Top 10 national parks in England

With stunning chalk cliffs, ancient woodland, misty moorland and rolling green fields, England has a lot of scenery to offer, with plenty of space to clear our minds, breathe and reconnect. Some of the best countryside falls into designated national parks that are packed with opportunities to climb, hike, ride and bike. From star-gazing beyond our stratosphere to simply surrounding yourself with the sounds of nature, here’s what you can expect from each of England’s 10 national parks, starting with the most northerly and heading south.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there are restrictions on travel and opening hours may vary. Check the latest guidance in England before planning a trip, and always follow local health advice. Events may be subject to change.

Northumberland

Best for historic sites

Northumberland is the least populated of England’s national parks, covering a vast 405 sq miles. Choose a walking route to meet your fitness level and keep an eye out in the woodland – this is one of the few places in England where you can still spot red squirrels. A section of Unesco-heritage listed Hadrian’s Wall – the Roman wall running coast-to-coast – goes through the south of the park.

Take a glimpse at “some of the darkest skies in the world” at Kielder Observatory, which is open year-round, for a chance to spot the Milky Way and other astronomical wonders. This park is one of the last true wildernesses in England. The best times to visit are April to May, where you're sure to see lambs, or in August when the moors turn purple with flowering heather. 

Lake District

Best for water sports 

Voted the Brit’s favorite national park in 2018, the Lake District is known for wonderful hill walks and water-based activities. Whether you want to go boating, paddleboarding, kayaking or fishing, there are plenty of opportunities at the lakes, tarns and coastline here.

The region has many literary connections too. Ever wondered what inspired Beatrix Potter to write The Tale of Peter Rabbit? Then you (and any little ones) will love connecting the surrounding landscapes with the stories at the World of Beatrix Potter. Keen to know why Wordsworth “wandered lonely as a cloud”? Then head to Wordsworth House in Cockermouth or Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum in Grasmere. Lakeland has inspired these writers and many other creatives with its stunning hills and reflective lakes.

It can get crowded in summer, so if you're not concerned about the water being that bit colder, the best time to visit is in the fall when it's less busy and the autumn colors are starting to shine.   

North York Moors

Best for atmospheric views

North York Moors is made up of windswept moorland, dales (valleys) and coast, which is particularly beautiful in August to September when the heather blooms. Most of the moorland is open access land, meaning you can roam away from the paths. It's best explored by car – you'll drive ridgetop roads above lush green valleys, and spot weather-beaten stone crosses that mark the routes of ancient roadways.

If you're traveling without a car, you can take the steam train from Pickering to Whitby, the UK's gothic capital, and follow walking trails that connect the stations along the route. A stop at picturesque Goathland is likely to be popular with Harry Potter fans, as it doubles as Hogsmeade Station in the movies.

Yorkshire Dales

Best for a hiking challenge

The Yorkshire Dales is one of England's best hiking and cycling areas. There are hundreds of miles of trails lined with drystone walls that lead through scenic valleys and picture-postcard villages where sheep still graze on the greens. In the limestone country of the southern Dales, you'll find England's best examples of karst scenery, caused by rainwater dissolving the underlying limestone bedrock. 

The Dales are home to the popular Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, a walk of 24 miles that must include all three peaks, and be completed within 12 hours. Nearby is the 30-m-high Ribblehead Viaduct, an incredible piece of Victorian engineering, that carries the Settle–Carlisle train line. Visit in April to May when visitors are outnumbered by lambs. 

Peak District

Best for climbers and cavers

England’s first national park, the glorious Peak District is the southernmost point of the Pennines, with hills, valleys, moorland and escarpments, but no actual peaks. Ancient stone villages are folded into creases in the landscape, and the hillsides are littered with stately homes and rocky outcrops. The Dark Peak is dominated by exposed moorland and gritstone, while to the south, the White Peak is made up of the limestone dales.

Climbers head to the gritstone outcrops of Stanage Edge or the Roaches to ascend the cliffs and boulders, and, with many underground formations, this is a popular destination for cavers too. Those that prefer to wander cave networks rather than scramble through them can join tours at the vast limestone caves of Poole’s Cavern or the mining experience at Treak Cliff Cavern.

Broads

Best for boating and bird-watching

The Broads is a protected wetland made up of shallow lakes, coastline and navigable windmill-lined waterways in Norfolk (and a tiny bit of Suffolk). The area is absolutely teeming with wildlife, so if you’re a keen bird-watcher, love butterflies, or are hoping to spot a seal pup, this is the national park for you.

Experience the varied habitats of reed beds, fens and marshland on a boat trip – tourist boats go out daily from towns throughout the Broads (Wroxham is a good inland base), or hire one yourself for a more hands-on experience of life on the water. This is also a top destination for kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and sailing. 

South Downs

Best for long-distance hiking

The South Downs offers more than 600 sq miles of countryside shaped by centuries of farming. Take any of the car-free trails, bridleways, paths and even old railway lines for stunning views that stretch across the Weald and all the way to the coast. The 100-mile-long South Downs Way follows the chalk and flint ridge all the way from Winchester in the west to the seaside town of Eastbourne. The route takes around a week to complete, though by far the best section is the approach into Eastbourne along the top of the white cliffs and Beachy Head, an easy day walk.

It’s possible to access different stages of the route by public transport, hire a bike somewhere along the route, or simply sit and enjoy the landscapes that inspired writers, such as Virginia Woolf and Jane Austen. The South Downs are a delight at any time of year, though May to October is the best time for exploration. 

New Forest

Best for nature-spotting

The New Forest – made up of heathland, woodland, bogs, farmland and coastline – is neither new nor totally forest. It's packed with historic sites such as Buckler's Hard, Hurst Castle, and Beaulieu, with hundreds of miles of walking and cycling trails. 

But nature takes center stage here, and you're likely to see ponies, cattle or donkeys stroll casually into the road. They roam free in the Forest, let loose by commoners, who are local landowners with the right to allow their livestock to graze in the national park. In the fall, pigs are also released to clear up fallen acorns. There are five different species of deer in the park too, although they are harder to spot than the ponies. Head to Bolderwood near Lyndhurst, where you may see fallow deer from the viewing platform. Up on the heathlands, rare birds nest and many species of butterfly can be spotted. Start at the New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst, which together with nearby Brockenhurst, make good bases for exploring the area.

Exmoor

Best for amateur star-gazing

Exmoor offers a varied landscape of rocky river valleys, desolate moorland, and coastal cliffs, where life is attuned to the rhythms and colors of the season. It's more than a little addictive, and you may not want to leave. Mountain-bikers will find a wealth of challenging tracks and bridleways to ride in the park, or enjoy some of the superb views on an on-road cycle.

With exceptional star-gazing opportunities, Exmoor was Europe’s first designated Dark Sky Reserve. Download its Dark Skies Pocket Guide to help you get the most of the experience, or go to the annual festival in October. Visit the atmospheric coastal town of Porlock and the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth connected by a Victorian cliff railway, with Lynton at the top and Lynmouth and its pretty harbor on the shore.

Dartmoor

Best for wild camping

Dartmoor has vast moorland dotted with dramatic granite tors (outcrops or stacks of rocks, usually on a hill), and deep wooded river valleys with tinkling streams. Whilst the landscapes may seem desolate, there’s evidence of human activity in this region dating from the Bronze Age.

Outdoor activities include hiking, cycling, riding, climbing and white-water kayaking, with plenty of rustic pubs and country-house hotels where you can hunker down when the fog rolls in. Follow one of the themed walking routes to better understand the landscape, and look out for the iconic Dartmoor ponies grazing on the moors as you go. Wild camping is allowed in large parts of Dartmoor – check this handy interactive map before setting off – and whatever the activity, beware that mist and rain can descend very suddenly. 

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Article first published in July 2020, and last updated in March 2021.

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