Brunton Park

Although Carlisle city centre is the commercial hub of Cumbria, it is a particularly affordable area to stay. With excellent shopping, dining, and drinking scenes, as well as historic landmarks, there’s always something to see and do.

For an even more vibrant city vibe, consider staying on the northeastern coast in Newcastle instead. This major city has one of the UK’s biggest nightlife scenes in the country, as well as awesome shopping and dining options. However, it is slightly more expensive than Carlisle.

Nature-lovers might prefer to have the cliffs of the Cumbrian Coast or the lakes of the Lake District on their front door rather than shops and restaurants. There’s so many scenic places to choose from including Whitehaven, Bowness-on-Solway, Grasmere, and Keswick.

Of course, there’s also the option to stay in Dumfries or one of the other towns or villages around Scotland’s southeastern border. Although it isn’t far from Carlisle, the culture and scenery is quite different north of the border.

The easiest and most rewarding way to explore this part of England is by hiring a car as it will give you the freedom to explore everything around the Cumbrian corner from the countryside to the coastlines.