Carlisle Lancaster Train

Located in Cumbria, the city of Carlisle is the county town and administrative centre of Cumbria in north west England. The cities lies at the confluence of the rivers Eden, Caldew and Petteril and is roughly 10 miles to the south of the border with Scotland. The transformation brought about by the Industrial Revolution started the transformation of Carlisle into a densely populated mill town. Combined with its strategic location it led to the town becoming an important railway town.

Nicknamed the Great Border City, Carlisle today is the main cultural, commercial and industrial centre for north Cumbria and is home to the main campuses of the University of Cumbria and a variety of museums and heritage centres. Carlisle has a compact historic centre with a castle, museum, cathedral and semi-intact city walls. The former law courts or citadel towers which now serve as offices for Cumbria County Council were designed by Thomas Telford. The city centre is largely pedestrianised and The Lanes shopping centre is home to around 75 stores.

The University of Cumbria has a four campuses in Carlisle on Fusehill Street, Brampton Road, Paternoster Row and Newcastle Street. The university provides a wide range of degree courses in higher education such as Applied Computing, Applied Psychology, Art, Business, Law, Media, Social Work and Teacher Education.

Located in the county of Lancashire in the north west of England, the city of Lancaster is a compact city with a pedestrianised centre where theatres, music venues and galleries are just a few minutes’ walk from shops, pubs and restaurants. Take a stroll along one of Lancaster’s charming cobbled streets and you’ll find a wide variety of independent and individual shops, cafes and restaurants alongside the familiar chains. The city's heritage as a market town still continues with the twice-weekly Charter Market in bustling Market Square right in the centre of the city. A walk along St George's Quay, along the River Lune, will highlight Lancaster’s important maritime history as one of the major ports in England. Take time to stop in at the Maritime Museum to explore the city’s heritage as a centre for trade and import - there are plenty of interactive exhibits for the kids, and activities are run during the school holidays. Up the hill lies Williamson Park with its Butterfly House and Ashton Memorial - the green-domed folly, commissioned by Lord Ashton in memory of his wife, is visible from many points in and around Lancaster. Stroll the meandering paths to discover mosaics, sculptures and a sundial.