[1] Historically within the county of Westmorland (with parts of the surrounding area within Lancashire), the village straddles the A6070 road between Crooklands and Carnforth, at a point around midway between Lancaster and Kendal, and is in the shadow of the nearby limestone outcrop known as Farleton Knott.

Due to its position, the history of Burton in Kendal lies in transport, as travellers used its many inns to eat, drink, and rest their pack horses before entering or leaving the county.

[3] A group of villagers produce a regular monthly newsletter called the Burton News which is distributed free to every household in the parish.

[5] The novelist and poet Anne Spillard who lives in the village won the Yorkshire Post Book Award for Best First Work for her novel The Cartomancer in 1987.

Originally from Southend-on-Sea Mo was a major part of the Southend pub-rock scene and has played guitar in various rock and pop bands since the 1960s, including The Orioles and Legend.