Carlisle Preston 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.

The city of Preston in the north west of England, in the county of Lancashire, has a rich history from links to the Industrial Revolution through to the famous footballer, Sir Tom Finney, who played for Preston North End Football Club. Preston is a city that has something for everyone and can easily be explored on foot. Take a stroll through Avenham & Miller Parks and Winckley Square and take in the wildlife habitats and get a real sense of the city's green spaces. From there it is a short distance to the Guild Wheel which is more than 20 miles of cycleways encircling the city. Whilst in the city visitors should also sample Preston’s reputation as Lancashire’s shopping destination, offering two shopping centres and numerous high street brands, all of which are relatively compact and easy to explore. However, It is not just about famous high-street names and brands that are on offer. Preston offers bustling indoor and outdoor markets, fresh Lancashire produce, and a variety of boutique and independent shops, many with a long, proud history of their own. Visitors can also can soak up the fantastic architecture too, not least the Victorian splendour of the Miller Arcade.