World Heritage Sites
The table lists information about each World Heritage Site:
- Name; as listed by the World Heritage Committee
- Location; in one of the UK's constituent countries and overseas territories, with co-ordinates provided by UNESCO
- Period; time period of significance, typically of construction
- UNESCO data; Site reference number, the year the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List, and the criteria it was listed under
- Description; brief description of the site
| Name | Image | Location | Date | UNESCO data | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaenavon Industrial Landscape | Wales, Blaenavon !Blaenavon, Wales 51°47′N 3°05′W / 51.78°N 3.08°W / 51.78; -3.08 (Blaenavon Industrial Landscape) |
19th century | 0984 !984; 2000; iii, iv |
In the 19th century, Wales was the world's foremost producer of iron and coal. Blaenavon is an example of the landscape created by the industrial processes associated with the production of these materials. The site includes quarries, public buildings, workers' housing, and a railway. | |
| Blenheim Palace | England, Oxfordshire, Woodstock !Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England 51°50′31″N 1°21′41″W / 51.841944°N 1.361389°W / 51.841944; -1.361389 (Blenheim Palace) |
15 !1705–1722 | 0425 !425; 1987; ii, iv |
Blenheim Palace, the residence of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, was designed by architects John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. The associated park was landscaped by Capability Brown. The palace celebrated victory over the French and is significant for establishing English Romantic Architecture as a separate entity from French Classical Architecture. | |
| Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church | England, Kent, Canterbury !Canterbury, Kent, England 51°16′48″N 1°04′59″E / 51.28°N 1.083056°E / 51.28; 1.083056 (Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church) |
08 !11th century | 0496 !496; 1988; i, ii, vi |
St Martin's Church is the oldest church in England. The church and St Augustine's Abbey were founded during the early stages of the introduction of Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons. The cathedral exhibits Romanesque and Gothic architecture, and is the seat of the Church of England. | |
| Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd | Wales, Conwy !Conwy, Isle of Anglesey and Gwynedd, Wales 53°08′23″N 4°16′37″W / 53.139722°N 4.276944°W / 53.139722; -4.276944 (Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd) |
12 !13th–14th century | 0374 !374; 1986; i, iii, iv |
During the reign of Edward I of England (1272–1307), a series of castles were constructed in Wales with the purpose of subduing the population and establishing English colonies in Wales. The World Heritage Site covers many castles including Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech. The castles of Edward I are considered the pinnacle of military architecture by military historians. | |
| City of Bath | England, Somerset !Bath, Somerset, England 51°22′51″N 2°21′37″W / 51.3809°N 2.3603°W / 51.3809; -2.3603 (City of Bath) |
04 !1st–19th century | 0428 !428; 1987; i, ii, iv |
Founded by the Romans as a spa, an important centre of the wool industry in the medieval period, and a spa town in the 18th century, Bath has a varied history. The city is preserved for its Roman remains and Palladian architecture. | |
| Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape | England, Cornwall !Cornwall and Devon, England 50°08′10″N 5°23′01″W / 50.136111°N 5.383611°W / 50.136111; -5.383611 (Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape) |
18th and 19th centuries | 1215 !1,215; 2006; ii, iii, iv |
Tin and copper mining in Devon and Cornwall boomed in the 18th and 19th centuries, and at its peak the area produced two-thirds of the world's copper. The techniques and technology involved in deep mining developed in Devon and Cornwall were used around the world. | |
| Derwent Valley Mills | England, Derbyshire !Derwent Valley, Derbyshire, England 53°01′13″N 1°29′59″W / 53.020278°N 1.499722°W / 53.020278; -1.499722 (Derwent Valley Mills) |
18th and 19th centuries | 1030 !1,030; 2001; ii, iv |
The Derwent Valley Mills was the birthplace of the factory system; the innovations in the valley, including the development of workers' housing – such as at Cromford – and machines such as the water frame, were important in the Industrial Revolution. The Derwent Valley Mills influenced North America and Europe. | |
| Dorset and East Devon Coast | England, Dorset !Dorset and Devon, England 50°42′20″N 2°59′24″W / 50.705556°N 2.989889°W / 50.705556; -2.989889 (Dorset and East Devon Coast) |
n/a | 1029 !1029; 2001; viii |
The cliffs that make up the Dorset and Devon coast are an important site for fossils and provide a continuous record of life on land and in the sea in the area since 185 million years ago. | |
| Durham Castle and Cathedral | England, Durham !Durham, County Durham, England 54°46′30″N 1°34′32″W / 54.77487°N 1.57558°W / 54.77487; -1.57558 (Durham Castle and Cathedral) |
09 !11th and 12th centuries | 0370 !370; 1986; ii, iv, vi |
Durham Cathedral is the "largest and finest" example of Norman architecture in England and vaulting of the cathedral was part of the advent of Gothic architecture. The cathedral houses relics of St Cuthbert and Bede. The Norman castle was the residence of the Durham prince-bishops. | |
| Frontiers of the Roman Empire | England !Northern England and southern Scotland 54°59′33″N 2°36′04″W / 54.992611°N 2.601°W / 54.992611; -2.601 (Frontiers of the Roman Empire) |
05 !2nd century | 0430 !430; 1987 (modified in 2005 and 2008); ii, iii, iv |
Hadrian's Wall was built in 122 AD and the Antonine Wall was constructed in 142 AD to defend the Roman Empire from "barbarians". The World Heritage Site was previously listed as Hadrian's Wall alone, but was later expanded to include all the frontiers of the Roman Empire at its zenith in the 2nd century, ranging from Antonine's Wall in the north to Trajan's Wall in eastern Europe. | |
| Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast | Northern Ireland, County Antrim !County Antrim, Northern Ireland 55°14′27″N 6°30′42″W / 55.240833°N 6.511667°W / 55.240833; -6.511667 (Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast) |
01 !60–50 million years ago | 0369 !369; 1986; vii, viii |
The causeway is made up of 40,000 basalt columns projecting out of the sea. It was created by volcanic activity in the Tertiary period. | |
| Gough and Inaccessible Island | Saint Helena !Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean 40°19′05″S 9°56′07″W / 40.3181°S 9.9353°W / -40.3181; -9.9353 (Gough and Inaccessible Island) |
n/a | 0740 !740; 1995 (modified in 2004); vii, x |
Together, the Gough and Inaccessible Islands preserve an ecosystem almost untouched by mankind, with many native species of plants and animals. | |
| Heart of Neolithic Orkney | Scotland, Orkney !Orkney, Scotland 58°59′46″N 3°11′19″W / 58.996056°N 3.188667°W / 58.996056; -3.188667 (Heart of Historic Orkney) |
03 !3rd millennium BC | 0514 !514; 1999; i, ii, iii, iv |
A collection of Neolithic sites with purposes ranging from occupation to ceremony. It includes the settlement of Skara Brae, the chambered tomb of Maes Howe and the stone circles of Stenness and Brodgar. | |
| Henderson Island | Pitcairn !Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands, Pacific Ocean 24°21′00″S 128°19′00″W / 24.35°S 128.316667°W / -24.35; -128.316667 (Henderson Island) |
n/a | 0487 !487; 1988; vii, x |
The island is an atoll in the south of the Pacific Ocean, the ecology of which has been almost untouched by man and its isolation illustrates the dynamics of evolution. There are ten plant and four animal species native to the island. | |
| Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda | Bermuda !St George, Bermuda 51°22′51″N 2°21′37″W / 51.3809°N 2.3603°W / 51.3809; -2.3603 (City of Bath) |
14 !17th–20th centuries | 0983 !983; 2000; iv |
Founded in 1612, St George is the oldest English town in the New World and an example of planned urban settlements established in the New World in the 17th century by colonial powers. The fortifications illustrate defensive techniques developed through the 17th to 20th centuries. | |
| Ironbridge Gorge | England, Shropshire !Ironbridge, Shropshire, England 52°37′35″N 2°29′10″W / 52.62646°N 2.486°W / 52.62646; -2.486 (Ironbridge Gorge) |
17 !18th century | 0371 !371; 1986; i, ii, iv, vi |
Ironbridge Gorge contains mines, factories, workers' housing, and the transport infrastructure that was created in the gorge during the Industrial Revolution. The development of coke production in the area helped start the Industrial Revolution. The Iron Bridge was the world's first bridge built from iron and was architecturally and technologically influential. | |
| Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City | England, Merseyside !Liverpool, Merseyside, England 53°24′N 2°59′W / 53.40°N 2.99°W / 53.40; -2.99 (Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City) |
18th and 19th centuries | 1150 !1,150; 2004; ii, iii, iv |
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Liverpool was one of the largest ports in the world. Its global connections helped sustain the British Empire, and it was a major port involved in the slave trade until its abolition in 1807, and a departure point for emigrants to North America. The docks were the site of innovations in construction and dock management. | |
| Maritime Greenwich | England, Greater London, Greenwich !Greenwich, London, Greater London, England 51°28′45″N 0°00′00″E / 51.4791°N 0°E / 51.4791; 0 (Maritime Greenwich) |
13 !17th and 18th centuries | 0795 !795; 1997; i, ii, iv, vi |
As well as the presence of the first example of Palladian architecture in England, and works by Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones, the area is significant for the Royal Observatory where the understanding of astronomy and navigation were developed. | |
| New Lanark | Scotland, New Lanark !New Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland 55°40′N 3°47′W / 55.66°N 3.78°W / 55.66; -3.78 (New Lanark) |
19th century | 0429 !429; 2001; ii, iv, vi |
Prompted by Richard Arkwright's factory system developed in the Derwent Valley, the community of New Lanark was created to provide housing for workers at the mills. Philanthropist Robert Owen bought the site and turned it into a model community, providing public facilities, education, and supporting factory reform. | |
| Old and New Towns of Edinburgh | Scotland, Edinburgh !Edinburgh, Scotland 55°56′51″N 3°11′30″W / 55.947572°N 3.191631°W / 55.947572; -3.191631 (Old and New Town of Edinburgh) |
10 !11th–19th century | 0728 !728; 1995; ii, iv |
The Old Town of Edinburgh was founded in the Middle Ages, and the New Town was developed in 1767–1890. It contrasts the layout of settlements in the medieval and modern periods. The layout and architecture of the new town, designed by luminaries such as William Chambers and William Playfair, influenced European urban design in the 18th and 19th centuries. | |
| Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal | Wales, Wrexham !Trevor, Wrexham, Wales and Shropshire, England 52°58′14″N 3°05′16″W / 52.97053°N 3.08783°W / 52.97053; -3.08783 (Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal) |
16 !1795–1805 | 1303 !1,303; 2009; i, ii, iv |
The aqueduct was built to carry the Ellesmere Canal over the Dee Valley. Completed during the Industrial Revolution and designed by Thomas Telford, the aqueduct made innovative use of cast and wrought iron, influencing civil engineering across the world. | |
| Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew | England, Greater London, Kew !Kew, Greater London, England 51°28′29″N 0°17′44″W / 51.474667°N 0.295467°W / 51.474667; -0.295467 (Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew) |
18th–20th century | 1084 !1,084; 2003; ii, iii, iv |
Created in 1759, the influential Kew Gardens were designed by Charles Bridgeman, William Kent, Capability Brown, and William Chambers. The gardens were used to study botany and ecology and furthered the understanding of the subjects. | |
| St Kilda | Scotland, St Kilda !St Kilda, Scotland 57°49′00″N 8°35′00″W / 57.816667°N 8.583333°W / 57.816667; -8.583333 (St Kilda) |
n/a | 0387 !387; 1987 (modified in 2005 and 2008); ii, iii, iv |
Although inhabited for over 2,000 years, the isolated archipelago of St Kilda has had no permanent residents since 1930. The islands' human heritage includes various unique architectural features from the historic and prehistoric periods. St Kilda is also a breeding ground for many important seabird species including the world's largest colony of gannets and up to 136,000 pairs of puffins. | |
| Saltaire | England, West Yorkshire !Saltaire, City of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England 53°50′14″N 1°47′25″W / 53.83717°N 1.79026°W / 53.83717; -1.79026 (Saltaire) |
1953 !1853 | 1028 !1,028; 2001; ii, iv |
Saltaire was founded by mill-owner Titus Salt as a model village for his workers. The site, which includes the Salts Mill, featured public buildings for the inhabitants and was an example of 19th century paternalism. | |
| Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites | England, Wiltshire !Wiltshire, England 51°10′44″N 1°49′31″W / 51.178889°N 1.825278°W / 51.178889; -1.825278 (Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites) |
02 !4th–2nd millennia BC | 0373 !373; 1986 (modified in 2008); i, ii, iii |
The Neolithic sites of Avebury and Stonehenge are two of the largest and most famous megalithic monuments in the world. They relate to man's interaction with his environment. The purpose of the henges has been a source of speculation, with suggestions ranging from ceremonial to interpreting the cosmos. "Associated sites" includes Silbury Hill, Beckhampton Avenue, and West Kennet Avenue. | |
| Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey | England, North Yorkshire !North Yorkshire, England 54°06′58″N 1°34′23″W / 54.116111°N 1.573056°W / 54.116111; -1.573056 (Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey) |
11 !1132 (abbey), 19th century (park) |
0372 !372; 1986; i, iv |
Before the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the mid-16th century, Fountains Abbey was one of the largest and richest Cistercian abbeys in Britain and is one of only a few that survives from the 12th century. The later garden, which incorporates the abbey, survives to a large extent in its original design and influenced garden design in Europe. | |
| Tower of London | England, Greater London, Tower Hamlets !Tower Hamlets, Greater London, England 51°30′29″N 0°04′34″W / 51.508056°N 0.076111°W / 51.508056; -0.076111 (Tower of London) |
07 !11th century | 0488 !488; 1988; ii, iv |
Begun by William the Conqueror in 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, the Tower of London is a symbol of power and an example of Norman military architecture that spread across England. Additions by Henry III and Edward I in the 13th century made the castle one of the most influential buildings of its kind in England. | |
| Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret's Church | England, Greater London, Westminster !Westminster, Greater London, England 51°29′59″N 0°07′43″W / 51.499722°N 0.128611°W / 51.499722; -0.128611 (Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret's Church) |
06 !10th, 11th, and 19th centuries | 0426 !426; 1987 (modified in 2008); i, ii, iv |
The site has been involved in the administration of England since the 11th century, and later the United Kingdom. Since the coronation of William the Conqueror, all English and British monarchs have been crowned at Westminster Abbey. Westminster Palace, home to the British Parliament, is an example of Gothic Revival architecture; St Margaret's Church is the palace's parish church, and although it pre-dates the palace and was built in the 11th century, it has been rebuilt since. |
Read more about this topic: World Heritage Sites In Wales
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