What's it like to live in Carlisle?

Enjoy the amazing culinary offerings and coffee culture of Carlisle

• Lanercost Tea Room – A traditional Tea Room located next to the tranquil Lanercost Priory, offering light lunches and a delicious selection of cakes and sweet treats.
• Thin White Duke – A popular Bar and Kitchen named after music legend David Bowie set in a renovated monastic building serving stylish pub food, craft beers and cocktails.
• Amato’s – A family run Sicilian Restaurant in the heart of historic Carlisle, Amato’s serves its mouthwatering lunches and dinners from an open kitchen (don’t miss Amato’s Happy Hours between 12-2 and 5-6)!
• Penny Blue – A modern Bar and Restaurant named after one of the world’s oldest postage stamps which offers tasty Tapas and a tempting grilled menu.
• Cathedral Café – An attractively located café serving homemade food, cakes, coffee and more at the heart of Carlisle Cathedral’s precinct.
• David's Restaurant – A fine dining restaurant offering a sensational selection of seasonal food, wine, and sparkling cocktails.
• Nosey Cow Inn – A Vintage Bar and Kitchen serving Italian and European dishes with real ales and wines.

Take advantage of the green space and modern facilities

• Gelt Gladiator – While you study with us, why not take part in Cumbria’s largest mass participation sporting event? Gelt Gladiator is a professionally constructed obstacle race with a variety of distances for adults and juniors over the course of two days set in the beautiful Gelt Woods.
• Red Herring Escape Rooms – As Cumbria’s biggest Escape Rooms, and with three unique scenarios to choose from, Red Herring Escape Rooms is the perfect way to spend time with friends.
• Eden Rock Bouldering Centre – One of the biggest indoor bouldering walls in the UK, Eden Rock offers a range of climbing and training facilities whether you are an experienced climber or a total beginner!
• Talkin Tarn Country Park – Explore the idyllic glacial lake, charming meadows and enchanting woodland walks at Talkin Tarn just outside of Carlisle – the perfect place to get your nature fix!
• The Hadrian’s Wall Path – An unmissable chance to walk along the longest continuous stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, built during the Roman occupation of Britain over 1,700 years ago!

Get fit, stay fit

• Carlisle United F.C. – Also known as the Blues or the Cumbrians, Carlisle United Football Club play in League One of the English Football Association league and play their regular home matches at Brunton Park in the city centre.
• Carlisle Rugby Club – A Rugby Union team based at Warwick Road Rugby Ground. As well as three men’s teams, Carlisle Rugby Club has a women’s team called the Cougars and a range of youth and junior teams.
• Carlisle Cricket Club – A historic local club dating back to 1828, Carlisle Cricket Club provides the perfect opportunity to watch, support, and even play one of England’s oldest codified sports.

Immerse yourself in Carlisle's entertainment

• The Old Fire Station – A live music, comedy, and arts venue in the city centre.
• Carlisle Castle – A medieval stone fortress first built in 1092. Today, you can explore the rooms, visit the exhibition spaces and Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, and walk the castle walls!
• Carlisle Cathedral – Carlisle Cathedral is a visually stunning Grade I listed Anglican cathedral with spectacular gothic stained-glass windows, figurative stone carvings and a rare set of medieval choir stalls. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Carlisle and hosts events throughout the year.
• The Sands Centre – Entertainment, arts, and leisure facilities on the banks of the River Eden.
• Hadrian’s Wall (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – Visit one of Britain’s most famous heritage sites right on Carlisle’s doorstep. Hadrian’s Wall is the most substantial set of Roman remains in Britain. The Wall demarcated the Northwest frontier of the Roman Empire for almost 300 years and has been a tourist site ever since (even for the Romans themselves)!
• Tullie House Museum – A Museum and Art gallery with exhibits on fine art, natural science and human history. Tullie House is also a great community hub with a café where you can enjoy spending time with friends!

Cocktails, craft beer and clubs

• The Lane Bar – A sophisticated cocktail bar perfect for a night out.
• The Brickyard – Carlisle’s premier independent music venue, The Brickyard is the ideal place to get your gig on and experience Carlisle’s vibrant live music scene.
• Paradiso Bar & Lounge – A modern bar and nightclub serving classic cocktails that also shows live sports on the big screen and hosts DJs and live music acts.
• Yellowjacket – An intimate bar serving rare and unique cocktails which hosts themed events and karaoke nights.
• Walkabout – This Australian-themed sports bar and club is the perfect place to party, down-under style! Walkabout also hosts LGBT+ friendly nights, quizzes, and sports themed events.
• BELOW Events Bar – Nightclub and underground events space in the city centre.

Nestled between major cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle and Manchester, the fantastic train connections from Carlisle mean you can easily embark on epic adventures around the UK. Plus, with Lancaster, Ulverston, Kendal and the majestic Lake District only short car, train or bus journeys away, there’s so much you can see and do outside of the city.