Why visit Carlisle?
Carlisle is located in Cumbria England and though it is not a major city like Wales or London but they do have a rich history and some beautiful scenery. Carlisle is a great get away but it is also a very educational city and there is a lot to learn as well. Carlisle is the capital city in Cumbria and it is the city that is situated the most Northern in England almost on the border of Scotland. The city has some great tourist spots, amazing restaurants and excellent shopping. Why visit Carlisle? Here are some great reasons why you should take a vacation to Carlisle.
Carlisle Castle: This is the last English Castle to be used in war in 1746 when Bonnie Prince Charlie Jacobite, tried to hold off the Hanoverian military forces of the Duke of Cumberland. The enemy was held captive in the castle for years and even today you can see some the carvings that the prisoners had made while being held in the dungeons. The Castle is a great place to learn about the Jacobites, the castle is open 7 days a week, check for hours and admission fees.
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery: This is not a typical stuffy old, boring museum, the house is made from Sandstone and it is 100% worth seeing when coming to Carlisle. The family home of Tullie was converted into a museum in 1893 with a more modern wing that was built as recently as 1990. This is not your typical museum, Tullie House offers workshops and they even have a film season. If you are lover of art, the Tullie House has 4300 paintings, sketches, watercolours with prints and sculptures. The museum has over 188,000 objects that date as far back as 1644.
Carlisle Cathedral: This cathedral was built back in 1122 and has been battered by war for the past 900 years. They have also had mass every week for the past 900 years. This cathedral has 14th century stained glass east window with an altarpiece located in St Wilfred’s Chapel and that dates back to 16th century. There are also pieces of art including those of St Cuthbert, St Augustine and St Antony and the figures of all 12 Apostles.
Some of the other great sites to see and reason enough to visit Carlisle are:
- Cumberland Show
- Sands Centre
- Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre
Cumbria has a very low population with less than 500,000 people and it is the second largest county in England. Cumbria is most known for District National Park, Hill Farming and Wildlife. There are so many great reasons why you should visit Carlisle. Before you plan any vacation, try to look up some of the best places that Carlisle has to offer aside from the places we mentioned here. There are plenty of things to see and do here and anyone who plans a trip to Carlisle will enjoy every minute of it.