Cumbria, North West, United Kingdom

Carlisle – The Five Minute Spare Guide

Carlisle – The Five Minute Spare Guide
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The Five Minute Guide to Carlisle

Where is Carlisle?

The historic City of Carlisle is located in the County of Cumbria, in the North West of England, UK. The City is about 10 miles (16 km) south of the Scottish border. Carlisle is the only City and most significant settlement in Cumbria, serving as both the county's main administrative centre and capital.

So the answer to many people's question of is Carlisle in Scotland? The Answer is No. Carlisle is located in England but does touch the Scottish Border.


Carlisle's local status and strategic location act as the gateway to the nearby Lake District (England's largest and most visited National Park) and the southwest Scottish Borders. So is this the ideal base for your staycation or flying visit? Let's see if we can convince you by starting with a little bit of local history.



 

The History of Carlisle

The History of Carlisle is fascinating and rich with Archaeological evidence that suggests that Carlisle was an established settlement well before the first-century Roman invasion of England. The Romans founded a settlement at Carlisle (Luguvalium) around 72 AD, essentially to serve as a supply base for the forts on Hadrian's Wall.

During the Middle Ages, mainly due to its proximity to Scotland, Carlisle became a critical military stronghold. At the Norman conquest in 1066, Carlisle was part of Scotland.

an image of Carlisle castle

Image: Peter Guess/ Shutterstock.com

 

The Doomsday Book

However, that changed in 1092 when William the Conqueror's son, William Rufus, invaded the region and forced a shift in the border northwards. The construction of Carlisle Castle began in 1093 on the site of the Roman fort, south of the River Eden. Carlisle castle was rebuilt in stone in 1112, with a keep and the city walls. In 1133, the town gained city status whereby its diocese formed, and the construction of Carlisle Cathedral began on the site of the existing monastery.

The conquest of Cumberland by Rufus was the beginning of a long-drawn-out war between Scotland and England. Thus, the stewardship of Carlisle and the surrounding area changed hands several times over the following centuries. The constant change resulted in Carlisle being essentially a garrison town for most of the period until 1707 when the 'Acts of the Union' created the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland.

The Industrial Era Arrives In Carlisle

The introduction of textile manufacturing to the city during the Industrial Revolution was the catalyst that began Carlisle's transformation. Expanding industries brought about an increase in population as jobs shifted from rural areas to the city.

However, Carlisle's textile production, as with the rest of Britain, eventually declined in the latter part of the 1800s, as the mechanisation of the industry severely reduced job numbers. Conversely, at the beginning of the First World War, a munitions factory was set up near Gretna, bringing many new jobs to the area.

Government-Run Pubs?

In 1916, the government took over the management of Carlisle's public houses and breweries. The purpose was to assist in the war effort. The fundamental reason was drunkenness among the Gretna factory workers was deemed out of control. Nevertheless, the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme persisted until 1973. Carlisle's strategic geographical position was instrumental in its further development and the reason it became one of the county's most important railway hubs.

Seven railway companies shared Carlisle's railway station in the early twentieth century. Carlisle subsequently became the home to Europe's largest marshalling yards, located at Kingmoor, at the city's north end.

Carlisle - The Modern Era

Carlisle is named "the Great Border City". It stands as the main cultural, commercial and industrial centre for north Cumbria. In addition, it's home to the main campuses of the University of Cumbria, the award-winning Tullie House museum, several heritage centres and other places of historical interest.

The transformation of Carlisle to a relatively modern city began in 1973. The Year marked when the state-owned brewery and pubs were made available to private enterprises. For Carlisle's legion of dedicated drinkers, to paraphrase Mr Dickens, it was the best of times and the worst of times. On the one hand, the city's pubs were finally dragged into the 20th century, as the new owners' banned spitting and sawdust.

On the other hand, privatisation called time on the fabled Carlisle 10p pint of State Management days. Prices of pints quickly shot up to around the national average of 17p.

Carlisle did have a second revolution shortly around this time, as word spread amongst pub managers that the invention of the sandwich toaster had become widespread. A few audacious landlords then dared to add toasted cheese sandwiches to their pub grub menu, which at that time consisted of a packet of crisps or a pickled egg.

Introduction of the Lanes Shopping Centre

In 1986, Carlisle underwent another major transformation when a new shopping centre opened in the very heart of the city. East of Market Cross was the chosen location for the complex. Previously, the area was primarily derelict but home to slum housing and a hodge-podge of rundown small shops.

The numerous narrow alleyways that ran crosswise across the site gave rise to being dubbed locally as 'The Lanes'—this name, adopted for the new development, which houses around 75 retail outlets.

The area immediately adjacent to The Lanes became pedestrianised in 1989. As well as housing the castle, cathedral and largely intact city walls, Carlisle's compact city centre also contains several other medieval buildings, including the Guildhall and Tithe Barn.

Other Developments

Thomas Telford redesigned The former Law courts (Citadel Chambers). However, the Citadel's east tower is mostly the original 16th-century building. Neighbouring the Citadel is Carlisle railway station, built in a neo-Tudor style. Many expert historians consider the building among the best examples of early railway station architecture in Britain.

Commercially, an increasing number of light industrial estates and business parks are popping up on the city's fringes or former industrial sites close to the city centre. The largest is Kingstown Industrial Estate, located just off the A7 road and close to Junction 44 of the M6 motorway. The estate is home to various businesses, including Eddie Stobart Logistics, the county's most renowned truck company.

Today Carlisle is a thriving city home to 75,306 as at the last UK census in 2011, with a further 32,218 people living within the urban area.



Getting to Carlisle and Travelling Around

The M6 connects Carlisle to the rest of England via the M6 motorway. The M74/A74 connects Carlisle to Scotland, taking you to Glasgow and the north. Other trunk roads originating/terminating in Carlisle are the A6 to Luton (North London), the A595 to West Cumbria, the A69 to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the A7 to Edinburgh. Like most cities in the UK, traffic in the general Carlisle area can be problematic, especially at rush hour. If you are travelling from West Cumbria and heading to the M6, you can avoid the city centre by taking the western bypass at Newby West, about 2 miles southwest of the city.

By Rail

Carlisle railway station is a primary stop on England's West Coast Main Line. Branch lines go to Newcastle and the East Coast, Leeds along the famous Settle - Carlisle line, Glasgow Central via the Scottish Borders (which connects with Stranraer and Ayr for the ferries to Larne and Belfast, respectfully), and West Cumbria through to Lancaster.

Local Public Transport

Two companies operate local bus services for Carlisle and the surrounding area; Reay's and Stagecoach. Reay's services only workaround certain parts of the city and a few outlying areas. Stagecoach's city operation is reasonably comprehensive, but it also operates other services, extending to West Cumbria, the South of Scotland and Newcastle. Both companies offer special discounted tickets for unlimited daily and weekly city travel. Stagecoach buses operate out of Carlisle's centrally located bus station. Although you can find the Head office of Reay's operation around 12 miles away in Wigton, it does have an information office in the centre of Carlisle.

National Busses

Additional bus operators include Arriva, who runs a bus service between Newcastle and Carlisle, stopping at 16 villages and towns along the way. Border Buses also runs an Edinburgh to Carlisle service, passing through the Scottish border region. National Express buses also pass through Carlisle for all major destinations within the UK.   Newcastle is where you will find the nearest international airport, located towards the east coast, around 56 miles (90 km) away from Carlisle.

Carlisle's small regional airport, owned by Stobbart Group in 2014, has since undergone a complete refurbishment and upgrading. Loganair for a short while did operate flights to Belfast, Dublin and Southend (London). However, they have since pulled out of the Carlisle and currently (October 2020) the airport does not operate any flights.

The Carlisle Quiz

 

The Carlisle Quiz

 

Places to see in Carlisle.

Carlisle's places to see are undoubtedly its 900 years old Castle, the Cathedral, Tullie House Museum and the nearby Hadrian's Wall.

Carlisle Castle

Originally dating from the 11th century, the Castle is now home to the Army Reserve's 4th Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and the Border Regiment Museum. The impressive medieval Castle, built between 1092 - 1112 by William Rufus, has played the leading role in the history of Carlisle down the centuries. Today, the Castle is under the watchful management of English Heritage and, given its turbulent history, is remarkably well preserved.

Carlisle Castle was well over 900 years old but still going strong. The Castle once played host to Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1567. She was held captive in the Warden's Tower (later renamed Queen Mary's Tower) for a couple of months at the request of her cousin Elizabeth I. I'm sure you know that things didn't work out too well for Mary after leaving Carlisle. But that's another story, as 'they' say!

Carlisle Cathedral

The Cathedral occupies a central position in the city's "historic quarter". It was founded in 1122, initially as an Augustinian priory and became a cathedral in 1133. It serves as the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle. Carlisle is the second smallest of England's ancient cathedrals. Its notable features include figurative stone carvings, a set of medieval choir stalls, and a 14th-century Gothic-style stain glass window, which is the largest of its kind in England.

Carlisle Cathedral - small but beautifully formed! The Cathedral has free entry, and at certain times from Monday to Saturday, and it will usually have some volunteer guides on hand.

Hadrian's Wall & Birdoswald Fort

Hadrian's Wall passes through Carlisle and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's widely recognised today as the country's most unique monument and legacy of Roman life in Britain. Hadrian's Wall starts at Bowness-on-Solway, some 15 miles northwest of Carlisle, and terminates at Wallsend on the English north-east coast.

The total length of the Wall is around 84 miles. There is a formal trial that hikers can take to explore the ruins of the Wall and art galleries and museums along the way. Similarly, Hadrian's Cycleway also roughly follows the line of Hadrian's Wall and continues down the Cumbrian coast to Ravenglass.

An exceptional view - Walltown Crags, Hadrian's Wall

If trekking or cycling isn't your thing or you don't have the necessary time, you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of Hadrian's Wall by taking a bus. The seasonal AD122 service takes you along the 'military road' between Haltwhistle and Hexham, where you can visit some of Hadrian's Wall Country highlights. If nothing else, Birdoswald Roman Fort on its own is well worth a visit. It's one of the principal forts on Hadrian's Wall and has the most extended length of the preserved Wall. Birdoswald is 16 miles east of Carlisle along the A689, between Lanercost and Haltwhistle. Experiencing the views over the Irthing valley, towards the Lake District, make it well worth the effort of getting there.

Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery

Image: Go All The Way/Shutterstock.com the tullie house Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle



 

Image Credit: Go All The Way/Shutterstock.com

Tullie House is an award-winning museum and Art Gallery in the city's heart, located between the Castle and the Cathedral. The old part of Tullie House is a Jacobean Grade I Listed Building. 1893 saw the listed building converted from a mansion house to a museum, then further refurbished and extended in 1990. This new wing houses the Border Galleries, an Art Gallery, a shop, a lecture theatre and a restaurant. In addition, there are audio-visual presentations, interactive exhibits, an underground gallery exhibiting artefacts from prehistoric Carlisle, and other displays.

Famous people and celebrities with links to Carlisle

Charles Shepherd

Charles "The Bull" Shepherd is the former British, Commonwealth and World Super featherweight boxing Champion. He, otherwise known as Charlie Shepherd and originally from Burnley moved to Carlisle when he was sixteen.

In 1999at the Sands Centre in Carlisle, he achieved victory against the American Tom "Boom Boom" Johnson for the IBO World Title.

He later when to run a gym in raffles called Four belts Fitness.

After his retirement, Shepherd broke the world record for the number of push-ups in one hour in 2016.

Richard Hammond

Affectionately known as "The Hamster", Richard Hammond, the ex-presenter of the BBC show Top Gear, revealed to the Mirror, that he once lived in Carlisle during in his early days of working on Local Radio. he stated,

"When I was working in local radio... that's not a particularly well-paid job - particularly if you're a massive fan of cars and motorcycles as I was. So I was always in debt for some stupid motorcycle I'd bought on a loan," Richard recalled.

"I was generally living in little downstairs front room bed-sits in houses in Carlisle, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Cleveland, Middlesbrough. Totally flat, totally broke. I was beyond broke."

It is unfortunately not revealed whereabouts in Carlisle Hammond was residing.

Richard Madeley

Richard Madeley began his media career in local newspapers. He was originally From Romford in Essex but moved to Carlisle to start at BBC Radio Carlisle at the age of 19 as a news producer and presenter. He soon moved to nearby Border Television as a reporter on the Lookaround local news slot,

Charlie Hunnam

The actor attended art college in Carlisle.  He is best known for roles in the series Queer as Folk, Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim, and Green Street films. Charlie Hunnam was born in Newcastle but later moved to Melmerby, Cumbria, just outside Penrith.

Grace Dent

Grace Dent is best known as a regular food critic on BBC's TV Show Masterchef UK. She was born in Carlisle and attended Bishop Harvey Goodwin Primary School in Currock near Upperby in the south of the city. Dent has a substantial career in writing and journalism, winning multiple awards for her works.

Lee Brennan

Lee Anthony Brennan is most commonly known for his career as a lead vocalist of the boy band 911. Born in Carlisle, his early residence was in Harraby and Currock. Brennan, an avid Carlisle United Supporter and, as a youth, a talented footballer, captained the county Under-14's and under-16's teams.  He had attended trails for Carlisle united but was unfortunately rejected due to his height. He now works as a fitness coach, stars in pantomimes, and is a massive advocate and fundraiser for multiple charities raising money for care and research for children with cancer and Leukaemia.

 

For a full list of celebrities with ties to Carlisle, see Wikipedia.

 

Things to do in Carlisle

Eating out, pubs and clubs

Probably due in part to its relative isolation from any neighbouring large centres of population, Carlisle, for a small city, really can punch above its weight in terms of nightlife and dining out. There's certainly enough choice to suit every palate and pocket. For the financially astute, Botchergate is the place to head! There's a mix of traditional pubs and new-style bars, as well as numerous take-away food joints, offering the usual gamut of exotic dining.

On weekends the place is bustling, as willing recruits stream in from West Cumbria and the Borders to swell the ranks of the city's army of passionate drinkers. 'Botch' has to be one of the cheapest places in the country for a night out, as it's still possible to find a pint for around two quid. You can also find good quality pub grub with a pint, for not much more than a fiver, at a couple of well-known pub-chain establishments.

Chilling Out

For those looking for a slightly more 'chilled out' time, the rest of Carlisle still has plenty to offer. Within or close to the city centre, you'll be able to several restaurants serving the nation's favourite cuisines, i.e. Indian, Chinese and Italian. There are also Thai, Malaysian, Greek, Portuguese and Mexican restaurants in the city centre, which all reputedly turn out pretty decent food. Not unsurprisingly, Carlisle's oldest and most traditional pubs in the city's old quarter, reasonably close to the cathedral.

However, there is an ever-increasing number of posh pubs and bar cum restaurants, cum bistros, cum wine bars, all concentrated within the immediate city centre. They inevitably serve the usual array of foreign beers and cocktails, as well as the usual upmarket pub grub. There are also a few nightclubs in the city centre for the youthful or energetic visitor. And, for those who don't mind splashing the cash, there's also a lap dancing club.

Find somewhere to eat in Carlisle.

A day at the races!

Carlisle Racecourse is a first-class racecourse located at Blackwell village, on the outskirts of Carlisle. Horse racing has been present in Carlisle for centuries. The 'Carlisle Bell' first rang in 1599 and is one of the oldest horse races in the country.

There's a race meeting held about once a month on average. The races occur primarily on Saturdays, but there are also night meetings during the summer months. Accompanied children under 18 years old can usually get in for free at most race events. The course is also a popular venue for entertainment events: live music, radio DJ shows, conferences, trade exhibitions, etc.

A stroll in the park!

Talkin Tarn is a small glacial lake within a country park near Brampton, some 9 miles east of Carlisle. A 1.3 mile (2 km) hard-surfaced path encircles the Tarn, ideal for a gentle stroll or jog. A small café overlooking the Tarn, serving hot and cold food. The park also offers a range of activities, including rowing, sailing and archery. For the less energetic, the Alex Boathouse regularly houses exhibitions by local artists.

Talking Tarn - an ideal place for a family day out. Local legend has it that there's a monster pike living in the Tarn. However, 'Jaws' currently seems to be taking a time-out, since as far as I know, there hasn't been any severe attacks by fish at the lake for the last decade or two.

 

Introducing ParkPlay Carlisle at Hammonds pond. Click the image to find out more

Find Things to do in Carlisle

Music and theatre

Located just a 10-minute walk from Carlisle city centre, the Sands Centre is Cumbria's premier entertainment venue. It hosts international orchestras, theatre, opera and ballet companies, international recording artists and well-known comedians. The centre also offers a range of sports, recreation and fitness activities.

West Walls Theatre (aka The Green Room) puts on amateur productions now and then. It's only a few minutes walk from the city centre. There's also the Old Fire Station, opposite the Civic Centre, which hosts live bands, stand-up comedy, plays, etc.

Football Crazy?

Carlisle United is Cumbria's only Football League team and currently plays in the fourth tier of the English game. So if you're a football fan and happen to be in Carlisle on a Saturday, between August and April, there's a fifty per cent chance you will be able to catch one of their games. The club's ground is at Brunton Park on Warwick Road (A69), with kick-off time usually being 3 pm. There's also the odd mid-week game, more often than not on a Tuesday evening, with a 7-30 pm kick-off.

You might not know, Liverpool's legendary manager, Bill Shankly, played for Carlisle in the 1930s and returned in 1949 for a couple of seasons as manager. He cited Carlisle's achievement of promotion to the top flight of English football at the end of the 1973/74 season as "the greatest feat in the history of the game". Sadly, for Carlisle fans, if nobody else, they were relegated after one season despite actually being top of the table briefly!

Hiking and biking!

Carlisle is more than a good place for walkers and cyclists, only a 30-minute drive from the North Lakes. You can also take a service bus to either Penrith or Keswick for access to the northern part of the Lake District. However, if you want to go to the South Lakes, it is probably best to go by train. In this case, you'd take the west coastline train to Oxenholme, changing for Windermere.

As mentioned, Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail starts on the west coast at Bowness on Solway, passes through the centre of Carlisle, and then onwards to the northeast coast, with significant sections passing through the Northumberland National Park.

There is also the Cumbrian Way, which is a footpath set entirely in Cumbria. Running from Ulverston to Carlisle, it passes through the towns of Coniston and Keswick and both the Langdale and Borrowdale valleys. The total length of the route is 70 miles, with the majority within the periphery of the Lake District National Park.

A walker's paradise! - the Cumbrian Way passes through 'the Lakes'

Hadrians Cycleway

Hadrian's Cycleway (National Route 72) originates at Ravenglass in West Cumbria for cyclists wanting a challenge. It then follows the Cumbrian coast to Silloth, then continues northwards to Carlisle. At Carlisle, it traverses the country to its endpoint at Arbeia Roman Fort, South Shields, on the northeast coast.

The second half of the route more or less follows the line of Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site, passing through some spectacular landscape. Its unique setting makes it one of the most popular long-distance cycling routes in the country. Carlisle's route to Ravenglass leg is about 90 miles (144 km), and the South Shields leg is 84 miles (134 km).

The cycleway is accessible in either direction, with most cyclists completing the entire journey in 4 to 6 days. From Carlisle, it's straightforward to get to either Ravenglass or South Shields by train.

For Ravenglass, you can take a direct train on the Cumbrian West coastline. You will need to use the East Coastline to get to South Shields, but you might have to change at Newcastle. Trains run approximately every hour on both lines. If you want to take your bike on the train, it's best to book 2 or 3 days ahead, as the train operator reserves the right to refuse carriage if not booked in advance.

Carlisle's Accommodation

If you are looking for a cheap place to stay in Carlisle, a few sites offer hostel accommodation with a shared dormitory. By all accounts, the room standards are very high. The next rung on the local accommodation ladder is guesthouses and travel lodges. After that, you've generally got the large chain hotels around the 3-star quality mark. The ones in the city centre are generally a little dearer than those on the periphery of the city limits.

Finally, a few hotels are around the 4-star mark, which is as good as it gets in Carlisle. Expect to pay somewhere close to the following: Shared dormitory in a Hostel: £15 - £20 Guesthouse or travel lodge: £30 - £50 Large chain or family hotel: £50 – £70 The best city hotels (3 or 4 stars): £80 - £120.



Useful external links for Carlisle

Carlisle City Council Website

 

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