Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

Carlisle travel guide

Carlisle Tourism | Carlisle Guide

You're Going to Love Carlisle

With a population of 72,633, Carlisle is a must-see destination in England, United Kingdom. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Carlisle to see all of its attractions.

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Where to Eat in Carlisle

If you’re looking for affordable options, Hidden River Cafe (Brackenhill Longtown) and La Mezzaluna (6 The Crescent) are great picks.

When to visit Carlisle

Carlisle in January
Estimated hotel price
£46
1 night at 3-star hotel
Carlisle in January
Estimated hotel price
£46
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Carlisle

Plane

When flying to Carlisle, you’ll arrive at Carlisle Lake District (CAX), which is located 6 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Carlisle departs from London and takes around 1h 25m.

Train

Avanti West Coast is the most popular train carrier serving Carlisle, followed by Arriva. Located 0.2 miles from the city centre, Carlisle is the busiest station in Carlisle. Another popular train station is Carlisle Wetheral, located 4 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Carlisle is to pick up a car hire from Manchester, which is about 101 miles from Carlisle. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Alamo, among others, in Manchester.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Carlisle using National Express or FlixBus. From Glasgow, the bus ride to Carlisle takes 115 miles and will cost you around £15. From London, the ticket costs about £26 for a journey of 415 miles.

Plane

When flying to Carlisle, you’ll arrive at Carlisle Lake District (CAX), which is located 6 miles from the city centre. The shortest domestic flight to Carlisle departs from London and takes around 1h 25m.

Train

Avanti West Coast is the most popular train carrier serving Carlisle, followed by Arriva. Located 0.2 miles from the city centre, Carlisle is the busiest station in Carlisle. Another popular train station is Carlisle Wetheral, located 4 miles from the centre.

Car

Another option to get to Carlisle is to pick up a car hire from Manchester, which is about 101 miles from Carlisle. You’ll find branches of GREEN MOTION and Alamo, among others, in Manchester.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Carlisle using National Express or FlixBus. From Glasgow, the bus ride to Carlisle takes 115 miles and will cost you around £15. From London, the ticket costs about £26 for a journey of 415 miles.

Airports near Carlisle

PIKGlasgow Prestwick
NCLNewcastle upon Tyne
EDIEdinburgh Turnhouse

Airlines serving Carlisle

Lufthansa
Good (7,044 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,836 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,588 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,935 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (3,790 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (780 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,243 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (346 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,069 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,851 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (967 reviews)
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Find flights to Carlisle

Where to stay in Carlisle

Average rates range from around £116 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to £218 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Carlisle, with prices from £28 to £822 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Carlisle are about 66% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Carlisle

Most booked hotels in Carlisle

See all
Travelodge Carlisle Central
3 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
£67+
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Solway Lodge Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
£105+
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Gretna Hall Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£100+
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Smiths at Gretna Green
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£133+
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Days Inn Hotel Gretna Green
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
£53+
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Carlisle Station Hotel, Sure Hotel Collection by BW
4 stars
Excellent (8, Excellent reviews)
£59+
View

Hiring a car in Carlisle

Hiring a car in Carlisle costs £36 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.30 per litre in Carlisle (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.58 and £20.77. Intermediate (Kia XCeed or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Carlisle, while also 68% cheaper than other types, on average.

Hiring a car in Carlisle costs £36 per day, on average.

Expect to pay £1.30 per litre in Carlisle (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £15.58 and £20.77. Intermediate (Kia XCeed or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Carlisle, while also 68% cheaper than other types, on average.

Find car hire in Carlisle

Carlisle Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Carlisle city guide for the best Carlisle travel tips. To help you organise your Carlisle trip ideas, this Carlisle visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.