Info
Info

Welcome to the new UNESCO in the UK website!

This website has been developed as part of Local to Global flagship programme by the UK National Commission for UNESCO that strengthens and connects UNESCO Designated Sites across the UK. Local to Global is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery Players.

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
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
Audience Development and Mapping Toolkit
Toolkits
Digital Toolkit for UNESCO Designated Sites in the UK
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
Audience Development and Mapping Toolkit
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 January 2025
UNESCO Chair in the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Expansion of Political Space publishes two new working papers

The UNESCO Chair in the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Expansion of Political Space, led by Professor Paul Gready and based at the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) University of York…

Closing: 5:00pm, 05 February 2025
Local to Global 2.0: Expressions of interest sought for Local to Global 2.0 Evaluation Consultant

A consultant is needed to put in place and carry out an evaluation of the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s (UKNC’s) National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund) project: Local to Global 2.0.

12 December 2024
Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage visits Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site

Our Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage pilot sites have been working hard to unlock new learning about the stakeholder and data landscapes local to their UNESCO site…

15 January 2025
UNESCO Chair in the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Expansion of Political Space publishes two new working papers

The UNESCO Chair in the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Expansion of Political Space, led by Professor Paul Gready and based at the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) University of York…

Closing: 5:00pm, 05 February 2025
Local to Global 2.0: Expressions of interest sought for Local to Global 2.0 Evaluation Consultant

A consultant is needed to put in place and carry out an evaluation of the UK National Commission for UNESCO’s (UKNC’s) National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund) project: Local to Global 2.0.

12 December 2024
Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage visits Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site

Our Climate Change & UNESCO Heritage pilot sites have been working hard to unlock new learning about the stakeholder and data landscapes local to their UNESCO site…

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
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.