Carlisle Castle - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Tullie House has one of the largest purpose-built contemporary art galleries in the north of England, Set in beautiful gardens, Old Tullie House is a Grade I Listed building, and holds collections of fine and decorative art, history human and natural sciences and hosts exhibitions of regional, national and international importance.

Carlisle Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Carlisle, in Cumbria, in northwest England. It is the seat of the bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle. The building is constructed of red sandstone. Large scale restoration was carried out in 1853-7. The present structure has lost the greater part of its original nave, destroyed by the Scots in the 17th century.

The Famous Blacksmiths Shop, situated at the heart of Gretna Green village, is the world-famous, historic home of the anvil wedding and has been at the centre of runaway love, since the Marriage Act of 1754. Audio-visual displays bring to life the drama of Gretna Green runaway weddings and there is also a fascinating collection of memorabilia and artefacts from the days when couples crossed the border to take advantage of Scotland's lenient marriage laws.

Lanercost Priory was founded about 1166 by Henry II. When completed in 1220, canons came from the priory in Norfolk, and remained for some 370 years until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536, by Henry VIII. The priory is situated at the village of Lanercost, Cumbria, England, within sight of Naworth Castle, with which it had close connections.

The Devils Porridge museum commemorates HM Factory Gretna, the nine-mile-long factory where 30,000 workers ‘did their bit’ during the First World War. Learn about the lives of the Border people throughout the Second World War in the Solway Military Coast display. From Evacuees and Dr Barnardo’s Boys staying locally, to the Gretna Bombing and the MOD munitions depot, via RAF Annan and the first nuclear power station in Scotland bringing the museum into the Cold War era.

Annan beach is a shingle beach and an important wildlife area. It offers visitors a good chance to stretch the legs whilst enjoying views over the marsh and its wildlife. This rural beach is backed mostly by fields. This beach is perfect for a family day out, and if you’ve got little animal lovers, it’s perfect for trying to spot some wildlife.