Frequently asked questions

Lake District National Park FAQs

Here you can find answers to the most commonly asked questions by students. There are also links to useful information on this website.

Requests for help

Can I have some photographs of the Lake District to put in my project?

Certainly! Choose from photos donated by photographers and free to use by anyone from our Free photos page. Please credit the photographer.

Other sources of photography are listed in Photography sources.

Can you fill out my questionnaire?

Unfortunately not. However you should be able to find lots of factual information on this website.

Can you send me some posters?

Sorry, but we don't have free posters to give away.

Can you help me to find a location for research or survey work?

We are unable give advice on locations for conducting surveys or research. If you're planning to go onto private land to do research or survey work, please make sure you ask the permission of the landowner.

Studying path erosion? Check out Fix the Fells - Case Studies (opens in new window)

Can you advise me on filming locations?

Yes - please look at our Filming and filming permissions web page.

Factual questions

What is a National Park?

A National Park is a large area of beautiful countryside, which is specially protected so that it remains beautiful and can be enjoyed now and in the future.

Britain’s National Parks are not wilderness areas. People live and work in them and much of the land is farmed or managed. There are roads, houses, shops and businesses. New building is carefully controlled to ensure that the natural beauty, wildlife and the cultural heritage of the area is not destroyed.

The Lake District National Park is 2,292 square km in size. Visitors from all over the world are welcome to enjoy the stunning views, opportunities for outdoor pursuits and the area's history and culture.

What time does the National Park open and how much does it cost to come in?

National Parks are not like theme parks or the parks found in towns and cities.

National Parks typically cover large areas of land - the Lake District National Park is 2,292 square km in size. There is a National Park boundary, which can be seen on most maps. But there are no gates, fences or entrance charges. The most visible sign of entering a National Park is usually a roadside symbol. In the Lake District this is a traditional piece of slate, inscribed with the Park’s logo.

How many visitors do you get?

The latest estimate is 15.8 million vistors per year (Source Cumbria Tourism STEAM survey 2009).

Who runs the Lake District National Park?

It is run by a local government body, called the Lake District National Park Authority. We are funded by the government and UK taxpayers.

We work in partnership with a range of other organisations including local councils, charities and government agencies to look after the Lake District National Park. We all work to help people enjoy and understand the area without damaging it. Find out more in the section on the Lake District National Park Partnership.

The Lake District National Park Authority differs from a local authority because:

What does the LDNPA actually do?

Our main areas of responsibility are for planning, countryside management, access, information and education.

Planning

We have legal powers to control development within the National Park. If anyone wants to build a new building or to alter or change the use of a building, they have to get planning permission from us. We have detailed policies about what we will and will not allow. The policies are designed to conserve the historical character, natural beauty and landscape. They also allow for suitable business development and homes for local people.

Find out more in Planning.

Countryside Management

Our Park Management teams work with landowners and managers to look after the environment and help people enjoy it.

Communications and Learning

We communicate our messages to the public through Events and guided walks, News, publications and exhibitions. Our Learning Service organises School visits with schools and young people.

Information

We provide information for visitors and local people through this website, Information Centres, Brockhole - The Lake District Visitor Centre (opens in new window) and a wide variety of leaflets. We give information about safety, places to go, things to do and caring for the environment.

How does the LDNPA manage tourism?

Tourism is vital to the economy, the community and the future of the Lake District. We work hard to ensure that tourism benefits the area while minimising the impact on the environment. For more information check out:

Why did the LDNPA put a 10mph speed limit on Windermere?

We needed to address increasing problems of managing the activities on the lake safely and ensure the maximum number of people could enjoy the lake. For a history of the introduction of the byelaw please read our Windermere speed limit web page.

For more recent information on the byelaw you may find the Windermere Byelaws Consultation page useul. It includes links into the background of the Byelaws, annexes that detail the reason why the Minister didn’t confirm, along with the actual Byelaws submitted.

For information on access to lakes and rivers throughout the National Park read Access to water.

You may also want to look at the minutes of our Windermere Lake User Forum meetings on the Windermere Lake User Forum section.

What is the Authority doing about affordable housing?

Find out more on the Affordable housing web page.

Finding your way around the website

Please use the search box in the top right-hand corner. You might also find Policies and hot topics and Projects sections helpful.

Web pages with links to useful documents

Follow us on Facebook Twitter
National Parks - Britain's breathing spaces