Things to Do in and around Carlisle, England
Carlisle is a city that people often choose to bypass en-route to Scotland, or other places in England such as the Lake District. However, there is actually plenty to do in the area from great walks to fun museums and, of course, a ton of history.
In this guide you can read about all the interesting locations to visit in and around Carlisle, including the perfect place to stay during your visit. This part of England is great for outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, photographers, couples and families.
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This is a sponsored blog post in collaboration with Classic Cottages who offer idyllic holiday homes across the UK. We were kindly invited to stay at one of their cottages during our visit to Carlisle. However, the below itinerary is completely based on our own research and experience and as always, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Introducing Carlisle
Known as the ‘Border City’, Carlisle is located in the county of Cumbria in England, very close to the border with Scotland. Thanks to its geographical location, it has a rich history which we won’t dive too deeply into. We’ll simply highlight some of the main events for context.
Carlisle was established by the Romans in 78 AD. At the time it was called Luguvalium. The Roman empire definitely left its mark, building many forts during their time in England. One of the best known structures is Hadrian’s Wall, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. The Romans left England in 407 AD and it wasn’t long after that their fortifications and towns fell into ruin.
For a long time, Carlisle continued to change hands. Until the 7th century it was part of the Celtic kingdom. They were the ones to actually name the town Carlisle (Caer Luel). Then it fell into the hands of the Saxons, before the Vikings captured it and once again lost it to the Saxons. In 1092, King William Rufus rebuilt Carlisle along with the castle.
The town was devastated by the Black Death in the 14th Century and, later, suffered similarly with outbreaks of plague in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Despite this the town and population continued to grow, and popular industries such as textiles, biscuit making and engineering boomed during the 19th Century. Carlisle also became an important railway city at this time.
Today, Carlisle is a fantastic place to visit thanks to its close proximity to Hadrian’s Wall, the Lake District, the North Pennines, and the Scottish border.
Where to Stay Around Carlisle
If you’d like to stay somewhere spacious, but cosy at the same time, then consider booking one of Classic Cottages holiday cottages in Cumbria. Classic Cottages offer stunning accommodations across the country that you won’t find on any other booking platform. They’ve received Which? UK Holiday Cottage Recommended Provider status for three years in a row, so you’re guaranteed high standards.
We stayed in The Baggarah which is located to the northeast of Carlisle and Brampton. This two bedroom, semi-detached cottage is an ideal place to be based during your trip, since it’s close to the main attractions around Carlisle that we’ve included below. It sleeps 4, so it’s perfect for families, but you can also just book it as a couple.
The Baggarah lets you enjoy a quiet stay, where you can relax and recharge after a long day of exploring. Its stylish kitchen has everything you’d need if you wanted to prepare something for breakfast or lunch before your outdoor adventure. You can even cook an evening meal if you don’t fancy going out for dinner.
Even though it has many rooms, it still feels cosy. We absolutely loved having our morning coffee looking out of the huge living room windows towards the rolling green hills, whilst planning out our day. In the chilly evenings, we enjoyed having the wood-burner on in the sitting room, with a glass of wine and a book in hand.
10 Things to Do in and around Carlisle
1. Visit Carlisle Castle
The No.1 attraction in the city of Carlisle is Carlisle Castle. It was first built in 1092 by William Rufus, then rebuilt by Henry I in 1122. As you can imagine, the more than 900 year old castle has been the scene of many important events in British history. It’s changed hands many times over the years too. Even Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned in the castle for a short time.
What makes Carlisle Castle even more unique is the fact that it has been continuously occupied since it was first built.
Since 1996, it’s been listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Until 2006, Carlisle Castle was the administrative headquarters of the former King’s Own Royal Border Regiment. It was also the county headquarters of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment until 2019. Today, the castle is managed by English Heritage and is open to the public.
Entry fee: £11.30 per adult. If you’re an English Heritage member, then you can visit for free.
2. Walk Around Carlisle City Centre
A great way to see the highlights of Carlisle is by taking a walk around its centre. You’ll notice a big pink building occupying the main square. The Old Town Hall is actually a Grade I listed building and dates back to 1668. It’s also where you can find the Tourist Information Centre. The Market Cross in the centre of the square indicates that weekly markets can be held in Carlisle.
Just to the left of the Old Town Hall building is Guildhall Museum. It was built back in 1407 and is the only medieval house remaining in Carlisle. It’s currently not open, but you can still check out the exterior of the building. Another place worth checking out is the Market Hall. It’s one of the few covered Victorian Markets left in the country.
If you make your way down English Street you’ll reach the Citadel. It’s comprised of two huge, red sandstone towers built in 1811, replacing the old ones from the 16th century.
3. Go Inside Carlisle Cathedral
Not far from the Old Town Hall is Carlisle Cathedral. It’s an impressive building that has a long history. Originally, it was a Norman Priory Church built in 1122. In 1133 it became a cathedral.
You can visit inside for free, or leave a donation, which we highly recommend. Inside you’ll see some of the usual features you would expect to see in a cathedral, such as medieval paintings and beautiful stained-glass windows. The most significant one is the East Window, which is over 50 ft high and still contains much of the original stained glass.
Another reason for popping inside is the Cathedral’s stunning blue and gold painted ceiling. The Choir Ceiling was created during restoration work carried out in 1853.
4. Hike the Hadrian’s Wall Path
One of the best things to do around Carlisle is to spend a day hiking along the Hadrian’s Wall Path. It’s an 84 mile (135 km) long trail running between Wallsend and Bowness-on-Solway, following the line of Hadrian’s Wall. Most people would only want to hike along certain sections of the path, where you can enjoy the most intact parts of Hadrian’s Wall.
The wall was built by Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD. It was built in six years by over 15,000 men, with the purpose of protecting the north-west border of the Roman Empire. Building the wall was a complicated task and, as you would imagine, the plans changed multiple times. The finished wall was 73 miles (or 80 Roman miles) long, complemented by observation towers and forts.
In 1987, Hadrian’s Wall was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the Hadrian’s Wall Path is the only coast-to-coast trail that follows the wall. For a short but scenic Hadrian’s Wall hike, you can follow the path between Housesteads Roman Fort and Steel Rigg. It’s about a 6 mile (~10 km) roundtrip, passing Roman ruins and other popular landmarks such as the Sycamore Gap.
5. Stop By the Roman Forts Along Hadrian’s Wall
Whilst today you can only see a few sections of Hadrian’s Wall above ground, there are plenty of Roman fort remains nearby that you can check out. A lot of the important structures have a museum accompanying them, where you can dive deeper into their history. In addition, there are also information boards placed around the smaller structures. Below we’ve listed some of the best ones to add to your itinerary.
- Banks East Turret is considered the best preserved observation tower along the western section of Hadrian’s Wall.
- Pike Hill Signal Tower was actually built before the Wall and incorporated into it later.
- Birdoswald Roman Fort is located along one of the most scenic sections of Hadrian’s Wall. Here you can see the ruins of the Roman fort, a turret and a milecastle, plus you can also enjoy viewing the longest remaining stretch of the Wall. Entry fee is £9.50 per adult.
- Housesteads Roman Fort is one of Hadrian’s Wall’s best-preserved forts showcasing the foundations of a hospital, barracks and even the most intact Roman toilets in Britain. Entry fee is £9.50 per adult.
- Vindolanda is located south of the Wall and was built before it. The most interesting feature of the site is the Vindolanda Tablets, which are the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain. Entry fee is £12.50 per adult.
Top Tip. Most sites are run by English Heritage. Although you can stop at many smaller ruins for free, the bigger and most important ones normally require an entry fee. These can add up quickly, so you might want to consider signing up for an English Heritage membership to visit these ruins, and plenty of others across England, for free.
6. Visit Some Cool Museums around Carlisle
There are plenty of interesting museums around Carlisle that you can visit too. You can definitely learn a lot about the history of the area through these museums. They’re also a great activity for when the weather isn’t suited to an outdoor adventure.
Museum of Military Life. If you’re visiting Carlisle Castle, then make sure to also check out Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life. It showcases over 300 years of military history. Luckily, your entry fee to the castle allows you to visit the museum at no extra cost.
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. This museum is located just opposite Carlisle Castle. It’s also an art gallery and community hub, housing a large collection of materials. Note that the museum is currently closed but should be reopening in summer 2024.
Solway Aviation Museum. Based in Carlisle Airport, this museum is home to more than 20 aircraft and other aviation-related artefacts. The coolest part is that you can access the cockpits of a few of the planes. Entry fee is £7 per adult.
Roman Army Museum. This museum has a few galleries and a movie theater, where you can learn about the life of the Roman soldiers. Entry fee is £8 per adult, however you can purchase a combo ticket with Vindolanda for £16 per adult.
7. Go Stargazing
There are quite a few ‘dark sky sites’ in England. These are places where you can enjoy the night sky without light pollution. Places like Exmoor National Park, North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park have all been awarded international Dark Sky Reserve status by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). The latter is actually the second largest area of protected night sky in Europe, so you have no excuse not to check out the sky after dark.
For a unique experience, you can book one of the events organised at Kielder Observatory every night. However, you can also enjoy the night sky from places like Talkin Tarn Country Park or Cawfields Quarry. Check out some go-to stargazing sites around Carlisle here.
Top Tip. If you stay somewhere like The Baggarah with Classic Cottages then you can simply enjoy stargazing from the garden, since there’s hardly any light-pollution there.
Unfortunately, during our visit we had the two main things you want to avoid when stargazing: a full moon and cloudy conditions. However, even with the bright moon, we could still picture just how amazing the starlit sky would look on a clear night.
8. Spend a Day in Kielder Water & Forest Park
Carlisle is located close to some beautiful outdoor areas such as Kielder Forest. It is England’s largest forest and is home to the largest remaining population of red squirrels in the country. You’ll also find the largest man-made lake in northern Europe here.
Kielder is easily accessible, and there’s plenty to do there, so you won’t have trouble filling your day. Below are a few spots you can consider adding to your day trip.
Tower Knowe Visitor Centre. Here you can learn more about the park, including its history and wildlife.
Kielder Water Bird Of Prey Centre. It has one of the largest collections of Birds Of Prey in northern England including eagles, owls, falcons, hawks, and vultures.
English-Scottish border. The border between England and Scotland runs along the edge of the forest. If you drive along the A68, you’ll reach a cool viewing point with signs, where you can hop between the two countries.
Kielder Water. If you enjoy watersports, then you can go water-skiing or sailing. Alternatively, you can just go on a shorter or longer walk around the lake. Along the eastern side of the water are a lot of interesting art installations worth stopping at.
Kielder Castle. It was the former hunting lodge of the Duke of Northumberland. Kielder has a lot of cycle paths and you can hire bikes at The Bike Place near the castle.
Kielder Observatory. As mentioned above, Kielder is a fantastic place for stargazing, so why not book an evening event at the observatory to learn more about our universe.
9. Day Trip to North Pennines AONB
Another fantastic place to visit during your time in Carlisle is the North Pennines AONB. It is both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a UNESCO Global Geopark. The landscape is comprised of open heather moors, hay meadows and cascading waterfalls. Although it reminded us so much of the Peak District National Park, it also felt wilder and more remote than the Peaks.
You could easily spend a week there, because there’s so much to do. However, we’re only going to list a few easily accessible spots that are completely doable in a day trip.
Alston & South Tynedale Railway. Located along the A689, about 1,000 ft above sea level, is the town of Alston. It claims to be the highest market town in England. Apart from walking around the town’s cobblestone streets, between Easter and October you can also embark on a scenic train ride through the South Tyne valley.
Ashgill Force. A little further south from Alston is the beautiful waterfall of Ashgill Force. With an over 50ft drop, this waterfall is pretty impressive, especially after a lot of rain. You can either do a longer walk from Garrigill to reach it, or just park in the small lay-by next to the bridge for a much shorter stroll.
High Force. Possibly the most popular waterfall to visit in the North Pennines is High Force, and for good reason. The nearly 70 ft tall cascade plunges into the River Tees with an incredible force that can take your breath away. There’s an entry fee of £3 per adult if you want to get down to it.
Low Force. Located further down the River Tees is a much less powerful, but equally beautiful waterfall called Low Force. You can hike between High Force and Low Force or just park at Bowlees Visitor Centre for a shorter walk to it.
Summerhill Force & Gibson’s Cave. From Bowlees Visitor Centre you can also go on a short stroll to another lovely waterfall and a small cave.
10. Spend a Day in the Lake District National Park
Covering 2,362 sq km, the beautiful Lake District is England’s largest National Park. It was established in 1951 and in 2017 it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Lakes is one of the most visited national parks in England, which means that there are no shortage of outdoor adventures. There are countless easier and more challenging hikes, and some of the best ridge hikes in the country, like Striding Edge on Helvellyn. You can also hike up to Scafell Pike, the highest point in England at 3,210 ft (978m).
If challenging hikes aren’t your cup of tea, then you can always opt for some strolls along one of the many meres or waters located in the northern part of the Lakes, such as Derwentwater or Ullswater. You can also spend some time around Bassenthwaite Lake.
Lastly, let’s not forget about charming towns like Keswick which you can wander around, especially if the weather isn’t the best for hiking.
Best Time to Visit Carlisle
You can visit Carlisle and the surrounding area at any time of the year. As you can imagine being so far north in England though, there are better and worse times to book your trip.
Firstly, if you want to spend some time soaking up the stunning landscapes, you might want to visit between May and October. This way you can enjoy some warmer temperatures and longer days outside exploring. Spring and autumn are great seasons to come because you can enjoy either the blooming flowers or the colourful foliage. The area should also be slightly quieter compared to the summer months.
Another reason to visit during the warmer seasons is that a lot of museums and attractions have either limited opening times or are completely closed during the winter.
Top Tip. If you want to do some stargazing, then double check when the full moon is to avoid the sky being too bright.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in and around Carlisle
Carlisle and the surrounding area were always a part of England we skipped because we were either headed to Scotland, the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales. Whilst this area is nowhere near as popular, once we started looking for things to do we had no problem adding interesting places to our itinerary.
Have you ever been to Carlisle or any of our listed areas before? If so, what did you get up to and how much time did you spend there? If not, we hope that our post inspired you to visit this beautiful part of northern England.
Now, let your adventure begin,
Our Top Travel Resources
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