Nation
Photo: John260660 ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Lake District National Park
England’s largest national park: 16 lakes, more than 350 fells and a farmed landscape that has been a World Heritage Site since 2017.
National Parks Atlas · Country · checked 8 Oct 2026
National Parks in the United Kingdom
Fifteen national parks, none with an entrance fee. Three are covered in full – one each in England, Wales and Scotland.
3Park guides
Lake District, Snowdonia (Eryri) and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs in full, with parking, walks and getting there
57Official sources
park authorities, operators and transport providers
15National parks
in England, Wales and Scotland
1951The first
Peak District and Lake District
Last checked: 8 Oct 2026
The UK has 15 national parks. The first were designated in 1951: the Peak District and the Lake District in spring, Eryri in Wales in October. Most of the land belongs to farmers, trusts and charities; the park authorities protect and plan, but charge no entrance fee. This atlas covers Lake District National Park in England, Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) in Wales and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park in Scotland.
Every figure links to the park authority in charge, or to the operators of car parks, railways and boats.
01 · Park guides
Park guides: Lake District, Snowdonia, Loch Lomond
Windermere and Scafell Pike, the paths up Snowdon and Pen y Pass parking, camping permits and Ben Lomond.
02 · Good to know
Good to know
Free parks, paid car parks and different access rules in England, Wales and Scotland.
No entrance fee, but parking charges
The UK’s national parks are free to visit at any time. Car parks are run by councils, public bodies, clubs and private owners, each with its own charges – on Snowdon, the Pen y Pass car park can only be used with a booking until 1 November 2026. Parking on Snowdon
England and Wales: rights of way
In England and Wales you walk on public rights of way and on mapped access land. Beyond them the land is private, and wild camping needs the landowner’s permission. Rules in the Lake District
Scotland: right of access
Scotland has the Scottish Outdoor Access Code: responsible access to almost all land. At Loch Lomond you still need a camping permit on the busiest shores from March to September. Camping at Loch Lomond
03 · Editorial
Sources and last checked
Every fee, date and rule on this page comes from the park guides below, each linked to the official source.
- Lake District National Park: checked 8 Oct 2026, 17 sources in the park guide · Park authority ↗
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park: checked 8 Oct 2026, 20 sources in the park guide · Park authority ↗
- Snowdonia National Park (Eryri): checked 8 Oct 2026, 22 sources in the park guide · Park authority ↗
- National Parks UK: 15 national parks, “Anyone can visit at any time for free” ↗
- Eryri National Park Authority: designated October 1951, after the Peak District and Lake District ↗
- Lake District National Park Authority: Facts and figures (1951, World Heritage 2017) ↗
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority: Access Authority (Scottish Outdoor Access Code) ↗
Fees, opening times and reservation rules change. Check the official page before you travel.