Research finds 70% of 25-34 year olds say historic buildings positively affect wellbeing, comparable to impact of parks and green spaces.
Young adults aged 25-34 report the strongest positive impact from historic buildings on their wellbeing, a new study suggests.
70% of young adults report that being in or around historic buildings positively affects them, according to a new report published today by Historic England and the University of Glasgow.
Overall, almost two thirds of respondents (63 per cent) said that being in or around historic buildings positively affects their wellbeing, compared to 80 per cent who reported a positive effect from local parks and green spaces.
The report, Connecting People and Place: Valuing the Felt Experiences of Historic Places, suggests that historic places are important for mental health. A public attitudinal poll commissioned by Historic England and carried out by Savanta found that seven in 10 respondents (71 per cent) said local historic buildings are important to their quality of life. The poll surveyed 1,801 adults across England.
The report also found that emotional connections to everyday historic places drive economic decisions, influencing where people choose to live, work, spend and invest.
The poll also revealed the effect of deterioration and neglect. When shown an image of a historic building in disrepair, the majority of respondents (56 per cent) reported feeling sad, rising to 66 per cent amongst those aged 55 and over. One in five respondents (20 per cent) reported feeling ashamed when viewing an image of a neglected historic building.
Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, Co-CEOs of Historic England said: “The affinity people have to historic landmarks, from the cinema where you had your first date to the seaside pier you visited as a child, play an important role in determining where people choose to live, visit, spend and invest. This is good news for communities and local economies.”
Professor Rebecca Madgin at the University of Glasgow said the report “comes at a critical juncture as we search for ways to grow the economy whilst at the same time needing to nurture wellbeing.”
The report builds on Historic England research published in 2024 which found that the presence of nearby everyday historic places, rather than rare exceptional sites, increases residents’ life satisfaction. Historic England has published its new Wellbeing and Heritage Strategy (2025-2030), which sets out how it wants to work in partnership with local authorities, the health and social care sector and local people to use heritage to build happier and healthier communities.
