Listed buildings in England: what Grade I, II* and II mean

This article is educational and for general interest only. It does not refer to any financial or regulated service.

Anyone who walks through an English town will pass listed buildings, often without noticing. The grade of a building says something about how important it is judged to be, and listing affects what can be done to it. This explainer draws on Historic England’s own pages.

What is a listed building?

A listed building is one that has been included on the National Heritage List for England because of its special architectural or historic interest. Historic England says there are over 370,000 entries on the list. Listing is a form of recognition, and it also brings extra control over changes.

What are the three grades?

Historic England describes them as follows:

• Grade I: buildings of exceptional interest. Only around 2.5% of listed buildings are Grade I.
• Grade II*: particularly important buildings of more than special interest. Around 5.8% of listed buildings are Grade II*.
• Grade II: buildings of special interest. Around 91.7% of all listed buildings are in this class, which makes it by far the most common.

The percentages are Historic England’s figures as published on its website, and they move slightly as the list changes. One consequence is that a Grade II listing, although it sounds modest, still marks a building as having special interest nationally.

What does listing cover?

Historic England explains that listing covers a whole building, including the interior, unless parts of it are specifically excluded in the list entry. It can also cover attached structures and fixtures, later extensions or additions, and pre-1948 buildings on land attached to the building, which planning law calls the curtilage. Coverage differs from building to building, so the page advises checking the details with the local planning authority.

What does it mean for owners?

Historic England says listing brings extra control over what changes can be made to a building’s interior and exterior. Owners generally need to apply for Listed Building Consent for most types of work that affect the special architectural or historic interest of the building. This is a general summary only, and the exact requirements depend on the building and the work involved.

Why this matters for cultural capital

Buildings are among the most visible places where a community’s history is kept. Grades give a shared vocabulary for talking about that heritage, and the public list makes the information free to search. For learners, teachers and curious walkers, it offers an easy way to ask: what is this building, why was it listed, and what has changed since?

Three questions to ask next time you pass one

1. What grade is it, and what does the list entry say about why it was listed?
2. Which parts are mentioned in the entry: the facade, the interior, a later addition?
3. Has anything changed since it was listed, and who looked after the building in between?

For the full picture, Historic England’s listing pages and the National Heritage List for England are the best places to look.

Educational only.