What are National Landscapes in England?
National Landscapes are protected areas in England and Wales with special natural beauty. They were previously called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and were renamed National Landscapes in 2023.
The first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Gower Peninsula in Wales, was designated in 1956. Many areas in England followed.
There are 34 National Landscapes wholly in England, along with others in Wales and one that crosses the border.
Famous examples
Well-known National Landscapes include the Cotswolds, the Chilterns, the Malvern Hills, the High Weald, the North Wessex Downs, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The Cotswolds is the largest National Landscape.
Like national parks, National Landscapes are protected from inappropriate development. However, they are managed differently, often by local councils and partnerships.
The new name was introduced to raise their profile and reflect their role in nature recovery and climate action.
They include chalk downs, heathlands, river valleys, coastlines and moorland. Together, National Landscapes cover about 15 percent of England's land area, and many popular walking trails pass through them. Visitors are encouraged to follow the Countryside Code, keep dogs under control and leave gates as they find them.