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Lake District named as a World Heritage site – but can you guess the others in the UK?

The stunning bodies of water, rolling hills and lush forests join 30 other beautiful areas in Britain on the prestigious list

THE "priceless" and "irreplaceable" Lake District has been designated as an official UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The stunning bodies of water, rolling hills and lush forests join 30 other beautiful areas in Britain on the prestigious list.

Scafell Pike in The Lake District in Cumbria
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Scafell Pike in The Lake District in CumbriaCredit: PA:Press Association
Dedicated photographers come to the Lake District with the sole purpose of exploring the photographic potential of the area
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Dedicated photographers come to the Lake District with the sole purpose of exploring the photographic potential of the areaCredit: Stuart Holmes / mediadrumworld.com
A woman ambles through a patch of Bluebells at Rannerdale Knott in the Lake District
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A woman ambles through a patch of Bluebells at Rannerdale Knott in the Lake DistrictCredit: PA:Press Association

160 beautiful sites are recognised all over the world for their cultural or natural heritage and its importance to future generations.

The Lake District in Britain will join the likes of the Taj Mahal and Machu Piccu.

Helen Maclagan, culture director at the UK National Commission for Unesco, said the Lake District was "a priceless and irreplaceable asset not only to the UK but to humanity as a whole".

Lord Clark of Windermere, who chaired the Lake District's bid, said the decision to recognise the region's culture, art and literature, as well as its landscape, was "momentous".

He said: "It is this exceptional blend which makes our Lake District so spectacularly unique and we are delighted Unesco has agreed.

"A great many people have come together to make this happen and we believe the decision will have long and lasting benefits for the spectacular Lake District landscape, the 18 million visitors we welcome every year and for the people who call the National Park their home."

Bluebells cover the floor at Loughrigg Terrace during springtime in the Lake District
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Bluebells cover the floor at Loughrigg Terrace during springtime in the Lake DistrictCredit: Stuart Holmes / mediadrumworld.com
Derwent Water and Keswick from Catbells, Lake District National Park, Cumbria
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Derwent Water and Keswick from Catbells, Lake District National Park, CumbriaCredit: Alamy
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The Lake District has over 1,000 years of human activity, and is home to England's largest natural lake (Windermere) and highest mountain (Scarfell Pike).

It becomes one of five special sites within the UK named as "cultural landscapes".

St Kilda (Scotland), Blaenavon Industrial Landscape (Wales), Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape (England), and Kew Gardens are the rest of the top ones.

Around 18 million people visit the Lake District every year, and its stunning landscapes bring in tourists from across Britain and the world.

They spend around £1.2billion in the area, and provide 18,000 jobs.

The Lakes were also the inspiration for some of the country's top authors - including Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth.

 

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Other World Heritage sites in Britain include...

Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew (England)

Many pretty petals can be spotted in Kew Gardens, Kensington
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Many pretty petals can be spotted in Kew Gardens, KensingtonCredit: Alamy

Blenheim Palace

Countryfile: We met up with the Countryfile presenters at the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace
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Stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, EnglandCredit: Getty

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral
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Canterbury Cathedral dates back to 1070Credit: Alamy

City of Bath

hermae Bath Spa
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Steam rises above the hot natural spring waters on the rooftop spa at Thermae Bath Spa, as people enjoy the view of Bath AbbeyCredit: PA:Press Association

Durham Castle and Cathedral

Durham Cathedral still looms over the north east city today
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Durham Cathedral still looms over the north east city todayCredit: Alamy

The Forth Bridge

HMS Queen Elizabeth passes under a floodlit Forth Rail Bridge as it begins its sea trials
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HMS Queen Elizabeth passes under a floodlit Forth Rail Bridge as it begins its sea trialsCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall
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Hadrian's Wall was built by the Roman Empire built to keep Scots out of England

Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption
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The Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruptionCredit: Getty Images

Maritime Greenwich

Walkers stop to enjoy the famous cherry blossom in Greenwich Park on another warm spring day in the capital city
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Walkers stop to enjoy the famous cherry blossom in Greenwich Park on another warm spring day in the capital cityCredit: Alamy

Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey

The beautiful parliament buildings in Westminster
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The beautiful parliament buildings in WestminsterCredit: PA:Press Association

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is recognised right around the globe
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Stonehenge is recognised right around the globeCredit: Getty Images

Tower of London

Lavender out at the Tower of London today as the capital enjoyed blue skies
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Lavender out at the Tower of London as the capital enjoyed blue skiesCredit: Alamy

The full list of world heritage sites

  • Blaenavon Industrial Landscape

  • Blenheim Palace

  • Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey, and St Martin's Church

  • Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd

  • City of Bath

  • Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape

  • Derwent Valley Mills

  • Dorset and East Devon Coast (Jurassic Coast)

  • Durham Castle and Cathedral

  • The Forth Bridge

  • Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Antonine Wall

  • Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Hadrian's Wall

  • Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast

  • Gorham's Cave Complex

  • Gough and Inaccessible Islands

  • Heart of Neolithic Orkney

  • Henderson Island

  • Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications, Bermuda

  • Ironbridge Gorge

  • Liverpool – Maritime Mercantile City

  • Maritime Greenwich

  • New Lanark

  • Old and New Towns of Edinburgh

  • Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including Saint Margaret’s Church
  • Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal

  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

  • St Kilda

  • Saltaire

  • Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

  • Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey

  • Tower of London

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