Penrith is a market town and civil parish in the county of Cumbria, England. Penrith lies less than outside the boundaries of the Lake District National Park. Historically a part of Cumberland, Penrith's local authority is currently Eden District Council, which is based in the town. Penrith was formerly the seat of both Penrith Urban and Rural District Councils. From 1974 to 2015, Penrith had no town council of its own, and was an unparished area. The first elections to the Penrith Civil parish took place on May 7, 2015.