About World Heritage

World Heritage Sites are places identified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as having ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ (OUV). 

This means they are considered to have cultural and/ or natural significance which is ‘so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity’.

Read more about World Heritage Sites on the UNESCO website. 

* This map was produced by the UK National Commission for UNESCO with the artist, Tom Woolley, part of their 'Local to Global' project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. For more information, visit: https://unesco.org.uk/our-sites.

About Westminster World Heritage Site

The Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, including St Margaret’s Church (Westminster World Heritage Site) was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. Inscription on the world heritage list recognises its exceptional international importance. It is one of four world heritage sites in London, as shown on the map above.

A 'Statement of Outstanding Universal Value' has been prepared to explain the qualities and characteristics that make Westminster internationally important. 

You can read this statement and more about Westminster World Heritage Site here.  You can download a map showing the boundaries of the World Heritage Site below.

Press next to find out more about the management plan.

About the Management Plan

All world heritage sites have a Statement of Outstanding Universal Value (SOUV) that explains the reasons for their inclusion on the World Heritage List and a management plan which sets out the management regime in place to protect the site. There is an existing management plan for Westminster. You can see this below.  

Our new management plan builds on this existing material with an updated vision and actions to ensure that the site and its setting is understood, protected and enhanced. 

Consultants have prepared some draft material and the final version will be agreed by key landowners and organisations involved in the management of the site as well as through this public consultation.

The first part of the management plan provides an overview of Outstanding Universal Value and identifies ‘Attributes’. These are the key features that underpin and contribute to Outstanding Universal Value. 

The management plan also sets out our vision, explains how the site is managed and includes actions to ensure the future protection of the site. 

You can read and comment on the attributes and fill in the survey if you have suggestions for the management plan. 

We will continue to add sections of the plan to this site for review where relevant and consult on a full consultation draft in late winter.