Culture and Entertainment Buildings

A guide to outline the selection criteria used when listing culture and entertainment buildings.

This guide looks at buildings and other structures provided to facilitate culture and entertainment of all types from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. They include libraries, museums and galleries; cinemas, theatres and dance halls; zoos and seaside piers.

Inevitably, there are strong overlaps with other selection guides, especially Garden and Park Structures (including relocated elements, once exhibited at international exhibitions) and Sport and Recreation Buildings. Pubs, restaurants, clubs and masonic halls are considered under Commerce and Exchange Buildings, whilst university libraries are considered under Education. Recording studios appear in Infrastructure: Utilities and Communication selection guide.

This is one of a series of guides which set out some of our approaches to listing buildings. Covering twenty broad categories of building types, they including historical overviews and special considerations for listing, plus select bibliographies. They are primarily intended to develop understanding of listed buildings and structures, and to offer insight into listing decision making.