spacerBritain Express home page Carlisle, Cumbria travel guide
A guide to Cumbria and the Lake District, England, highlighting attractions, history, and visitor information.
 
spacer
     

Home
Attractions
 England
  Cumbria

Lake District

Towns and Villages
Carlisle
Cockermouth
Keswick

Attractions
All attractions
  Attractions map
Abbeys
Ancient Sites
Castles
Countryside
Family attractions
Gardens
Historic Buildings
Historic Churches
Historic Houses
Museums
Roman sites

Lake District National Park
Photo Gallery

The major Lakes

Travel Resources
Tourist Info Centres
Travel directory
Ordnance Survey maps

Accommodation
Lake District Hotels
  Keswick
  Windermere
Self Catering
  Ambleside
  Grasmere
  Keswick
Bed & Breakfast



 Scotland
 Wales
 London
Blog
 Heritage Traveller
Fun

 Photo of the Day
 RSS Feeds

About
 Contact
 About us
spacer

spacer
spacer
spacer
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend




Carlisle


Carlisle is the county town of Cumbria, and the only city. Not surprisingly, it is well-supplied with shopping ammenities, and the entire centre of the town has been made into an attractive pedestrian district.

Also not surprisingly, due to its location near the Scottish border, Carlisle has a long history of conflict. The castle here has been besieged, taken and retaken over the years by both Scottish and English forces. Carlisle Castle was built in 1092 and later acted as a prison for Mary, Queen of Scots.

Long before Mary's time, the Roman city of Luguvalium stood here. The city was the major supply centre for the western end of Hadrian's Wall, and the principle administrative centre for the region. Little of the Roman city remains, though some foundations can be seen in the grounds of the Tullie Museum, and artefacts from excavations can be found in the museum itself.

The Cathedral was erected in 1092, but the majority of the present building dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. The cathedral was badly damaged during the Civil War, but even that cannot detract from the superb east window, one of the best examples of Decorated tracery in England.

In the medieval period the city walls of Carlisle joined with the castle defenses to create a continuous barrier. In the Civil War the walls were in strong enough state to withstand an extended siege. The Royalist defenders were finally induced to surrender by starvation, but Parliamentary troops were never able to pierce the city defenses.

During the '45 Rebellion, Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) held the city briefy, though this time the city walls succumbed to a cannon barrage by the Duke of Cumberland's men. The best remaining parts of the walls can be seen from the car park and gardens below West Walls.

The market place of Carlisle may stand on the site of the former Roman forum. On the north side of the square is the Town Hall, an unpretentious structure built in 1717. Nearby is the Guildhall, now a museum.

For an overview of Carlisle information resources, click through to our Carlisle Tourism page.

Location map for Carlisle

Details
Carlisle
Cumbria
England

OS NY4054


+ Find out more +

    Nearest Hotels to Carlisle

Ibis Carlisle Carlisle Ibis Carlisle - 0.9 miles away
Carlisle, Cumbria
Stay from: 35.00
Swallow Hilltop Hotel Carlisle Swallow Hilltop Hotel - 1 miles away
Carlisle, Cumbria
Stay from: 29.37
County Hotel Carlisle County Hotel - 1 miles away
Carlisle, Cumbria
Stay from: 50.00

More Hotels near Carlisle



 

spacer


+Attractions +
Nearest Attractions

Carlisle Cathedral
1.2 miles (Cathedral)

Carlisle Guildhall Museum
1.2 miles (Museum)

Tullie House Museum
1.3 miles (Museum)

Carlisle Castle
1.4 miles (Castle)

Wreay, St Mary's Church
4.1 miles (Church)

Wetheral Priory
4.2 miles (Abbey)

Wetheral, Holy Trinity & St Constantine Church
4.2 miles (Church)

Warwick on Eden, St Leonard's Church
4.5 miles (Church)

Top Cumbria Destinations
Ambleside
Appleby
Bewcastle
Bowness
Burgh-by-Sands
Caldbeck
Carlisle
Cockermouth
Coniston
Edenhall

Suggested Cumbria Attractions
Abbot Hall
Acorn Bank
Aira Force
Ambleside Roman Fort
Appleby Castle
Appleby, St Lawrence Church
Aspatria, St Kentigern's Church
Bank's East Turret (Hadrian's Wall)
Bassenthwaite Lake
Beatrix Potter Gallery



+Accommodation +

Self Catering near Carlisle
Ald Pallyards
Carlisle
Sleeps 5, from 280.00


Appletree Corner
Carlisle
Sleeps 2, from 256.00


Burn Cottage
Carlisle
Sleeps 5, from 220.00