Welcome to World Heritage UK

World Heritage UK is the only organisation exclusively focused on World Heritage in the UK, and the only one that is led by the Sites themselves, reflecting a community-driven approach that has proven effective at many Sites and which is favoured by UNESCO.

What we do

Welcome to the website for World Heritage UK, an organisation set up in 2015 to undertake networking, advocacy and promotion for the UK’s 33 outstanding World Heritage Sites, and the Tentative List Sites progressing towards WHS status.

World Heritage Sites are places from all around the world that are considered so important for the shared understanding and future of our planet we should look after them forever. There are more than 1100 Sites globally, some are natural like the Great Barrier Reef or the Serengeti, and many are man-made like Stonehenge or the Taj Mahal. World Heritage Sites are identified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), but looked after locally.

2021 Conference

Our Vision

Our Vision is that the United Kingdom will have a coherent approach to World Heritage Sites that is better known and understood, and supported through sustainable funding, so that the Outstanding Universal Values of the Sites can provide inspiration, learning and enjoyment for society and contribute to the UK’s standing in the world.

More about our strategy

Our Mission

Our Mission is to raise the profile and secure the future of the UK collection of World Heritage Sites by advocating for support, resources and recognition, facilitating learning and networking, and promoting the Sites and their values.

UK World Heritage Sites

The UK currently has 33 World Heritage Sites and more sites progressing towards World Heritage Site status. All of them contribute to the story of humankind and our planet.

They stretch across the whole of the UK and beyond to our Overseas Territories and cover geology, the natural world and all aspects of our history from prehistory to the 20th Century. Explore each of our UK World Heritage Sites and how to find out more here.

All UK World Heritage sites

Membership with World Heritage UK

World Heritage UK is by, of and for all the UK’s World Heritage Sites and Tentative List Sites.

World Heritage UK is a membership organisation, formally known as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Its voting members set the strategy for the organisation. We invite any individual or organisation with an interest in World Heritage to join us.

Our strength lies in the fact that the majority of the UK’s World Heritage Sites are represented in our membership giving us the collective power to represent you at the highest level and speak for the UK’s World Heritage Sites.

Whether you are responsible for the management of a World Heritage Site, volunteer for an organisation in a World Heritage Site or have a professional or academic interest, we welcome you to join us and show your support for World Heritage in the UK. We have three levels of membership currently. See below to find out more.

Download membership brochure More about Memberships

Latest news

44th Session of the World Heritage Committee

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is meeting in Fuzhou, China and online from 16-31 July 2021. This meeting was postponed…

Read more
44th Session of the World Heritage Committee
Read more news articles

Events

Our events programme for 2021 is currently in development in the light of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. We will announce our programme of online forum and webinars as they are confirmed.
Why not sign up to our Newsletter on this page to ensure you are kept up to date with developments.

Upcoming events
Copyright Canterbury Cathedral

Our Supporters

Historic England
Historic Environment Scotland
Cadw
Department for Culture Media and Sport
ICOMOS-UK
The Heritage Alliance
ARUP
Purcell
Arcadis
National Lottery Heritage Fund