Carlisle is a nice little city town in the north of England, pretty much at the border of Scotland. It’s very accessible from West Cumbria, as the 1 train that passes through those train station is either going to Carlisle or coming from Carlisle.
As the nearest city to my location, it does tick the box of being a reasonable city. There are a few more variety of shops, compared to the high street of the towns in deep West Cumbria. Like Primark! I’m personally not a huge shopper there, but I do like their Harry Potter collection. The retailers are mainly concentrated in the city centre, but you still have to do a reasonable amount of walking to see them. For instance, they have a big TK Maxx, but it’s hidden on a first floor in a building getting away from the centre. That’s a definite hidden gem, if you know how awesome TK Maxx is (not sponsored).
It has a VUE cinema, which is very exciting. West Cumbria towns do have their own cinemas so its fine, but it’s not a franchise cinema experience. As of writing this post, I still haven’t watched anything in that VUE cinema, but I have watched movies at the Whitehaven Gaiety cinema. What a cute little cinema, but I’ll talk about that in my Whitehaven post.
Very close to this view cinema are TWO Wetherspoons’. Literally about 2 doors apart, and they are very handy for some drinks after a nice day out, as they are about a 3-minute walk from the train station. Also, the train station is located perfectly as you can leave the train station, explore the city, enjoy the entertainment, and get back. It’s a cute little circular path.
Now for the crème de la crème. Carlisle has a Nando’s. Mic drop. You can see it from the train station entrance. It genuinely brings me joy, because even though the local take-out businesses are good in West Cumbria, I do love a Nando’s. Thank the universe, that my nearest Nando’s is a 1-hour train journey away, it could be a lot worse. There are other eateries and franchises, but I heavily fixate on Nando’s because I love it.
Carlisle also has other places up it’s sleeve:
Escape rooms
I have been to one of the escae room providers, but they were amazing and so entertaining. Only across the road from the two Wetherspoons’, there is the ‘Red Herring Escape Rooms’. This is not a sponsored post, but this place was awesome. I’m going in a couple of months, and I’ll do another appreciation post, but I went with a friend, we did 2 rooms and had a hilarious time solving them. I recommend doing an escape room, but PSA: Don’t do it intoxicated and make sure you all go in with the same goal. 1 hour when your drunk and stuck in a room is hard. Also, same goal? – If you go in for a fun time, and other members are there to win prepare for a fall out. Go in with the same understanding on the outcome, it reduces any tensions between the group.
Axe Throwing
As of now, I have not managed to go yet, but I will in the next month, and a review and experience will be uploaded for your information.
Touristic spots
Other than the town centre, I have managed to see that Carlisle castle will be a nice place to see. I have never been, but it’s the first building you see from the train station, so it’s easy access, but entrance is quite exclusive. You can book a tour in advanced, or up until 8.45am on the morning of your intended visit. Must be really nice if there is a time limit on the booking. On the outside its really pretty, but the inside is still a mystery to me. I’ll definitely make a trip one day. But, on a sunny day the benches are very lovely.
There is also a large climbing centre, but its closer to the motorway than the train station, but Carlisle has buses and taxis so I’m sure there is a way. If you do drive thought, Hadrian’s wall is only 30 minutes north of Carlisle. That’s an impressive tourist flex. Personally, have never been there, but it’s a tourist name I recognise, and I would be interested in visiting one day.
Morals of my story:
- Carlisle is beautiful city– It is! I’d definitely recommend a visit, whether by train or by car
- It has a Nando’s! – Need I say anymore
- Don’t do an escape room drunk– There are no toilet breaks in an escape room lol 😉
- There is plenty of entertainment– There is enough there for anyone from an explorer to a shopper, Carlisle will provide.
