Listed Buildings

There are around half a million Listed Buildings in the United Kingdom.

Listed Buildings

There are around half a million listed buildings in the United Kingdom. These are buildings that have been placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest by English Heritage in England, Cadw (The Historic Environment Service of the Welsh Government) in Wales, Historic Scotland in Scotland and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) in Northern Ireland. These are protected structures with special architectural and historic interest, the older a building is, the more likely it is to be listed. All buildings built before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition are listed, as are most of those built between 1700 and 1840. The criteria become tighter with time, so that post-1945 buildings have to be exceptionally important to be listed. A building has normally to be over 30 years old to be eligible for listing. Many of Britain's inns are listed so we show a half timbered symbol to show this. A listed building may not be demolished, extended, or altered without special permission from the local planning authority, which typically consults the relevant central government agency, particularly for significant alterations to the more notable listed buildings. It is likely that we will include a pub on our guide if it is a listed building as our criteria for inclusion is somewhere you would recommend to others and especially so if it is a Grade I listed structure as the building will generally be something of wonder. It doesn’t necessarily mean they will serve great food and ales although many do. There are less than 20 Grade I listed pubs in England, most Grade I listings are houses and castles. Although most structures appearing on the lists are buildings, almost anything can be listed, other structures such as bridges, monuments, sculptures, war memorials, and even milestones and telephone boxes are also listed. Ancient, military and uninhabited structures, such as Stonehenge, are sometimes instead classified as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. Cliveden House Most Country Houses and Palaces are obviously listed but it’s generally not just the house itself - there are usually many other buildings or other notable structures that all have their separate listings. For example, Cliveden House (Pronounced Klivden) in Buckinghamshire has 30 different listed structures including the main house. The House is Grade I listed as is the chapel in the grounds, the statues and many of the other buildings are either Grade II or II* listed. Originally built in 1666 by George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, Cliveden has been home to aristocrats, royalty, and political figures. Notably, it was the site of the 1960s Profumo Affair, a political scandal that shook the British government. In 1942, William Waldorf Astor gifted Cliveden to the National Trust, and it has since been leased to various tenants, including Stanford University and now operates as a luxury hotel. The estate boasts 376 acres of Grade I listed formal gardens and woodlands, managed by the National Trust. Highlights include the Parterre, designed with intricate patterns of flowers and shrubs, and the Water Garden, featuring a pond, pagoda, and rustic bridges . Cliveden House offers 38 individually styled rooms and suites, each named after notable figures from its history. Guests can also stay at Spring Cottage, a self-contained three-bedroom cottage on the banks of the River Thames . The Cliveden Dining Room serves modern British cuisine with views over the gardens and River Thames. For a more relaxed setting, The Astor Grill offers a variety of dishes in a former stable block . The Cliveden Spa features indoor and outdoor pools, including the historic "Profumo" pool, the last remaining listed outdoor pool in England. Guests can enjoy a range of treatments, a fitness studio, and spa facilities set within a tranquil walled garden. While the house operates as a hotel, non-residents can explore the estate's gardens year-round. Guided tours of the house's ground floor are available on select days from March to October, offering insights into its rich history. Categories of listed buildings • Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important; only 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I • Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest; 5.5% of listed buildings are Grade II* • Grade II buildings are nationally important and of special interest; 92% of all listed buildings are in this class and it is the most likely grade of listing for a home owner. Scottish listed buildings Scottish listings differ slightly in being A,B,C rather than I,II*,II • Category A o Buildings of special architectural or historical interest which are outstanding examples of a particular period, style or building type. • Category B o Buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are major examples of a particular period, style or building type. • Category C o Buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are representative examples of a period, style or building type. There are more than 100 Grade I listed Castles in England alone and more than 500 Grade I listed houses. Many Monasteries, Cathedrals and Museums are also Grade I listed. The only structures more important than Grade I listed are Scheduled Monuments.