Carlisle

Understand

Caer Liwelyδ means the fortress of Luel or Luguwalion. It was a Roman garrison town from about 72 AD, and when they left after 300 years it was contested between petty kingdoms such as Strathclyde, Northumbria and Rheged. The Scots were holding it when the Normans arrived, but in 1092 William Rufus captured it for England and built the castle and city walls, which resisted re-capture by Scotland except for a brief Jacobite occupation in 1745. Between the organised military campaigns was continual banditry by the infamous Border Reivers. This era faded in the 18th century and was romanticised by Sir Walter Scott in the 19th. Carlisle then became a middling sort of market town, with textile mills and the arrival of the railway. It now has agricultural and food related businesses supplied by the surrounding lowlands.

Tourist information is in the old town hall on Market St, open M-Sa 10AM-4PM.

Get around

Most sights are within walking distance of the centre.

Stagecoach Bus 93 follows the route of Hadrian's Wall west of town, running 2-3 times a day to Glasson, Port Carlisle, Bowness-on-Solway, Anthorn and Kilbride.

A dozen taxi firms ply the town and nearby countryside.

Car hire is available from Glenrental, Europcar, Budget, Avis and Enterprise.

See

thumb | 300px | The Citadel Carlisle Citadel is a bastion just north of the railway station, built in 1541 to replace the medieval Botchergate portal through the walls into town. It was later a prison, law courts and council offices but is now looking for a use. No interior access. Cursing Stone is a modern artwork, a boulder by the walkway between Tullie House and the castle. In 1525 the Archbishop of Glasgow put a curse upon the thieving Border Reivers, at such length that they'd probably come back and stolen more cattle before he was done cursing. The boulder bears an excerpt from the curse and the names of prominent Reiver families. Since it was installed in 2001, it's been blamed for every misfortune in town.

Do

thumb | 300px | Avro Vulcan Bomber at the Aviation Museum

Bitts Park is next to Carlisle Castle and has access to the river along with a children's play area and walking paths

Vue Cinema is at 50 Botchergate by the railway station. The Brickyard is a live music venue on Fisher St, 50 yards east of the castle. West Walls Theatre (aka Green Room) is 200 yards north of the railway station. The Sands Centre is an events and live music venue on the south riverbank by the A7 bridge. Stanwix Theatre is on the university campus along Brampton Rd, a mile northeast of town centre. Football: Carlisle City play soccer in the amateur leagues at Gifford Park two miles south of town centre. Rugby: Carlisle RUFC play in the amateur leagues at Warwick Rd, 200 yards west of Brunton Park stadium. Carlisle Jazz Club meet at the rugby club on Warwick Rd on Thursday evenings from 8:30PM. Hike: use OS Landranger Map 85 for areas west of the M6 through town to the coast, and Map 86 for east of M6 to Brampton. Best known is Hadrian's Wall coast-to-coast footpath, but there's nothing left of the wall itself this far west - go 20 miles east to Greenhead for the start of the best section. The local section approaches from Brampton along the north bank of the River Eden, crosses into town, then follows the south riverbank and Solway Firth out to Bowness. Structures such as Drumburgh Castle (now a private mansion) reveal how the wall's masonry disappeared. thumb | 300px | Drigg the Whale res…

Buy

Supermarkets: lots around the periphery, serving a wide tract of Cumbria and Dumfries. For example Asda by jcn 44 of M6 is open M-F 6AM-midnight, Sa 6AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Market Hall is a traditional covered Victorian market a block north of the cathedral, open M-Sa 8AM-5PM. The Lanes just east is a modern indoor shopping mall. Corby Castle (six miles east in Wetheral) is 13th century, much modified in later years. In 2024 it's for sale, asking £15 million.

Eat

Town centre strip is along Lowther St and Warwick Rd. Here are SanaS, Coco Mill, Print Yard, Thin White Duke, In The Meantime, The Last Zebra, Royal Outpost, Penny Blue, Sage & Vine, La Mezzaluna, Casa Romana, Michelangelo, Gianni's, David's, and Alexandros (below).

Drink

Botchergate by the station has The William Rufus (below), Woodrow Wilson (below), The Griffin, Walkabout (below), The Caledonian, Cumberland Inn and Brewdog. Woodrow Wilson is another Spoons almost next door at 48 Botchergate, similar hours and offerings. Carlisle Brewing Company is on Kingstown Broadway near M6 jcn 44. No tours or taproom, but their beer is on sale in city pubs.

Sleep

thumb | 300px | Watchtree Nature Reserve Premier Inn Carlisle Central North is on A7 Kingstown Rd two miles north of town centre. Premier Inn Carlisle M6 Jct 44 is three miles north of the centre, junction of M6 and A7. Premier Inn Carlisle M6 Jct 42 is five miles south of the centre, junction of M6 and A6. Self catering: scores of places available, usually in renovated farm cottages and let by the week.

Connect

As of Nov 2024, Carlisle and its approach roads have 5G from all UK carriers.

Go next

North across the border into Scotland is the wedding industry of Gretna. For Robert Burns associations continue to Annan and Dumfries. Southwest to the Lake District National Park, with Keswick its main town. West to Cockermouth, birthplace of William Wordsworth, and alternative base for the west Lake District. South to Penrith, Appleby-in-Westmorland and the Eden Valley East to Brampton and Haltwhistle, for the best sections of Hadrian's Wall.