Five heritage attractions across the UK are in line to receive a share of £52m after receiving initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The Temperate House Project at London's Royal Botanic Gardens has been earmarked the largest share of the cash pot, with a first round pass towards a full award worth £15m.

Urgent conservation work to the Grade I-listed glasshouse is proposed as part of the plans for the site, along with the rejuvenation of the botanical collection and plant displays.

London's Geffrye Museum has secured initial support towards a full grant of £10.9m, with the attraction proposing a complete overhaul of its site in east of the city.

A new entrance from Hoxton Station; the opening up of collections and archives; upgraded temporary exhibition spaces; and measures to ease gallery congestion are proposed.

Meanwhile, the British Museum World Conservation and Exhibition Centre in London has received initial support for its £10m funding bid.

The north-west corner of the British Museum's Bloomsbury site is the focus of the project, with a new building to comprise conservation and science studios among the facilities.

Elsewhere, Cumbria's Windermere Steamboat Museum and Hastings Pier, East Sussex, also received initial support towards grants of £7.4m and £8.75m respectively.

The Windemere attraction is currently closed to the public, with plans afoot to revitalise the building and to offer new apprenticeships in boat conservation.

Plans for the Grade II-listed Hastings Pier will see the structure restored and brought back into public use, despite suffering extensive fire damage last year.

HLF chair Dame Jenny Abramsky said: "This year's decisions for Heritage Lottery Fund major grants were some of the hardest we have ever faced.

"The range was both diverse and of the highest quality - so the projects we are supporting are truly exemplary and will make a real impact on people's experience of heritage in the years to come."

Tourism minister John Penrose added: "It's particularly good news for our tourism industry as they are all popular visitor attractions which are important to local economies."

Image: Temperate House Project at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew