What's the deal with Carlisle?
Posted by atzucach@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 55 comments
Nobody seems to talk about it. Is it worth stopping by if I do do a trip around the far north?
Posted by atzucach@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 55 comments
Nobody seems to talk about it. Is it worth stopping by if I do do a trip around the far north?
ChrisChros87@reddit
A Plymouth fans worst nightmare for a midweek game
wardyms@reddit
It’s a small place with a population of under 100k. It’s like asking what’s the deal with Bracknell, Chesterfield or Rotherham.
DurhamOx@reddit
Not really, it's a city in its own right. Much more distinct and worthy of interest than Bracknell or Rotherham. Still, not that important in the grand scheme of things and understandably overlooked.
dth300@reddit
IIRC it’s the largest city in England by area
atzucach@reddit (OP)
Excuse me and I'm sorry but I think it must take on some extra importance being up there all by itself and not orbiting a larger built up area like the places you mention.
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
Only in the sense that people are likely to go from further afield to go shopping etc than they would those places. And Cumbria doesn't have many people and the lower half of the county goes to Kendal/Barrow/Lancaster.
It's also only an hour from Newcastle
wardyms@reddit
It’s like an hour from Newcastle. There’s plenty of places more remote than that from a larger area.
KBVan21@reddit
Absolutely glorious. Beautiful sandy beaches, palm trees with coconuts, a climate from the heavens, an incredible food scene taking inspiration from Spanish and Italian cultures, a vibrant music culture, and extremely low cost for the budget traveller. Pure delight.
I believe that’s how it was described on a place in the sun but I’ve not seen that episode in a few years.
Biscuitman82@reddit
I just know that when I drive past it I've nearly made it to Scotland
carlovski99@reddit
Carlisle is much nicer than most people expect. We normally stop off as part of a northern tour - but to be fair it's mostly because my sister lives there!
But the castle is worth a visit, plenty of history in the area, good pubs/bars/restaurants. You can go explore Hadrians wall, and not far from the lake district, the cumbrian coast or go up to Dumfries and Galloway (We went up to the intriguingly named 'Devils Porridge' museum last time)
atomicsuplex14@reddit
I grew up there, it’s pretty quiet and not much going on really. Place is dead most evenings. Plenty to do for a day trip though especially if you’re into history
Calm-Raise6973@reddit
They'll be in the National League next season. Too many points separating them and the teams above the drop zone.
BlueSpeaker114@reddit
The... Far North...??! Berwick upon Tweed is miles further north and even it is still in England! 😆😆 /lh
Responsible-Sail6878@reddit
I’m from Carlisle. It’s one of those places where you leave if you have anything going for you. Poorly job prospects with pay well below the national average for most sectors.
It has a lot of history and could have done more with it. I think the fact they built a duel carriageway between the city centre and the castle shows you how much thought they put into that.
atzucach@reddit (OP)
I love Roman history so that's a great tip, cheers!
cougieuk@reddit
They make biscuits there and have a train station.
Why not just Google it and see what appeals to you.
I'm sure it's decent enough but I'm not going there for my holidays.
atzucach@reddit (OP)
This is awkward but you weren't actually invited.
I appreciate the biscuit info, in any case.
cougieuk@reddit
Oh but I booked the time off already!
atzucach@reddit (OP)
OK Wily Steve's dogs are depressed so he can't come. We'll pick you up by the fancy Ladbroke's at 4.
KToTheA-@reddit
my GFs from there and I lived up there with her for about a year. I'm not a fan of it which annoys her as she's very proud of it. there just wasn't anything to do unless you travelled for about an hour to somewhere better. it's supposedly one of the biggest cities in the country but a vast majority of its area is just farms and countryside. being "ethnic", I always felt out of place because it's not very multicultural, at least compared to what I'm used to
jizzyjugsjohnson@reddit
Good place to stop for a break if you’re catching the Cairnryan-Belfast ferry
Unusual_residue@reddit
What does nobody seems to talk about it mean?
gigglesmcsdinosaur@reddit
Can't tell you
andyff@reddit
If you do go, attend a football match. They're going down this year but they are some of the best fans around.
AppaBlanket@reddit
I was born there and moved for uni and I agree with other comments in that you move away if you have anything going for yourself. You could get one decent day out of seeing the castle, Tullie House, and cathedral for local history, and the town centre has a couple of quite nice restaurants (including an incredible Japanese place considering it’s Carlisle).
But the best use of it is as a base for day trips. You could stay in Carlisle and go over to the Metro Centre outside Newcastle for shopping, up to Silloth for a day by the sea, and down to Keswick, Windermere, Ambleside etc for Lake District walks.
Objective-Resident-7@reddit
It has a big Tesco. Last place before Scotland to get multi-buy deals on booze.
MisterrTickle@reddit
And 24 hour opening (10-4 on Sundays), with no minimum unit pricing.
Objective-Resident-7@reddit
I drive that route fairly regularly and I'm often passing after 10pm.
In Scotland, it is illegal to sell off-licence after 10pm, but in England this is 11pm.
So, another reason to stop at Carlisle.
I'm kind of joking about it all being about booze though. I actually went on a holiday to Carlisle and it's a nice place.
MisterrTickle@reddit
England has 24 hour licensing. Monday 00:00-Saturday 00:00 in supermarkets. It's just up to the local council and the supermarket to decide the opening and licencing times.
Caacrinolass@reddit
Its not the worst base for exploring either the Lake District or Hadrian's Wall. There are transport links to Scotland generally via train too. As for what is actually there, there some history but mostly the castle which you can spend a few hours in. The rest is mostly housing and shops although on the latter there are at least a number of independent ones. Don't ket it being a city fool you though - it's smaller than some places usually called towns.
jaymatthewbee@reddit
Not even Mark Hughes is going to be able to save them from relegation from the football league.
pencilrain99@reddit
It's better than Barrow-in-Furness is the best I can say about it
Mrslinkydragon@reddit
Carlisle, like the rest of cumbria, is only populated during the summer months. The residents migrate south in October.
Radiant_Incident4718@reddit
Yeah. I know the autumn has really arrived each year when i hear the chattering and signing of cumbrians in the trees.
Mrslinkydragon@reddit
Nature is heading :3
SnoopyLupus@reddit
He was great in Trainspotting.
pencilrain99@reddit
Looking after JoJo is a forgotten gem
MidnightRambler87@reddit
Preferred him in The World Is Not Enough.
paulmclaughlin@reddit
He was terrifying in Cracker.
L-i-v
e-r-p
double o-l
Liverpool FC
neverend1ngcircles@reddit
I'd avoid it because the streets often get panicked. I'd also avoid Dundee and the whole of Humberside for the same reason.
Intrepid_Monk1487@reddit
Until we hang the dj I won’t leave my house
nivlark@reddit
The castle is interesting for an hour or two, and it's a good base for Hadrian's Wall or the northern Lake District if you have a car. Otherwise it's a bit of a non-place.
I had a friend from there whose mum's idea of cooking vegetables was to boil a cauliflower whole (greens and all) for about half an hour, and once it was suitably turned to mush, mash and serve it without any milk, butter or seasoning. 0/10 cannot recommend.
External-Piccolo-626@reddit
The veg or the friends mum?
DurhamOx@reddit
His mum sounds like my grandmother. Are you my uncle?
atzucach@reddit (OP)
Good tips, thanks! Will avoid all forms of cauliflower in Carlisle (usually big fan)
updownclown68@reddit
Lived there for a year and it’s a nice place to live but I probably wouldn’t advise visiting for any length of time. It depends on what you like when you holiday though.
joaaaaaannnofdarc@reddit
You go past it for another place
Round_Engineer8047@reddit
I went there with my missus for a week about 15 years ago. We used it as a base to go on day trips to the Lake District as we couldn't afford to rent a holiday cottage somewhere more scenic at the time. It's good for that but quite dull and grim in itself.
tmstms@reddit
I like it!
Cathedral is nice, you can then go E along Hadrian's Wall.
atzucach@reddit (OP)
Is this a drug thing?
tmstms@reddit
You said 'far North' so I assumed you meant 'far N of England'
atzucach@reddit (OP)
Aah, go east, got it. I thought you meant rolling on E while hiking Hadrian's Wall
crazedfishuk@reddit
It’s a bit like Finland…not sure it really exists
atzucach@reddit (OP)
Tempting to investigate its very existence!
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