are extraordinary and it’s amazing to know that hundreds of people make a pilgrimage to Derby every year to visit the place where she was created.

“Bringing Luke’s collection and the other items such as the original computer together in the same exhibition has never been done before and we can’t wait to welcome Lara fans in to see from next week.”

‘Lara Croft: 30 Years On – From Derby to Global Icon’ opens on Friday 24 July at Pickfords’ House. It is free to enter, with donations welcomed to help keep Derby Museums fantastic and free for future generations.