Historic England’s annual audit of the country’s heritage sites has revealed that more than three-quarters of adults in the UK have visited heritage sites in the last year, with the class participation gap significantly shrinking.

The Heritage Counts report estimates that roughly 40 million over 16s – 73 per cent of the UK’s population – viewed heritage sites such as stately homes, castles and archaeological ruins in 2015.

Historic buildings continue to draw large crowds in England, with 61 million visitors in 2015 – an increase of 39 per cent since 1989.

Major heritage organisations have also seen an increase in memberships in the past year, with English Heritage numbers increasing by 10 per cent, the National Trust 8 per cent and the Historic Houses Association 11 per cent.

The participation gap between people in rich and poor areas has shrunk dramatically, with 59 per cent of people in deprived areas visiting a historic place compared with 83 per cent in richer areas – a 24 point difference. This gap has closed significantly since 2009, when there was a 44 point difference, with just 40 per cent of people from deprived areas visiting heritage sites.

“This new research clearly shows that more and more people, from a variety of socioeconomic and ethnic groups, appreciate England’s historic sites,” said Sir Laurie Magnus, chair of Historic England. “Our historic environment plays a crucial role in shaping the places where we live, work and visit. It provides people with a physical link to the past, permanence, stability and a sense of belonging. Places with strong, distinctive identities are more likely to prosper than those without them.”