Celebrating
125 years of
impact

In 2025, we are celebrating 125 years of impact and innovation.

Since our humble beginnings in 1900, with a team of 22 scientists and engineers focussed 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, the impact our world-class expertise is making on today's communities and the legacy we are creating for future generations.

Join in our 125th anniversary celebrations and stay up to date with the latest news and events by checking out our links below.

Tell us your story

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.

Tell your story

Explore our events and sign up to our mailing list to make sure you don’t miss out!

Bushy House garden party  
Saturday 13 September
11:00-16:00 

Step back in time and join us for a celebration reminiscent of the garden parties of eras gone by. Pack a picnic and join us at this family friendly event suitable for all ages.

Discover the history of NPL by peeking behind the closed doors of Bushy House and it's laboratories, meet and interact with icons of the past, explore our iconic gardens and enjoy music from the NPL band. For a fully immersive experience, fancy dress reflecting the past 125 years is encouraged but not essential.

Register your place

How long is a piece of string? LIVE

Fancy hearing some of our scientists chat through their expert knowledge to tackle big questions from time travel to history’s greatest scientific icons?

Come along to How long is a piece of string LIVE, our exciting talks programme exploring all kinds of topics throughout 2025.

Upcoming events:

History of science and scientists
Thursday 4 September - 18:30-21:00
NPL and online 

Stay tuned for more information

Sign up to find out more

SI units
Thursday 4 December - 18:30-21:00
NPL and online

Stay tuned for more information

Sign up to find out more

Past events:

Science and sports | 6 March 2025

Stay tuned to our YouTube channel to watch back on the science of rugby, running and rowing.

Watch back - coming soon

Mythbusting with metrology | 6 June

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!

Talks programme and topics

Watch it back

We are taking our exciting outreach talks, demonstrations and exhibitions on the road to explain the impact of metrology. 

2025 is a big year and we are celebrating NPL’s 125th anniversary, the 150th anniversary of the signing of the metre convention and the Year of Quantum!

Join us on the dates below and meet inspiring experts from NPL.

York Festival of Ideas at St Olave's Church, York 
14 June

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Royal Norfolk Show, Norfolk Showground, Norwich
25 - 26 June

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Orkney International Science Festival, Orkney
September

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Bradford Science Festival, Bradford
24 October - 2 November

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