Maritime Greenwich was inscribed as a World Heritage Site (WHS) by UNESCO in 1997. The Committee decided to inscribe this area on the basis of cultural criteria considering that the public and private buildings and the Royal Park at Greenwich bear witness to human artistic and scientific endeavour of the highest quality; to European architecture at an important stage of its evolution, and to the creation of a landscape that integrates nature and culture in a harmonious whole.

World Heritage Site status recognises Maritime Greenwich’s importance as a place of international significance. A management plan, reviewed every five years, aims to preserve its character and promote its cultural and educational resources. Guidelines have been set to conserve and interpret the Site for future generations. The opening of the Old Royal Naval College and the restoration of the Dreadnought Hospital are part of the regeneration that has taken place within the site since 1997.