Carlisle has good road and railway networks and is within easy reach of several major airports
Carlisle is fortunate to have the facilities of 3 regional airports within relatively easy reach by road or rail.
From Newcastle airport it takes around 75 minutes to get to Carlisle by road along the A69. There is a frequent Metro service to the main railway station (takes 25 minutes) and from there, several trains travel daily to Carlisle on the Tyne Valley Line (some trains also stop at Brampton and Wetheral). http://www.newcastleairport.com/
Manchester airport has a direct link to Carlisle by rail. By road, the M6 motorway north provides the most direct route, taking around 2.5 hours. http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/
Glasgow Airport is about 100 miles north of Carlisle and linked by the A74 and M74. Bus services operate from the airport to Paisley Gilmour railway station. From there, frequent trains run to Glasgow Central Station, where there are direct rail services to Carlisle. http://www.glasgowairport.com/
Carlisle also has its own airport just off the A689. The facility is currently used solely for business travel and leisure flights, but it is hoped to extend services to chartered flights in the future. Plans are underway to improve the runway and expand the airport to become a regional travel hub for Cumbria. http://www.carlisleairport.co.uk/
Carlisle is near the M6 motorway and several major roads, and easy to access from Scotland, the Northeast, Lancashire, the Lake District and the west coast of Cumbria.
The M6 motorway has junctions to the south (J42), mid (J43) and north (J44) of Carlisle, and functions as a main north-south link between England and Scotland. Further north, the M6 merges with the M74 near Gretna and continues to Glasgow. Edinburgh can be reached via the scenic A7 through the Scottish Lowlands. Both cities are about 90 minutes drive from Carlisle.
The A69 provides the most direct route to and from the Northeast, with links to Hadrian's Wall all along its length. West Cumbria is served by the A595 and A596, linking Carlisle with the towns of Wigton, Cockermouth, Maryport, Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness.
To the south, the A6 runs parallel to the motorway for much of its length through Cumbria, passing through Penrith and Kendal and along the eastern edge of the Lake District National Park.
Carlisle's historic Citadel Station, designed by Sir William Tite and opened in 1847, reflects the rich heritage of this important hub on the national rail network.
Today, there are four main routes by rail in and out of Carlisle. The most important is the West Coast Main Line between England and Scotland, with direct links to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Manchester, the Midlands and London on a daily basis.
Cutting across the country is the Tyne Valley Line, the earliest cross-country railway in the UK, linking Carlisle with Newcastle and Sunderland.
The scenic Cumbrian Coastal Railway serves many stations along the West Cumbria coast including Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness (Monday to Saturday only).
But the most spectacular of all is the Settle to Carlisle Railway, running through the heart of the Eden Valley and the Yorkshire Dales over 20 viaducts and through 14 tunnels to end its journey at Leeds. This emblem of a past age is regularly graced by the sight and sound of steam engines, providing an unforgettable experience for passengers and passers-by alike!
The most scenic and stress-free way to visit Carlisle is by rail, with the city well-served by railway lines to the north, south, east and west.
Carlisle's bus station is in the heart of the city centre, a short walk from the main shopping area, hotels and restaurants.
There are frequent bus services to many parts of the city and further afield to Brampton, Longtown, Wigton and Penrith and most villages in between. A daily service to the Lake District (via Keswick, Grasmere, Ambleside and Windermere) departs from the bus station. There are regular services to Newcastle and the Border region, and along the west coast to Maryport, Workington and Whitehaven. National Express coaches also use the bus station on a daily basis.
There are several convenient locations where coaches can drop you off.
The large car park at Devonshire Walk, next to the castle, provides free parking for up to 16 coaches. Access to the city centre can be gained via the underpass, which provides safe passage under Castle Way on foot. A coach drop-off point can be found outside Tullie House.
Visit the official Discover Carlisle website.
