Carlisle: The Complete Guide
Carlisle is a border city and the county town of Cumbria in North West England 10 miles south of the Scottish border. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Eden, Caldew and Petteril rivers.
Carlisle is rooted in the 2nd century as a Roman settlement tied to Hadrian’s Wall, the northernmost boundary of the Roman Empire.
That enormous defence is the largest Roman artefact in the world, and there are forts and long portions of the wall in touching distance of Carlisle.
This city was on the English-Scottish borders and in Medieval times changed hands repeatedly.
Visiting Carlisle for the first time and wondering what are the top places to see in the city? In this complete guide, I share the best things to do in Carlisle on the first visit. Top help you plan your trip, I have also included an interactive map and practical tips for visiting!
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History of Carlisle
The local celtic tribe were the Carvetii who occupied ancient Cumbria and North Lancashire. A Roman settlement was built here named Luguvalium, which was based on the native name of Luguwaljon, “[city] of Luguwalos”, meaning “strength of Lugus”.The Roman settlement was established to serve the forts on Hadrian’s Wall.
There was a Roman timber fort constructed at the site of present Carlisle Castle in AD 73 and it was originally garrisoned by the Ala Gallorum Sebosiana a 500-strong cavalry regiment. Luguvalium formed part of the ‘Stanegate’ frontier, which were a nmber of forts that stretched in a line east to Corbridge. In 122 Hadrian visited, and approved a plan to build a wall the length of the frontier. Carlisle had a new fort built in the Stanwix area of the city north of the river called Petriana and housed a 1,000-strong cavalry regiment, the Ala Gallorum Petriana.
After the Romans left Cumbria organised into the native British kingdom of Rheged and its King, Urien and his son Owain appeared in the Arthurian legends.
By the Middle Ages and the time of the Norman conquest in 1066, Carlisle was part of Scotland. In 1092 William the Conqueror’s son, William Rufus invaded the Carlisle and it was incorporated into England. In 1093 Carlisle Castle was built on the site of the Roman fort, south of the River Eden, it was rebuilt in stone in 1112, with the addition of a keep and the city walls. The city walls enclosed the city south of the castle. Carlisle Cathedral was founded as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133.
The castle played a part in the the English Civil War (1642–1651) and the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
During the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century the city expanded with textile mills, engineering works and food manufacturers building factories in the city.
27 Best places to See in Carlisle
This complete guide to Carlisle not only tells you about the very best sights and tourist attractions for first-time visitors to the city but also provide insights into a few of our personal favorite things to do.
This is a practical guide to visiting the best places to see in Carlisle and is filled with tips and info that should answer all your questions!
Carlisle Guildhall Museum
| Price: Adult £5.90, Children: free | Website | Distance: 0.30km
Visiting Carlisle Guildhall Museum
Carlisle Cathedral
Location: Carlisle Cathedral 7 Abbey St Carlisle CA3 8TZ United Kingdom | Distance: 0.40km
Visiting Carlisle Cathedral
Tullie House
Location: Tullie House Museum And Art Gallery Castle St Carlisle CA3 8TP | Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun | Price: Adults £10 | Website | Distance: 0.60km
Visiting Tullie House
Carlisle Castle
Location: Carlisle Castle Castle Way Carlisle CA3 8UR United Kingdom | Hours: 10am-6pm Apr-Sep, to 5pm Oct-Mar | Price: adult/child £8/4.80, combined ticket with Cumbria's Museum of Military Life £9.20/5.15 | Website | Distance: 0.70km
Visiting Carlisle Castle
Cumbria Museum of Military Life
Location: Cumbria's Museum of Military Life The Castle Alma Block Carlisle CA3 8UR United Kingdom | Website | Distance: 0.70km
Visiting Cumbria Museum of Military Life
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 664 – Stanwix Bank
Location: Coach House, Cavendish Terrace, Carlisle CA3 9ND, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 1.10km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 664 – Stanwix Bank
Rickerby Park Tower
Location: Rickerby Gardens, Carlisle CA3 9AA, UK | Hours: 24 Hours (View from Road) | Price: Free | Distance: 1.90km
Visiting Rickerby Park Tower
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 67 – Stainton
Location: 6 Kittiwake Cl, Carlisle CA2 7PP, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 2.10km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 67 – Stainton
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 65 – Drawdykes
Location: Thorn Farm, Carlisle CA3 0JS, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 2.30km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 65 – Drawdykes
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 68 – Boomby Gill
Location: Stainton Farm, Carlisle CA3 9QX, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 2.70km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 68 – Boomby Gill
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 69 – Sourmilk Bridge
Location: 3 Hadrian's Wall Path, Carlisle CA5 6EF, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 4.30km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 69 – Sourmilk Bridge
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 63 – Walby West
Location: Carlisle CA6 4QL, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 5.00km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 63 – Walby West
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 62 – Walby East
Location: Carlisle CA6, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 6.30km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 62 – Walby East
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 61 – High Strand
Location: Wallhead, Carlisle CA6 4QY, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 7.40km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 61 – High Strand
Burgh by Sands
Location: Burgh by Sands, Carlisle, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 8.20km
Visiting Burgh by Sands
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 60 – High Strand
Location: Hadrian's Wall Path, Carlisle CA6 4PP, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 9.00km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 60 – High Strand
Solway Aviation Museum
Location: Solway Aviation Museum Aviation House Carlisle Airport Crosby on Eden CA6 4NW United Kingdom | Hours: 10:30 am until 5:00 pm every weekend from 2 April 2021 until the 31 October 2021 | Price: Adult: £6.00, Children: £4.00 | Website | Distance: 10.00km
Visiting Solway Aviation Museum
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 59 – Old Wall
Location: Hadrian's Wall Path, Carlisle CA6 4PG, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 10.30km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 59 – Old Wall
Drumburgh Castle
Location: Drumburgh Castle, Drumburgh, Wigton, UK | Distance: 14.20km
Visiting Drumburgh Castle
Port Carlisle
Visiting Port Carlisle
Lanercost Priory
Location: Lanercost Priory Lanercost Brampton CA8 2HQ United Kingdom | Hours: 10am-6pm Apr-Sep, 10am-5pm Oct, 10am-4pm Sat & Sun Nov-Mar | Price: Adult £5.90, Child £3.50 | Website | Distance: 17.30km
Visiting Lanercost Priory
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 79 – Solway House
Location: Wigton CA7, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 17.80km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 79 – Solway House
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 80
Location: Kings Arms, Bowness-on-Solway, Wigton CA7 5BJ, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 19.20km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 80
Hadrian's Wall - Roman Fort 16 - Mais (Bowness)
Visiting Hadrian's Wall - Roman Fort 16 - Mais (Bowness)
Birdoswald Roman Fort
Location: Birdoswald Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall, Hadrian's Wall Path, Brampton, UK | Hours: Saturday - Sunday 10am - 4pm. Between 26 December and 3 January, open daily 10am - 4pm. | Price: Adult: £9.00 Child (5-17 years): £5.40 | Website | Distance: 23.70km
Visiting Birdoswald Roman Fort
Hadrian's Wall
Visiting Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 43 – Great Chesters
| Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free | Distance: 32.10km
Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 43 – Great Chesters