Historic England has revealed its 2025 Heritage at Risk list, showing the number of vulnerable sites in London has remained almost unchanged at 604. The figures come after 20 landmarks were saved and 21 new ones were added to the list, which highlights buildings and monuments needing restoration or protection.
Among the new entries are Hampstead Heath’s Hill Garden Pergola and the conservatory at Chiswick House, both well-known landmarks now identified as needing urgent care. Other sites listed include the moated manor of Edward III in Rotherhithe, Crystal Palace’s low-level railway station, and Our Ladye Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Greenwich.
Historic England said heritage was vital to the character and meaning of places, warning that “when it’s not looked after and used, communities feel a sense of decline.” The organisation spent £782,000 in grants last financial year to support and repair heritage sites across the capital.
Several once-threatened locations have now been restored and removed from the Heritage at Risk list, including the Grade II listed Bruce Grove public toilets in Tottenham, which have been transformed into a café and reopened for public use. Upminster Tithe Barn, in east London, has also been saved and rethatched, while six tombs in St Margaret’s old churchyard in Lewisham have been preserved.
The Grade II-listed Leaning Woman statue in Hammersmith, a former post office in Kingston, and historic almshouses in Wood Green are among the other sites successfully rescued. These projects reflect what Historic England described as the power of community partnerships in protecting London’s heritage.
Joint chief executives Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire said: “The best way to protect our buildings is to reuse them, turning them into places of local connection and joy. The sites that have been saved and have come off the register this year really highlight the benefits of working together in partnership, and with communities, to create positive, sustainable change. Together we can safeguard our heritage for future generations.”
The UK government’s heritage minister, Baroness Twycross, also welcomed the progress. “It is fantastic to see so many historical sites saved for communities up and down the country. These are much loved places and it is great to see them being brought back in to use.”
The 2025 Heritage at Risk list shows that while the challenge of conserving London’s past continues, the commitment to preservation remains strong. With both new and restored sites featured, Historic England’s Heritage at Risk programme continues to play a crucial role in keeping the city’s architectural and cultural legacy alive.
