List of Total National Parks in UK 2026
As of July 2026, the United Kingdom is home to 15 national parks, protecting some of the country’s most remarkable landscapes, from rugged mountain ranges and open moorlands to ancient woodlands, lakes, rivers, and dramatic coastlines. These national parks are located across three of the UK’s four constituent countries: England, Wales, and Scotland. Northern Ireland currently has no designated national parks.
Of the 15 national parks in the UK, 10 are in England, 3 are in Wales, and 2 are in Scotland. Together, they cover a wide variety of landscapes and provide important habitats for wildlife while offering opportunities for hiking, wildlife watching, cycling, and other outdoor activities.
This guide provides a complete and regularly updated list of national parks in the UK, organized by constituent country. It includes key information about each park, including its location, designation year, area, landscapes, and notable wildlife.
Whether you’re researching UK national parks, planning a visit, or simply exploring Britain’s protected landscapes, this WN Index provides a single reference for all 15 national parks and their distribution across the United Kingdom.
Distribution of National Parks in the UK by Country
The 15 national parks in the UK are distributed across England, Wales, and Scotland. Each park has its own distinctive landscapes, wildlife, and character, ranging from the mountains and lakes of northern Britain to the coastal landscapes and heathlands of southern England.
Below is the complete list of UK national parks, organized by the constituent country where each park is located.
| Constituent country | Number of national parks |
|---|---|
| England | 10 |
| Wales | 3 |
| Scotland | 2 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 |
| Total | 15 |
England has the largest number of national parks, with 10, while Wales has three and Scotland has two. Northern Ireland has a number of important protected landscapes and conservation areas, but none currently hold national park designation.
National Parks in England
England has 10 national parks, the largest number of national parks of any constituent country of the United Kingdom. They protect a diverse range of landscapes, including mountains, moorlands, forests, wetlands, rivers, valleys, and coastal areas.
England’s national parks are spread across different regions, from Northumberland in the northeast to the New Forest and South Downs in southern England. Together, they provide important habitats for wildlife and support a wide range of outdoor recreation.
| No. | National Park | Location | Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broads | Norfolk & Suffolk | 1989 |
| 2 | Dartmoor | Devon | 1951 |
| 3 | Exmoor | Somerset & Devon | 1954 |
| 4 | Lake District | Cumbria | 1951 |
| 5 | New Forest | Hampshire & Wiltshire | 2005 |
| 6 | North York Moors | North Yorkshire | 1952 |
| 7 | Northumberland | Northumberland | 1956 |
| 8 | Peak District | Derbyshire & surrounding counties | 1951 |
| 9 | South Downs | Southern England | 2011 |
| 10 | Yorkshire Dales | North Yorkshire & Cumbria | 1954 |
National Parks in Wales
Wales has three national parks, each protecting a distinctive landscape ranging from high mountain ranges and glacial valleys to rugged coastal cliffs and sandy beaches. Together, they cover a significant portion of the country’s most important natural and cultural landscapes.
| # | National Park | Location | Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eryri (Snowdonia) | North Wales | 1951 |
| 2 | Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) | South Wales | 1957 |
| 3 | Pembrokeshire Coast | West Wales | 1952 |
National Parks in Scotland
Scotland has two national parks, both located in the central and northern parts of the country. Although Scotland has fewer national parks than England and Wales, its two parks encompass some of the UK’s most extensive mountain, loch, forest, and glacial landscapes.
| # | National Park | Location | Designated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cairngorms National Park | Scottish Highlands | 2003 |
| 2 | Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park | Central Scotland | 2002 |
National Parks in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland currently has no designated national parks. It is one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom, but unlike England, Scotland, and Wales, it does not currently have a national park.
This means that the 15 national parks in the UK are distributed entirely across England, Wales, and Scotland:
- England: 10
- Wales: 3
- Scotland: 2
- Northern Ireland: 0
Does Northern Ireland Have Protected Landscapes?
Although Northern Ireland has no national parks, it contains a number of important protected landscapes and conservation areas. These include Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), nature reserves, and other protected areas.
Northern Ireland’s landscapes include the Mourne Mountains, Causeway Coast, Sperrin Mountains, Lough Neagh, and Strangford Lough, among many other important natural areas.
These areas can provide significant protection for landscapes, habitats, and wildlife, but they should not be counted as national parks in a list of UK national parks.
Why Does Northern Ireland Have No National Park?
Northern Ireland has historically used different landscape protection designations rather than the national park system used in Great Britain. There have been proposals and discussions about establishing a national park in Northern Ireland, but no area currently holds official national park designation.
Therefore, when calculating the total number of national parks in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland contributes zero.
National Parks Area Share by Constituent Country
| Constituent country | National parks | Share of UK total |
|---|---|---|
| England | 10 | 66.7% |
| Wales | 3 | 20.0% |
| Scotland | 2 | 13.3% |
| Northern Ireland | 0 | 0% |
| United Kingdom | 15 | 100% |
Oldest and Newest National Parks in the UK
The UK’s national park system was established in the 1950s, following the post-war movement to protect important landscapes and improve public access to the countryside. The first national parks were designated in 1951, while the most recent addition was designated in 2011.
Oldest National Parks in the UK
The first national parks were established in 1951:
- Peak District National Park — England
- Lake District National Park — England
- Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) — Wales
These three parks were among the first areas to receive national park status under the UK’s post-war landscape protection framework.
Newest National Park in the UK
South Downs National Park in England is currently the newest national park in the UK. It was designated in 2011, making it the latest addition to the UK’s national park network.
The park stretches across the chalk landscapes of southern England and includes rolling downs, river valleys, woodland, farmland, and sections of coastline.
Largest National Parks in the UK
The UK’s national parks vary considerably in size, from large upland landscapes in Scotland to smaller protected landscapes in England. Cairngorms National Park is the largest by area, while several English parks cover substantially smaller areas.
For a meaningful comparison, the figures below refer to the approximate total area of each national park, using the areas reported by the respective park authorities.
Top 10 Largest National Parks in the UK
| Rank | National Park | Approx. area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cairngorms | 4,528 km² |
| 2 | Lake District | 2,362 km² |
| 3 | Yorkshire Dales | 2,179 km² |
| 4 | Eryri | ~2,176–2,132 km²* |
| 5 | Loch Lomond & The Trossachs | 1,865 km² |
| 6 | South Downs | ~1,624 km² |
| 7 | Peak District | ~1,437 km² |
| 8 | North York Moors | ~1,434 km² |
| 9 | Bannau Brycheiniog | ~1,344 km² |
| 10 | Northumberland | ~1,048 km² |
Important: The ordering and area figures should be verified against the latest official park-authority data before publication, because park boundaries, measurement methods, and published area figures can differ.
Wildlife and Landscapes of UK National Parks
The 15 national parks in the UK protect a remarkable variety of landscapes and habitats. From the mountains and ancient forests of Scotland to the chalk downs, wetlands, moorlands, and coastal cliffs of England and Wales, these protected landscapes support a wide range of wildlife.
UK national parks are not exclusively wildlife reserves. People live and work within many of them, and their landscapes have been shaped by centuries of farming, forestry, settlement, and other human activities. Their importance lies in conserving these landscapes while supporting communities, recreation, and nature.
Major Landscapes Found in UK National Parks
The national parks encompass a wide range of environments, including:
- Mountains and uplands — particularly prominent in Scotland, Wales, and northern England.
- Lakes and lochs — including the Lake District and Loch Lomond.
- Moorlands and heathlands — important habitats for birds, insects, and specialist plants.
- Ancient and native woodlands — found across several parks and supporting diverse wildlife.
- Rivers and wetlands — providing habitats for aquatic species and wetland birds.
- Coastal landscapes — especially important in Pembrokeshire Coast and parts of several English parks.
- Grasslands and agricultural landscapes — forming an important part of many UK national parks.
Wildlife Found in UK National Parks
The wildlife varies considerably between parks because of differences in climate, elevation, habitat, and geography.
Some notable species associated with UK national parks include:
Mammals
- Red deer
- Roe deer
- Red squirrel
- Otter
- European badger
- Mountain hare
Birds
- Golden eagle
- Red kite
- Peregrine falcon
- Osprey
- Hen harrier
- Capercaillie
Other wildlife
- Atlantic salmon
- Adders
- Frogs and other amphibians
- Numerous butterflies, moths, bees, and other insects
Some species are particularly associated with specific landscapes. For example, golden eagles and mountain hares are strongly associated with upland and mountainous areas, while red squirrels occur in several important woodland habitats.
Why UK National Parks Matter for Wildlife
National parks provide important areas for habitat conservation, landscape management, ecological restoration, and wildlife protection. They also connect different habitats across large landscapes, allowing species and ecosystems to persist in areas where land use is otherwise intensive.
However, national park designation does not mean that every part of a park is untouched wilderness. Many UK national parks are working landscapes, where conservation takes place alongside farming, forestry, tourism, recreation, and local communities.
Together, the UK’s national parks form an important part of the country’s network of protected and managed landscapes, helping conserve both natural heritage and cultural landscapes for future generations.
