Plans for the major refurbishment of a museum dedicated to the history of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers at the Tower of London have been handed a £300,000 boost by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Housed in the Grade I-listed Officers Mess building dating back to 1845, the Royal Fusiliers Museum first opened to the public in 1962 and boasts a range of exhibits and artefacts from the regiment's 400-year history. The scheme will see the museum expanded to allow more items to be put on show, including a new medals gallery, while an education programme for local Tower Hamlets schools and community volunteering opportunities are also planned.

New live interactive displays will be created at the revamped attraction by 2011 to coincide with the Tower of London's year of celebration dedicated to the theme of Menagerie, including a Victorian soldier outlining the role of animals in warfare. Sue Bowers, head of the HLF London, said: "The newly developed museum will add to the attractions that bring more than two million visitors to the Tower of London each year while providing the opportunity for local people, from a range of diverse backgrounds, to engage with their local army regiment."

Colin Bowes-Crick of the Royal Fusiliers Museum Trust added: "The finished product will significantly enhance the visitor experience within the Tower of London - especially for local residents who will benefit not only from visiting the museum but also from our proposed outreach programme."