Most frequently asked questions about Lighthouses

How do I become a Lighthouse Keeper?

Unfortunately in the UK it is too late to become a lighthouse keeper, as the last lighthouse in the UK was automated in 1998 at North Foreland Lighthouse, Kent.

What was life like as a Lighthouse Keeper?

There are a number of books that give a good outline of life as a Lighthouse Keeper.
See the ALK’s Recommended Booklist for further details.

Are there any general books you can recommend regarding lighthouses?

See the ALK’s Recommended Booklist

A member of my family was a lighthouse keeper. How can I find out more?

The Association of Lighthouse Keepers does not hold records of lighthouse keepers. However, several databases have been compiled which list a number of keepers and the lights at which they were stationed within the UK. See link to Keepers on the website.

Unfortunately, many of the records held by Trinity House, the main Lighthouse authority for England and Wales, were destroyed during the Second World War.

Enquiries about lighthouse keepers serving outside the UK should be referred to the main lighthouse authority of that country.

Which lighthouses are open to the public?

See the Places to Visit section