The national parks of the United Kingdom (parciau cenedlaethol) are areas of relatively undeveloped and scenic landscape. Despite their similar name, they are quite different from national parks in many other countries, which are usually owned and managed by the government as a protected community resource, and which do not usually include permanent human communities.
In the UK, designation as a national park may include substantial settlements and human land uses which are often integral parts of the landscape, and land within a national park remains largely in private ownership. These are areas of outstanding landscape and natural beauty where habitation and commercial activities are restricted.
