In it’s 2000 year history, Carlisle has seen Celts, Romans, warring families and invading armies leave a legacy for you to explore. In Carlisle’s Historic Quarter, you will find a castle, cathedral and museums in a compact area, criss crossed with ancient thoroughfares.
Once enclosed by mighty walls, Carlisle’s West Walls, built from 1122, are all that remain but are a fine example of what these defences looked like.
The magnificent Castle, founded in 1092 by William the Conquerer’s son, stands as testament to years of feuding over the English-Scottish border and the city's miliary connections can be explored at the King's Own Border Regimental museum within the Castle ward. The City’s commercial success is revealed in the Guildhall Museum, built in 1407 and once the meeting place of the medieval trade guilds.
Dating from 1717, the Old Town Hall stands at the heart of the Historic Quarter, and now houses Carlisle’s award winning Tourist Information Centre. A few steps away is Carlisle Cathedral, founded in 1122 and battered by centuries of warfare, it has witnessed prayers being said said every day for almost 900 years. Nearby, award winning Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery is a fusion of old and new - from beautiful ‘old Tullie House’ with its collection of fine art to the Border Galleries full of interactive fun and the ultra modern surroundings of the Millennium Gallery.
Often mistaken for the Castle and close to the Historic Quarter are the imposing ‘twin drum’ bastions of the Citadel built by Henry VIII, adjacent to this is Carlisle’s Railway station – aptly named the Citadel Station. Built in 1847 by William Tite, who was also responsible for the London Stock Exchange, the Citadel Station reminds visitors of the city's connection with the age of steam.
Carlisle’s Historic Quarter continues to evolve to this day and will play an even greater role in the business, social and cultural life of the city in the future.
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