Due to essential maintenance the WEST Footpath/Cycleway is CLOSED except during weekends, please use the EAST Footpath/Cycleway.
Open to all permitted vehicles.
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UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO
The Forth Bridge has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the 39th session of the World Heritage Committee.
The Forth Bridge was inscribed as a World Heritage Site by United Nations body UNESCO in July 2015 at its meeting in Bonn, Germany. It became Scotland’s sixth World Heritage Site and enjoys the same status as the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China.
This prestigious cultural accolade is a fitting way to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of a Scottish icon, which opened to acclaim in March 1890 and remains one of the most recognisable structures in the world today.
A Potent Symbol of Heritage
The world’s first major steel edifice remains a potent symbol of Britain’s industrial, scientific, architectural and transport heritage and, in particular, Scotland’s engineering pedigree and ingenuity. Nevertheless, it remains a working estuary crossing, busier than ever. The distinctive red bridge carries around 200 local and intercity trains across the Forth every day and forms a key part of the national East Coast Main Line.
The announcement on July 5 2015 marks the culmination of over three years of work since the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced a nomination would be prepared for the Forth Bridge. Since then, the Scottish Government - through the Forth Bridges Forum, working closely with community representatives - has led the preparation and public consultation for the nomination.
In this section, we explain what World Heritage means for the Forth Bridge and more information on the process leading to this historic inscription.
