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
Research Reports
Culture and 21st Century Challenges: Reframing Culture’s Role in Shaping Sustainable Futures
Research Reports
The National Trust and UNESCO sites: A Partnership for Sustainable Development - 2025
Strategy Documents
UNESCO - MOPAN Assessment Report 2025
Research Reports
An Evaluation of the Success of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail - July 2025
Research Reports
Culture and 21st Century Challenges: Reframing Culture’s Role in Shaping Sustainable Futures
Research Reports
The National Trust and UNESCO sites: A Partnership for Sustainable Development - 2025
Strategy Documents
UNESCO - MOPAN Assessment Report 2025
Research Reports
An Evaluation of the Success of Scotland’s UNESCO Trail - July 2025

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

18 September 2025
Reframing Culture: Research Highlights its Central Role in Addressing Global Challenges

Culture is increasingly recognised as foundational in addressing the interconnected challenges of our era, from climate change to biodiversity loss.

18 September 2025
The National Trust and UNESCO sites: A Partnership for Sustainable Development

A new report from the National Trust, the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC)…

15 September 2025
UKNC participation at MONDIACULT 2025

The UK National Commission for UNESCO will be representing the UK at MONDIACULT 2025 - the world’s biggest cultural policy conference - being held in Barcelona from the 29 September to 1 October.

18 September 2025
Reframing Culture: Research Highlights its Central Role in Addressing Global Challenges

Culture is increasingly recognised as foundational in addressing the interconnected challenges of our era, from climate change to biodiversity loss.

18 September 2025
The National Trust and UNESCO sites: A Partnership for Sustainable Development

A new report from the National Trust, the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC)…

15 September 2025
UKNC participation at MONDIACULT 2025

The UK National Commission for UNESCO will be representing the UK at MONDIACULT 2025 - the world’s biggest cultural policy conference - being held in Barcelona from the 29 September to 1 October.

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.