In 2025, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) celebrated 125 years of impact and innovation.
From our inception in 1900, with a team of 22 scientists and engineers focused on standardising instruments, testing materials and determining physical constants at Bushy House, we have gone on a monumental journey.
Fast forward 125 years, our 1,000+ strong workforce has cemented NPL as a world-class centre of excellence, proudly responsible for maintaining the UK’s primary measurement standards and improving prosperity and quality of life the world over.
We take great pride in our heritage and where we have been, the impact our world-class expertise is making on today's communities and the legacy this will create for future generations.
Thousands of people joined us for our 125 anniversary celebrations, from our ‘How long is a piece of string?’ series of science talks to our Open Day.
Our community and alumni have been instrumental to our success over the past 125 years. We’d love to hear your experience from the distant, or recent past.
Many of the world’s most renowned scientists have worked at NPL, including Robert Watson-Watt, Donald Davies, and Alan Turing.
NPL was established in 1900. We have been making world-leading discoveries ever since.
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) provides world-leading measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life.
Stay tuned to our YouTube channel to watch back on the science of rugby, running and rowing.
Watch the stream back and hear our scientists bust head-scratching myths about sea levels rising, killer whales, sci-fi films, cutting-edge AI and more!