Cumbria is a ceremonial county in North West England, 2,613 square miles (6,768 km2) of mountain, fell and coast. It is the third largest county in England and one of the emptiest, with about 500,700 residents at the 2021 census. Carlisle is the largest settlement.
Two unitary councils have run the county since April 2023: Cumberland in the north and west, Westmorland and Furness in the south and east. They replaced Cumbria County Council and six district councils.
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Region | North West England |
| Area | 2,613 sq mi (6,768 km2) |
| Population (2021) | 500,729 |
| Density | 74 people per km2 |
| Largest settlement | Carlisle |
| Councils | Cumberland; Westmorland and Furness (since 2023) |
| Highest point | Scafell Pike, 978 m (3,209 ft) |
| National park | Lake District |
Towns and Villages in Cumbria
GeoNames records about 890 named settlements in Cumbria. The 250 below include every place with a recorded population plus a spread of the smaller villages and hamlets, listed listed alphabetically from Abbey Town to Workington.
Cumbria (250 of 891 shown)
- Abbey Town
- Aikhead
- Aikton
- Allenwood
- Allonby
- Alston
- Ambleside
- Anthorn
- Appleby-in-Westmorland
- Arlecdon
- Arnaby
- Arnside
- Askam in Furness
- Aspatria
- Ayside
- Backbarrow
- Bank End
- Barclose
- Barrow in Furness
- Bassenthwaite
- Baycliff
- Beck Wythop
- Beckermet
- Berrier
- Bigrigg
- Blackford
- Blencarn
- Bolton Low Houses
- Boot
- Bothel
- Bow
- Bowness-on-Windermere
- Braithwaite
- Brampton
- Brandlingill
- Bridgend
- Brigham
- Brocklebank
- Brough Sowerby
- Broughton in Furness
- Broughton Moor
- Brownber
- Burgh by Sands
- Burnbanks
- Burneside
- Burthwaite
- Caldbeck
- Calthwaite
- Cargo
- Carlisle
- Cartmel Fell
- Casterton
- Catterlen
- Chapels
- Cleator Moor
- Cliburn
- Clifton
- Cockermouth
- Colby
- Colton
- Coniston
- Cowan Head
- Crook
- Crosby Ravensworth
- Crosthwaite
- Culgaith
- Cumwhinton
- Dacre
- Dalston
- Dalton in Furness
- Dearham
- Deepdale
- Distington
- Dovenby
- Drybeck
- Durdar
- East Curthwaite
- Egremont
- Ellonby
- Eskdale
- Faugh
- Fingland
- Flimby
- Flitholme
- Flookburgh
- Frizington
- Gaisgill
- Garrigill
- Garsdale Head
- Gawthrop
- Glasson
- Goodyhills
- Gosforth
- Grange-over-Sands
- Great Asby
- Great Corby
- Great Musgrave
- Great Urswick
- Green Bank
- Greenside
- Greystoke
- Grizedale
- Halfpenny
- Hampsfield
- Harraby
- Haverigg
- Haverthwaite
- Heggerscales
- Helsington
- Hethersgill
- Heversham
- High Hesket
- High Side
- Highbridge
- Holker
- Hornsby
- Howgate
- Hutton End
- Ingmire Hall
- Irton
- Keekle
- Kelsick
- Kendal
- Keswick
- King’s Meaburn
- Kirkbampton
- Kirkbride
- Kirkby Lonsdale
- Kirkby Stephen
- Kirkby Thore
- Kirkby-in-Furness
- Kirklinton
- Kirksanton
- Laithes
- Langrigg
- Langwathby
- Lazonby
- Leasgill
- Levens
- Lindal in Furness
- Lindale
- Linstock
- Little Broughton
- Little Ormside
- Littlebeck
- Longdales
- Longtown
- Lorton
- Low Moresby
- Lowca
- Lowgill
- Lyneholmeford
- Marthwaite
- Maryport
- Meal Bank
- Mellguards
- Middleton
- Millbeck
- Millom
- Milnthorpe
- Milton
- Moor Row
- Moorend
- Morland
- Moss Side
- Mountain View
- Nealhouse
- Nether Staveley
- New Rent
- Newby West
- Newton Arlosh
- Newton Reigny
- Nook
- Old Hutton
- Orton
- Orton Rigg
- Outgate
- Paradise
- Parkhead
- Patton Bridge
- Penrith
- Penton
- Plumbland
- Pool Bank
- Portinscale
- Prizet
- Rannerdale
- Ravenstown
- Renwick
- Roachburn
- Rookby
- Rosley
- Row
- Rusland
- Saint Bees
- Saint John Beckermet
- Salterbeck
- Sandwick
- Scalebyhill
- Scotby
- Scotsdike
- Seascale
- Seatoller
- Sedbergh
- Selside
- Shap
- Silloth
- Skelsmergh
- Skirsgill
- Smardale
- Southerfield
- Stainburn
- Stainton
- Stanwix
- Staveley
- Storrs
- Summerlands
- Swarthmoor
- Swathwaite Head
- Tebay
- Temple Sowerby
- Thackthwaite
- The Howe
- Threapland
- Threlkeld
- Thursby
- Thwaite Head
- Torpenhow
- Townfoot
- Ulcat Row
- Ulverston
- Unthank
- Waberthwaite
- Warcop
- Wasdale Head
- Watermillock
- Weasdale
- West Causewayhead
- Westmoor End
- Wetheral
- Wharton
- Whitbarrow
- Whitehaven
- Wiggonby
- Wigton
- Windermere
- Winster
- Woodend
- Wordsworth Terrace
- Workington
Geography
Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders lie to the north across the Solway and the Esk. Northumberland is to the north-east, County Durham to the east, North Yorkshire to the south-east and Lancashire to the south. The Irish Sea forms the western coast.
The Lake District fills the centre: a dome of volcanic and slate rock cut by radiating valleys and ribbon lakes. Scafell Pike, at 978 metres, is the highest mountain in England, and Helvellyn, Skiddaw and Great Gable are all above 900 metres. Windermere is the longest lake in England at 10.5 miles, and Wast Water the deepest at 74 metres.
The North Pennines rise east of the Eden valley, taking in Cross Fell and the lead-mining country around Alston, the highest market town in England. The Howgill Fells and part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park sit in the south-east, and the Solway plain runs flat and low from Carlisle to Silloth.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 500,729 residents: Cumberland 273,788 and Westmorland and Furness 226,941. At about 74 people per square kilometre, Cumbria is one of the most sparsely populated counties in England.
The age profile is markedly older than the national average, driven by retirement migration into the Lakes and by younger people leaving for university and work. Carlisle’s built-up area holds about 78,000 people and Barrow-in-Furness about 55,000; after those two, no town reaches 30,000.
Economy and Local Life
Tourism is the largest employer. The Lake District takes roughly 18 million visitors a year and became a World Heritage Site in 2017, recognised as a cultural landscape shaped by farming.
Two industrial sites dominate the west and south. Sellafield, near Seascale, handles nuclear fuel reprocessing and decommissioning and is the largest single employer in west Cumbria. At Barrow-in-Furness, the shipyard has built submarines since 1901 and constructs the Royal Navy’s nuclear fleet.
Hill farming holds the fells together. Herdwick sheep, hefted to their own patch of ground, are near-unique to the Lake District and central to how the landscape looks. Kendal keeps its mint cake and outdoor-equipment trades, and slate and gypsum are still quarried at Honister and Kirkby Thore.
History
Hadrian’s Wall runs along the northern edge, from Bowness-on-Solway east through Carlisle, and much of the western coastal defence chain survives as far as Maryport. The name Cumbria shares a root with Cymru, a reminder that Brythonic speech held on here into the early medieval period.
For three centuries the border country was reiver territory, raided by families on both sides until the union of the crowns in 1603. Carlisle Castle changed hands repeatedly and held Mary, Queen of Scots in 1568.
William Wordsworth was born at Cockermouth in 1770 and lived at Dove Cottage in Grasmere and later Rydal Mount; his Guide to the Lakes did as much as anything to start Lakeland tourism. The modern county was formed in 1974 from Cumberland, Westmorland, the Furness district of Lancashire and part of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Those historic names returned in 2023 with the two new councils.
Getting There
The M6 runs up the eastern side, junctions 36 to 44, and is the only motorway. The A66 crosses from Penrith to Workington over Stainmore, the A590 runs south-west to Barrow, the A595 follows the west coast and the A591 threads the central Lakes from Kendal to Keswick.
West Coast Main Line trains stop at Oxenholme, Penrith and Carlisle, with Carlisle about three and a half hours from London Euston. The Lakes Line branches from Oxenholme to Kendal and Windermere. The Cumbrian Coast Line runs from Carlisle round through Whitehaven, Sellafield and Barrow to Lancaster, and the Settle to Carlisle and Tyne Valley lines cross the Pennines.
There is no significant passenger airport in the county. Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow are the usual arrival points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Cumbria?
500,729 at the 2021 census: 273,788 in Cumberland and 226,941 in Westmorland and Furness.
What is the largest town in Cumbria?
Carlisle, with about 78,000 people in its built-up area, followed by Barrow-in-Furness at around 55,000.
Which councils cover Cumbria?
Two unitary authorities since April 2023: Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. Cumbria County Council and its six districts were abolished.
What is the highest mountain in England?
Scafell Pike in Cumbria, at 978 metres (3,209 feet).
What are the postcode areas for Cumbria?
CA covers Carlisle, Penrith, Keswick, Whitehaven and Workington; LA covers Kendal, Windermere, Barrow-in-Furness and Ulverston.