English Heritage exists to help people understand, value, care for and enjoy England's unique heritage.

We are probably best known for looking after the National Heritage Collection of historic sites and monuments and the guardianship of over 500,000 objects and 12 million photographs in our public archives.

Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, the largest prehistoric man-made mound in Europe. In 2007, English Heritage carried out emergency work to consolidate the mound following a collapse into previous excavations.


The Collection ranges from prehistoric stone circles to a 1960s nuclear bunker and includes Stonehenge and Hadrian's Wall, Charles Darwin's diaries and the Duke of Wellington's boots. Taken together, over 400 properties in our care help to tell the story of England.

We also run an extensive events programme throughout the year and provide free educational visits for schools.

English Heritage also has an in-house archaeological team to carry out projects and advise others on fieldwork, conservation, analysis and archiving.

English Heritage also:

  • Advises government on which parts of our heritage are nationally important so they can be protected by designation (which includes the listing of buildings) and promote the importance of heritage in making places distinctive and valued;
  • Advises local authorities on managing changes to the most important parts of our heritage;
  • Encourages investment in heritage at risk;
  • Shares knowledge, skills and expertise by offering training and guidance, giving practical conservation advice and access to our resources;
  • Provides £24 million in grants.

Dover Castle, Kent, one of the many properties in the English Heritage National Collection.


Officially known as the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England, we are an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.