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.

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27 Best things to See in Carlisle

Carlisle Guildhall Museum

The Guildhall, Carlisle
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Phil Williams

Carlisle Guildhall is an historic late 14th century building, located in Carlisle, England. The Guildhall Museum is housed in the upstairs of the building. The building was built in 1407 of timber, tile bricks and clay, by Richard of Redeness.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Carlisle Guildhall Museum!


| Price: Adult £5.90, Children: free | Website

Carlisle Cathedral

Carlisle Cathedral
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Paul Buckingham

Carlisle Cathedral is the second smallest of England's ancient cathedrals and in located in Carlisle, in the north west of England. It was originally founded as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133.

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Address: Carlisle Cathedral 7 Abbey St Carlisle CA3 8TZ United Kingdom

Tullie House

Tullie House, Carlisle, Gates And Railings
CC BY-SA 1.0 / Northernhenge

Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is a museum covers 2000 years of history of the city of Carlisle, England. The museum is housed in a converted Jacobean mansion, with extensions added when it was converted. At first the building contained the museum and also a library, an art school and a technical school.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Tullie House!


Address: Tullie House Museum And Art Gallery Castle St Carlisle CA3 8TP | Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun | Price: Adults £10 | Website

Carlisle Castle

Field Carlisle Castle
Pixabay / randomwinner

Carlisle Castle is situated in Carlisle, Cumbria, England near the ruins of Hadrian's Wall. It was built on the site of a Roman fort. It was rebuilt by William II of England in the late eleventh century and finished by David I of Scotland.  It served as an important fortress and saw action during the Anglo-Scottish wars, the Civil War and the 1745 Jacobite rebellion.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Carlisle Castle!


Address: 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

Cumbria Museum of Military Life

Side Drums Of The 34e Regiment Infanterie
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Cumbria's Museum of Military Life

The Cumbria Museum of Military Life is a museum located in Carlisle, in the United Kingdom. The museum tells the 300-year story of Cumbria’s County Infantry Regiment: the 34th Regiment of Foot, the 55th Regiment of Foot, Border Regiment, King’s Own Royal Border Regiment and the current serving Regiment - The Duke of Lancaster’s. On display are a huge variety of items including weapons, uniforms, and medals. In 2014 the Museum was expanded and new interactive displays and dioramas were added such as a First World War trench environment.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Cumbria Museum of Military Life!


Address: Cumbria's Museum of Military Life The Castle Alma Block Carlisle CA3 8UR United Kingdom | Website

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 664 – Stanwix Bank

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 664 – Stanwix Bank
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Mike Bishop

Milecastle 66 (Stanwix Bank) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. The mile fort was south of the Stanwix fort, on the north bank of the Eden near Carlisle. Its area is now used as a cricket ground. The Romans had built a bridge over the Eden and the Caldew at this point. On the south bank there was another fort and the fortified city of Luguvalium. The remains of the bridge were discovered by William Camden in the 16th century. During dredging work in the river bed, almost one hundred of their stones were recovered in 1951. Most were deposited in Bitts Park and can be viewed there. The mile fort was inspected a little more closely by Thomas Pennant on his trip to Scotland in 1772. He describes the milecastle as "vestiges of some dikes describing a small square, the site of a fort to defend the pass". There are no visible remains of the milecastle today.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 664 – Stanwix Bank!


Address: Coach House, Cavendish Terrace, Carlisle CA3 9ND, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Rickerby Park Tower

Rickerby Folly
Pixabay / Bob Jenkins
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Address: Rickerby Gardens, Carlisle CA3 9AA, UK | Hours: 24 Hours (View from Road) | Price: Free

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 67 – Stainton

The River Eden Below Carlisle
CC BY-SA 2.0 / David Purchase / The River Eden below Carlisle

Milecastle 67 (Stainton) is a conjectured milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. The location of the mile fort was determined by measuring the distance from neighboring mile forts. In 1861, some Roman coins were recovered from this point at the southern end of the railway viaduct over the Eden. However, upon follow-up, no remains or other evidence of its existence could be found.

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Address: 6 Kittiwake Cl, Carlisle CA2 7PP, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 65 – Drawdykes

Hadrians Wall Mile Castle
CC BY-SA 3.0 / HUKBMBEAR

Milecastle 65 (Tarraby) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. The mile fort stood on a sloping westward slope, about 180 meters southwest of Tarraby, a district of Carlisle. There are no visible remains. In 1976, an exploratory excavation was carried out at the southwest corner of the mile fort, followed by a geophysical investigation. Remnants of the foundations could be observed. The geophysical survey showed that the internal area was paved with cobblestones. The attachment was probably of the short axis type. A Roman altar and sword were reportedly found near it in the 19th century (between 1840 and 1850). To the south of the mile fort, parallel to the B6264, you can still see traces of the ramparts (a 10 meter wide and 0.5 meter deep depression) in a short section.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 65 – Drawdykes!


Address: Thorn Farm, Carlisle CA3 0JS, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 68 – Boomby Gill

Hadrian’s Wall – Site Of Milecastle 68 – The Footbridge Over Boomby Gill
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Ian S / The footbridge over Boomby Gill

Milecastle 68 (Boomby Gill) is a conjectured milecastle of the Roman Hadrian's Wall. The location of the mile fort could only be determined by measuring the distance to the neighboring fortifications of Hadrian's Wall. So far, however, no remains of the fort have been discovered. In 1969 employees of the English Heritage carried out a first field inspection. Remnants of the mile fort could not be found. In 1972, employees of the English Heritage investigated an old exploratory trench there, it was probably dug to uncover the northwest corner of the mile fort, but these efforts were unsuccessful. There were many loose stones in the trench, some of them very large. In 1990 a field inspection was carried out again as part of the Hadrian's Wall project. Visible remains could not be observed, and there was no trace of the exploratory trench either.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 68 – Boomby Gill!


Address: Stainton Farm, Carlisle CA3 9QX, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 69 – Sourmilk Bridge

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 69 – Site Of Sourmilk Bridge, Cumbria
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Sam.roebuck

Milecastle 69 (Sourmilk Bridge) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall. The mile fort was probably located near Beaumont, in the district of Grinsdale. Its exact location is not known. It was probably somewhere between Sourmilk Bridge (east side) and Park Farm west of Grinsdale. In 1858 a large number of stones were found near the bridge. A map from 1746 showed that a mill had stood on the east bank during this time, which was later demolished. The stones probably came from there too.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 69 – Sourmilk Bridge!


Address: 3 Hadrian's Wall Path, Carlisle CA5 6EF, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 63 – Walby West

Hadrians Wall Mile Castle
CC BY-SA 3.0 / HUKBMBEAR

Milecastle 63 (Walby West) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. The mile fort was located about 800 meters southwest of the hamlet of Walby, Stanwix Rural. There are no visible remains. In 1980 a geophysical survey was carried out near the point where Henry MacLauchlan had already suspected the mile fort. However, a follow-up investigation in 2000 found that the soil anomalies were in fact a section of Hadrian's Wall. The mile fort is probably a little further south of the investigated location, directly below Hadrian's Wall hiking trail.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 63 – Walby West!


Address: Carlisle CA6 4QL, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 62 – Walby East

Milecastle 62 (Walby East) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. The mile fort was located about 800 meters southwest of the hamlet of Walby, Stanwix Rural. There are no visible remains. In 1980 a geophysical survey was carried out near the point where Henry MacLauchlan had already suspected the mile fort. However, a follow-up investigation in 2000 found that the soil anomalies were in fact a section of Hadrian's Wall. The mile fort is probably a little further south of the investigated location, directly below Hadrian's Wall hiking trail.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 62 – Walby East!


Address: Carlisle CA6, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 61 – High Strand

Walking Towards Wall Head Farm
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Ian S / Walking towards Wall Head Farm

Milecastle 61 (Wallhead) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. The location of the mile fort is unknown, there are no remains above ground. It is believed to be east of Wallhead Farm, village of Stanwix Rural. In 1981 a geophysical survey was carried out there. In 1949, about 400 m to the south, the remains of two Roman marching camps lying one above the other were observed.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 61 – High Strand!


Address: Wallhead, Carlisle CA6 4QY, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Burgh by Sands

The King Edward I Monument, Burgh Marsh
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Andrew Smith / The King Edward I Monument, Burgh Marsh

Burgh by Sands is a village situated near the Solway Firth and Carlisle in the north of England.

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Address: Burgh by Sands, Carlisle, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 60 – High Strand

Hadrians Wall Path Approaching Bleatarn Farm
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Anthony Parkes / Hadrian's Wall Path approaching Bleatarn Farm

Milecastle 60 (High Strand) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall. Not investigated, the position of the mile fort is uncertain and there are no visible remains. Henry MacLauchlan suspected it was near the village of Irthington, about 450 meters northeast of Bleatarn Farm, Hall High Strand, halfway to Oldwall, about 60 meters west of the end of a dirt road that runs along the moat. In 1851 an altar of Mars Cocidius came to light here while plowing. It was donated by soldiers of the Legio VI.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 60 – High Strand!


Address: Hadrian's Wall Path, Carlisle CA6 4PP, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Solway Aviation Museum

Solway Aviation Museum, Phantom
CC BY-SA 2.0 / allen watkin

The Solway Aviation Museum is an independently run aircraft museum located at Carlisle Lake District Airport in Cumbria.

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Address: 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

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 59 – Old Wall

Milecastle 59 – Old Wall The Hadrians Wall Path Follows A Green Lane
CC BY-SA 2.0 / David Purchase / The Hadrian's Wall Path follows a 'green lane'

Milecastle 59 (Old Wall) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall. The mile fort was in a pasture 450 yards east of Old Wall, halfway to Chapel Field, Irthington Parish. The village is north of Carlisle Airport. The remains of the mile fort are only visible on aerial photographs. Its construction type is unknown. The fortification was reportedly discovered in 1894 by a man named Hodgson. During excavations, the stone foundations made of rubble stones bonded with lime mortar and Roman-British pottery came to light. A geophysical investigation carried out in 1981 showed that only remnants of the south wall were left, the side walls had completely disappeared due to agricultural activity and stone robbery. About 150 meters south of the fortification, a building inscription of the Cohors IV Lingonum was found on the wall .

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 59 – Old Wall!


Address: Hadrian's Wall Path, Carlisle CA6 4PG, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Drumburgh Castle

Drumburgh Castle
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Rose and Trev Clough / Drumburgh Castle

Drumburgh Castle is a a fortified residence or "pele tower" in Drumburgh, in the parish of Bowness, in the county of Cumbria, England. Peel towers or pele are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, mainly between the mid-14th century and about 1600.

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Address: Drumburgh Castle, Drumburgh, Wigton, UK

Port Carlisle

Old Harbour Wall, Port Carlisle, Cumbria
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Simon Ledingham / Old Harbour Wall, Port Carlisle, Cumbria

Port Carlisle is one of the most interesting areas of the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beautys’ built heritage and was once known as Fisher’s Cross. It was developed as a port in 1819 to handle goods for Carlisle using the canal link built in 1823. The canal was 11¼ mile long, and had 8 locks which were all built 18 feet wide.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Port Carlisle!


Lanercost Priory

Lanercost Priory From The South
CC BY-SA 2.0 / David Dixon

Lanercost Priory was founded in 12th-century at the village of Lanercost, Cumbria, England, close to Naworth Castle, and Hadrian's Wall. It was founded by Robert de Vaux to house Augustinian canons who remained for some 370 years until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, by Henry VIII.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Lanercost Priory!


Address: 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

Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 79 – Solway House

Bowness Marsh And Bowness Wath
CC BY-SA 2.0 / David Purchase / Bowness Marsh and Bowness Wath

Milecastle 79 (Solway House) was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 79 – Solway House!


Address: Wigton CA7, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Hadrian's Wall - Roman Fort 16 - Mais (Bowness)

Hadrian's Wall Roman Fort 16 Mais (Bowness)
Public domain / Henry McLauchlin, um 1857

Castle Maia, or Mais was a Roman auxiliary troops camp on the territory of the Parish of Bowness-on-Solway, District Allerdale, County of Cumbria, England.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian's Wall - Roman Fort 16 - Mais (Bowness)!


Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 80

Milecastle 80 was one of a series of Milecastles or small fortlets built at intervals of approximately one Roman mile along Hadrian's Wall.

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Address: Kings Arms, Bowness-on-Solway, Wigton CA7 5BJ, UK | Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Birdoswald Roman Fort

Hadrians Wall At Birdoswald
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Mike Peel

Birdoswald Roman Fort is one of the best preserved of the 16 forts along Hadrian's Wall. It is on the western end of Hadrian's Wall on the site of a former farm called Birdoswald.The fort is located on a triangular spur of land with cliffs to the south and east and overlooking the beautiful Irthing Gorge.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Birdoswald Roman Fort!


Address: 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

Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall was built by the Roman Empire to protect their colony in England from the Pictish tribes in Scotland. It stretches for 73 mi (117 km) across the north of England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea in the counties of Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian's Wall!


Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 43 – Great Chesters

Aesica (Great Chesters) Roman Fort. Remains of a Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Dave Dunford / Aesica (Great Chesters) Roman Fort

Milecastle 43 (Great Chesters) was a milecastle on Hadrian's Wall (grid reference NY70356684). There are no visible remains as it was built over in the late 2nd century AD by the Great Chesters ( Aesica ) fort. Its foundations were discovered by Frank Gerald Simpson during an excavation in 1939 under the fort wall and the rampart between the north gate and the north-west corner. The wall was made in the narrow version on this section. In the same year it was also found that the mile fort was structurally connected to the foundations of the wide version of the wall. It belonged to the short axis type I. The fort wall ran behind the ramparts (wide version) and directly through the east and west walls of the mile fort.

Read our full blog post on Visiting Hadrian’s Wall – Milecastle 43 – Great Chesters!


| Hours: 24 Hours | Price: Free

Tours and Activities from Carlisle