2025 Peace and Goodwill Message released and granted Patronage by the UK National Commission for UNESCO

Wales’ annual Peace and Goodwill Message, led by Wales’ largest youth organisation, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, has been released (15 May 2025) making a plea for change to tackle youth poverty across the world.
Find out moreChevron-right

Explore Our Sites

From expansive mountain ranges and stunning coastlines, to rural landscapes and vibrant cities, cultures and traditions, to natural and built heritage, UNESCO Designations are the manifestation of the UNESCO values.

UNESCO Sites in the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are destinations of world-class standard. They tell the story of the British Isles in an unparalleled way: its creation, formation, biodiversity, occupation, invasion, monarchy, religion, industry, culture, scientific invention and creativity. 

Each of the types of UNESCO designation - Biosphere Reserves, Creative Cities, Global Geoparks and World Heritage Sites – play a vital role in the future of our societies and planet. 

Start your journey of explorationChevron-right
Tree
Biosphere
Reserves
Building
Creative
Cities
Geopark
Global
Geoparks
Building-2
World
Heritage Sites
Document
Learning
Cities
Globe
Memory of
the World

About the UK National Commission for UNESCO

An independent body, the National Commission is a constitutional part of the UK's membership of UNESCO. We are the central hub for all UNESCO-related matters in the UK.

 

Our
Role
Our Role
Chevron-right
Our
Strategy
Our Strategy
Chevron-right
Our
History
Our History
Chevron-right
Our
People
Our People
Chevron-right
Our
Projects
Our Projects
Chevron-right

Our Impact

The positive impacts of our work are felt across the UK and far beyond. From supporting women’s and girls’ education globally, to developing and leading multi-agency projects to address climate change, our impacts make tangible differences to people’s lives.

Our work aligns to UNESCO core programme areas of education, the sciences, culture and communication & information, and contributes to the achievement of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, defined in the 2030 Agenda. 

Education
Lightbulb
Science
Microscope
Culture
Theatre
Communication & Information
Chat

Explore our Resources

Our Resource Centre is the essential document library for UNESCO in the UK.

From major research studies to strategy documents, toolkits to accreditation guidance, maps to factsheets, our Resource Centre is the place to find the information you need.

Enter our Resource CentreChevron-right
Official Statements
National Statement by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - delivered at the 221st Executive Board, UNESCO on 08 April 2025
Constitutions & Conventions
Constitution of the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation - 2022 Edition
Research Reports
The National Value of UNESCO Designations to the United Kingdom
Toolkits
Digital Toolkit for UNESCO Designated Sites in the UK
Official Statements
National Statement by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - delivered at the 221st Executive Board, UNESCO on 08 April 2025
Constitutions & Conventions
Constitution of the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation - 2022 Edition
Research Reports
The National Value of UNESCO Designations to the United Kingdom
Toolkits
Digital Toolkit for UNESCO Designated Sites in the UK

Get Recognised

Achieving UNESCO status is a huge achievement. It shows that a place, organisation, or person has met, and continues to meet, UNESCO's international standards and ascribes to its values.

There are many ways to be accredited by UNESCO in the UK: designated site status, patronage, prizes, or becoming a member of our expert network. 

Explore the ways to be accreditedChevron-right

Latest News

15 May 2025
2025 Urdd Gobaith Cymru Peace and Goodwill Message released and granted Patronage by the UK National Commission for UNESCO

Seventy years after the death of one of its founders, Wales’ annual Peace and Goodwill Message, led by Wales’ largest youth organisation, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, has been released today (15 May 2025)…

13 May 2025
Vacancy - Exeter UNESCO City of Literature: Public Programmes Manager

Exeter City of Literature is seeking a visionary Public Programmes Manager to lead their current portfolio of unique programmes and create new programmes and events in the years ahead.

Closing: 4:00pm, 06 June 2025
Contract opportunity: Measuring the Value of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in the UK’s UNESCO Sites

The UK National Commission for UNESCO, in partnership with The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC)…

15 May 2025
2025 Urdd Gobaith Cymru Peace and Goodwill Message released and granted Patronage by the UK National Commission for UNESCO

Seventy years after the death of one of its founders, Wales’ annual Peace and Goodwill Message, led by Wales’ largest youth organisation, Urdd Gobaith Cymru, has been released today (15 May 2025)…

13 May 2025
Vacancy - Exeter UNESCO City of Literature: Public Programmes Manager

Exeter City of Literature is seeking a visionary Public Programmes Manager to lead their current portfolio of unique programmes and create new programmes and events in the years ahead.

Closing: 4:00pm, 06 June 2025
Contract opportunity: Measuring the Value of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in the UK’s UNESCO Sites

The UK National Commission for UNESCO, in partnership with The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC)…

Supported By
UNESCO in the UK Logo
UNESCO in the UK Logo
UNESCO in the UK Logo
UNESCO in the UK Logo
UNESCO in the UK Logo
UNESCO in the UK Logo
This website was produced by the UK National Commission for UNESCO as part of its Local to Global programme, made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.