The Lake District National Park in the north-west of England is the largest of England's National Parks. Its 2,292 square kilometres cover high fells, lush green dales, still lakes, vibrant villages and quiet hamlets. The National Park also includes part of the West Coast, with sandy beaches and rocky tidepools.

The Lake District National Park is famous for its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and cultural heritage. But what makes it different from Britain's other National Parks?

WaterliliesCool, clear lakes, tarns and rivers
These stretches of water are nationally important for their range of habitats, and species such as vendace, charr, crayfish and schelly. Nutrient-poor lakes, such as Wast Water, contrast with more nutrient-rich lakes like Esthwaite Water.

The lakes and tarns give the Lake District a quality of scenery and recreational resource found nowhere else in England.

Ancient woodlands
The semi-natural woodlands add texture, colour and variety to the landscape and also provide a home for native animals and plants. The high rainfall in the core of the National Park favours woodlands rich in Atlantic mosses and liverworts, ferns and lichen.

The presence of wood pasture, pollards and old coppice woodland form part of the rich cultural heritage of the National Park.

Diverse landscape
The area's imposing natural landforms are overlaid by thousands of years of human activity. The mix of lakes, farmland, fell, woodland and settlement gives each valley a visual and cultural distinctiveness of its own.

The Lake District attracted the attention of the Picturesque and Romantic Movements.

Wealth of wildlife
The Lake District is unique in England for its abundant and varied freshwater habitats. Key habitats include mires, limestone pavement, upland heath, screes and artic-alpine communities, lakeshore wetlands, estuary, coastal heath and dunes.

Open nature of the fells
The relatively open character of the uplands, and the lack of modern development, is especially important. To walk freely across the fells, or climb their crags, is liberating and gives a feeling of wildness. To many the Lake District is a place where it is possible to feel remote, yet know the nearest settlement is never far away.

Concentration of common land
The Lake District National Park has the largest concentration of common land in Britain, and possibly Western Europe. Collective management is characterised by landlords' flocks, smit marked and hefted livestock and the use of traditional breeds including Herdwick sheep.