UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom
map viewThe United Kingdom's UNESCO sites on this page cover more than 4,000 years of history. Stonehenge in Wiltshire is one of the most famous prehistoric monuments in the world. In London, the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Kew Gardens are all on the list, and Canterbury Cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England. Edinburgh Castle rises above Scotland's capital, and the Forth Bridge is a landmark of Victorian engineering. In Wales, Edward I's castles at Caernarfon, Conwy and Beaumaris and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct complete the list. June to September is the best time to visit.
Palace of Westminster, London, England
Home of the UK Parliament on the Thames, a Gothic Revival UNESCO site with Big Ben; guided tours £40, audio tours from £31.
Forth Bridge, Scotland, United Kingdom
The Forth Bridge is a red steel railway bridge of 1890 across the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is free to see.
Tower of London, England
Nearly 1,000-year-old royal fortress on the Thames, home of the Crown Jewels, the White Tower and the ravens; UNESCO site, adult tickets £37.
Caernarfon Castle, north-west Wales, United Kingdom
Caernarfon Castle is a mighty 13th-century fortress of Edward I in north Wales, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Prince of Wales was invested in 1969.
Canterbury Cathedral, England, United Kingdom
Canterbury Cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Communion, a UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral famous for the murder of Thomas Becket.
Kew Gardens, London, England, United Kingdom
Kew Gardens in London is a UNESCO-listed botanic garden with Victorian glasshouses, a treetop walkway and one of the world’s largest plant collections.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, United Kingdom
Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress on a volcanic rock above Scotland’s capital, home to the Scottish crown jewels and the One O’Clock Gun.
Westminster Abbey, London, England
Coronation church of English monarchs since 1066, with Poets’ Corner and royal tombs; UNESCO site, adults £32, services free.
Conwy Castle, North Wales, United Kingdom
Conwy Castle is a mighty fortress of Edward I, built in 1283–1287 on the Conwy estuary in north Wales, with eight towers and medieval town walls.
Stonehenge / Wiltshire, Amesbury, England
Prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain, built from about 3000 BC and aligned with the solstices; UNESCO-listed, adults from about £27 online.
Beaumaris Castle, Wales, United Kingdom
Concentric castle begun by Edward I in 1295 on Anglesey, never finished, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site; adult ticket £10.40.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, northeast Wales, United Kingdom
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct of 1805 carries the Llangollen Canal 38 metres above the River Dee in Wales; a UNESCO site that is free to walk across.
UNESCO sites in the United Kingdom on the map
Numbers match the ranking above. Click a pin to open the place.
Best time to visit UNESCO sites in the United Kingdom
When sightseeing is most pleasant: comfortable 18–26 °C daytime temperatures and more dry days. Averaged over the places on this page.
ERA5 climate data 2015–2024 (Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), averaged for the places on this page.
Tickets: what it costs to visit UNESCO sites in the United Kingdom
Adult entrance prices, cheapest first. What the ticket includes and what you can see for free.
| Place | Region | Adult ticket | Ticket includes | Free without a ticket | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumaris Castle | Wales | £10.40 | Castle | — | From 1 Sep 2026; ages 5–17 £7.20, under 5 free |
| Conwy Castle | Wales | £12.90 | Castle | — | 5% off when booked online; children under 5 free |
| Caernarfon Castle | Wales | £14.90 | Castle and Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum | — | 5% off when booked online; children under 5 free |
| Kew Gardens | London | £17–28 | Gardens and glasshouses | — | Sep–Oct £25 online, £28 at the gate; Nov–Jan £17 / £20; £10 on Tuesdays until 29 Dec 2026 |
| Canterbury Cathedral | South East England | £18–21 | Cathedral | — | Ticket valid for 12 months; under-18s free with a paying adult |
| Edinburgh Castle | Scotland | £23.50–26 | Castle | — | £23.50 online, £26 at the gate; adults aged 16–64 |
| Stonehenge | South West England | from £27–31.80 | Stone circle, visitor centre and shuttle | — | Cheaper online in advance; prices vary by date and time |
| Palace of Westminster | London | £31–40 | Audio or guided tour of the Palace | Watching debates | Children 5–15 from £12; one child free with each adult on the audio tour |
| Westminster Abbey | London | £32 | Abbey with multimedia guide | Worship services | Children 6–17 £14, under 6 free |
| Tower of London | London | £37 | Castle, Crown Jewels and Yeoman Warder tours | — | Children 5–15 £18.50, under 5 free |
| Forth Bridge | Scotland | Free | — | Views of the bridge from the shore | Boat cruises under the three Forth bridges from £18 |
| Pontcysyllte Aqueduct | Wales | Free | — | Walking across the aqueduct | 45-minute boat trip across the aqueduct from £10 |
Prices checked: 10.2026. Always check the official website before you go.
More to explore
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Spain23
Germany22
France17
Austria10
Poland10
Greece8
Belgium6
Czechia6
Portugal6
Egypt5
Turkey5