Things to do in Carlisle

There’s little doubt the great English wilderness is the main attraction and it offers up a wealth of activities, from hiking to sailing, bouldering to zip lining. Indoors head to Energi Trampoline Park and literally bounce off the walls.

Once a Roman settlement which served the forts on a rather famous wall, Carlisle is dripping in history and legend that is ripe for discovery. Explore the unmissable locations, historic buildings and stadiums in our sightseeing guide.

Carlisle is no stranger to history and has a great mix of museums celebrating just that, as well as a number of galleries and cool art spaces showcasing work by big names and local artists alike.

Carlisle’s local creative community do the city proud, treating audiences to raucous knee-slapping tunes, laid-back jazz nights, theatrical flair, nail-biting match days and hearty belly laughs.

A well-serviced pocket of the country, Carlisle has easy travel links to the surrounding Lake District, nearby Edinburgh and beyond, thanks to a bustling bus and train station.

With more microbreweries than any other county, it’s harder to avoid Carlisle’s pubs than it is to find a good one. Add to the mix atmospheric speakeasies and cool drinking dens, the city certainly keeps humming after dark.

From fiery Thai food trucks to sumptuous Greek delis and fine-dining English restaurants to some of the best pub grub in the north of England, Carlisle’s exceptional restaurants are as good as they are varied.

Have a rummage through our picks of the best shopping in Carlisle where you can spend the afternoon leafing through your favourite high street shops, exploring modern shopping centres or picking up some fresh local Cumbrian produce at a farmers’ market.

Join the thousands that flock to Carlisle’s four theatres to enjoy an eclectic mix of shows and performances, from touring West End shows to slick amateur productions, comedies and the seasonal panto.