Being a border city between England and Scotland, Carlisle has earned its reputation of being a historic city through blood over the centuries as the Carlisle attractions will show you.
There is no better city to learn about the history of England and Scotland than Carlisle, as it was in the firing line on both sides. Carlisle Castle and the Tullie Museum are the places where you can meet some of the characters from England and Scotland that have shaped this city over the past 2000 years.
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If you plan on travelling around the UK, the best way to get around is by car. You get to see more, but you will find hidden gems the average traveller doesn’t see.
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Contents
Carlisle Attractions
Carlisle Castle
If you are driving, Carlisle Castle should be your first port of call, as the pay-and-display car park is right next door. It’s also one of the well-known Carlisle attractions.
Within these walls lie the intact buildings of Carlisle Castle. Some exhibitions are in the Militia store and The Keep. The Militia store holds information boards about the history of Carlisle and the part that the Castle may have played. This is a very extensive evolution as it covers 78-1959. Even Mary, Queen of Scots, makes an appearance.
Inside The Keep, you have three floors to explore. Like all Castles in the United Kingdom, a stone spiral staircase is the only way to get from floor to floor.
The strange etchings on the wall on the 2nd floor are a mystery. Kept behind glass, they are a mystery about who made them and why.
The Keep is unfurnished, but on the top floor, there is an exhibition on more history in Carlisle. This time, it is on the Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland, in which Carlisle played a role.
Hours
1 Apr – 27 Oct Daily 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
28 Oct 2024 – 31 Mar 2023 Weekdays closed. Sat & Sun 10.00 am to 4 pm.
17 Feb 2025 – 21 Feb 2025 10.00 am to 4 pm.
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Prices
| Adult | £14 |
| Child (5-17 years) | £8.60 |
| Concession | £12.70 |
| Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) | £36.60 |
| Family (1 adult, up to 3 children) | £22.60 |
Book online and save 15%. Prices are without donation.
If you have an Overseas Visitor Pass, you get in for free. To find more information on the Pass, click here.
Your ticket price includes entry to Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life.
Cumbria Museum of Military Life
You can visit the Cumbria of Military Life, housed in one of the historic buildings, for an extra charge.
Here, you will find the history of the border regiments and collections from the past 300 years. Uniforms, medals, art, and more are presented in displays and videos that teach you about their history and stories.
This is a small but powerful museum, interesting for those who like military museums and war history. It’s another one of the Carlisle attractions, so add on to see it when you’re in the Castle.
Hours
24th February – 30th March Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm.
31st March – 2nd November Daily 10 am – 5 pm.
2nd November – 16th February Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm.
24th – 26th December and 1st January Closed
Prices
The following prices are for the museum only.
Adult £5.45
Concession £4.35
Child £3.25
Family (2 adults, three children) £12.95
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery
The Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery are across the road from the Castle. There is also another entrance off Castle Street.
You could spend all morning or afternoon at this incredible Museum as there is so much to see.
The basement has an excellent exhibition on the Romans. You can learn so much more here than has been told before.
On the upper levels are even more facts about the area, including The Reivers, a lawless society that operated on the fragile English-Scottish border.
This museum covers everything, including wildlife and the Celts, and you can even walk across a Roman Wall.
The most significant piece on display is the 12-metre skeleton of a Fin Whale that washed up on the coast near Drigg in February 2014. Driggsby, as he’s now named, hangs down from the ceiling over the reception area.
The Art Gallery has one room dedicated to the changing exhibitions held here.
This museum is one of the must-see attractions in Carlisle. It deserves a visit by everyone who wants to learn about the area and its history.
Hours
The museum is currently closed for redevelopment but will reopen in the summer of 2024. Visit its website for more information.
Carlisle Cathedral
Do you think if I’ve seen one Cathedral, I’ve seen them all? Well, think again as Carlisle Cathedral is one Cathedral and one of the attractions you should see, especially if you love grand architecture.
This architectural gem is enormous, and the details inside are incredible. You will be amazed by the ceiling, the colours, and the imagination that was put into the design of this cathedral.
There is not only the Cathedral to explore but the Treasury downstairs, with its treasures found during excavations in the 1980s.
The Cathedral and Treasury are both free to enter and are great places to learn more about historic Carlisle, with information boards detailing its treasures.
Hours
Monday-Friday: 7.30 am to 6.30 pm
Saturday-Sunday: 7.30 am to 5 pm
Conclusion
Carlisle attractions are in a city you usually bypass on the motorway when you travel north or south, but it deserves at least a few hour’s stopover. This is a historic city, and I hope you will stop and see some Carlisle attractions.
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Links
If you’d like to read more about my travels in the UK, click on the following links to the countries: England, Scotland, and Wales.
If you want to learn about UK passes and what you should get for where, read my blog on Explore the UK with Passes.
If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art.
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Travel Resources
- Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
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- Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy keep you insured during your travels.
- Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
- House Sitting is a great way to save on accommodation, and Trusted Housesitters offers house sittings worldwide.
- Photo Editing is a great way to bring your photos to life, and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
- Visa Applications—apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
- Sim cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
If you want more tips, try my Travel Links and Resource page.
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What a gorgeous place. I am in love with the ceiling of that cathedral. The blue is so deep and vibrant. And Driggsby is really cool.
The first steps into the Cathedral were WOW moments, Rhonda. It is so beautiful, words can’t describe it.
What a beautiful place, thank you for sharing x
Thanks, Bree. It really is worth the stop off.
What a fun place to explore. Your photo of the spiral stone staircase is especially impressive!
Thanks, Sharon. It was impressive that I got up and down all those spiral staircases as I hate them.
You sure did the right thing stopping, what a beautiful place 🙂
Thanks, Ann. It has a lot to offer the traveller.
Kim, fabulous photos! You’ve inspired me!
Kelly Hayes-Raitt
http://www.HouseSitDiva.com
Thanks, Kelly, I’m happy to have inspired you.
Once again, stunning photos and great narrative. The Jacobite Rebellion – how interesting (I never gave that much thought until I started reading the “Outlander” books) 🙂
Thanks, Susan. You get a history overload when you’re in Scotland, and of course, since Carlisle is on the border, a lot of Scottish history is played out here.