Carlisle has been fought over for most of its history, which is good news for children who like castles. The city is small, flat in the middle, and the parks along the River Eden are free and large.
It is also the jumping-off point for Hadrian's Wall, if you want to turn a day out into something more ambitious.
Free things to do in Carlisle with children
- Bitts Park — The main city park, sitting under the castle walls by the river, with a large play area and a splash park in summer. Free.
- Carlisle Cathedral — One of England's smallest cathedrals, with a spectacular painted ceiling. Free to enter, donations welcomed.
- The city walls and castle exterior — You can walk the surviving stretch of medieval wall and circle the castle without paying. The castle interior is English Heritage and charges.
- Rickerby Park — Across the river, open meadowland with a footbridge to get there. Free, and good for kite weather.
- Talkin Tarn Country Park — A glacial lake with a walk around it, a short hop from the city. Free entry.
Worth paying for
Not free, but cheap enough to be worth it, and all reachable without a car:
- Tullie — The city's museum and art gallery, covering Romans, Border reivers and natural history. There is an admission charge for adults, so check the current family rates before you go.
- The train to Hadrian's Wall country — Local services run east along the Tyne Valley towards the wall forts.
Getting to Carlisle by train
Carlisle station is a few minutes from the city centre, with the castle and the parks a short walk beyond it.
Going by train also means nobody has to find a parking space, and children can move about, look out of the window and eat crisps for the whole journey.
Click here to book train tickets to Carlisle
Opening hours, admission prices and booking requirements change, and some attractions close on certain days or for refurbishment. Always check the attraction’s own website before you set off. This page was written in August 2026.
Disclosure: the train ticket link on this page is an affiliate link. If you book through it I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
