Whats Carlisle like?

[boyse7en]

My daughter is looking to go to University next year, with a shortlist of Cardiff, Bristol, Plymouth and Carlisle.

I'm pretty familiar with the first three cities, but Carlisle is a bit of a mystery to a Southerner whose world pretty much ends at the top of the M5.

So what's it like as a student town? Is it a decent place to live or a hole with no escape (bearing in mind she won't have a car, so its proximity to nice places like the Lakes and Western Scotland have little impact)

[Sheets Tabuer]

I went last year, a guy I was in basic training with 30 years ago was from there and he lamented how beautiful it was and so it's always been on my list to visit.

I'd rather wish I'd kept this memory than actually have it completely ruined by going there, what an absolute sthole.

Dunno about the Uni though.

[BlackTails]

Bristol is the pick of those as far as Unis go.

[Muppet007]

Can't comment to much on what Carlisle is like, but you don't need a car to visit the Lakes. Plenty of buses, plus trains service parts of the Lakes.

[egor110]

If your into stuff like mountain biking or trail running Carlisle would be pretty good much like Sheffield.

[Mammasaid]

Muppet007 said:

Can't comment to much on what Carlisle is like, but you don't need a car to visit the Lakes. Plenty of buses, plus trains service parts of the Lakes.

Buses yes, but to go to the central lakes by train, it's down to Oxenholme, then back up on the Lakes Line.

Carlisle is a bit of a hole at the moment, however there is a large amount of money being spent to rejuvenate the station and the city centre.

However, saying that there's plenty to do and Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow are all about an hour and a half away. There's some good bars, and apparently nightlife is ok.

It's the same with any city, good and bad bits, I'd take a visit and see what you think.

[Discendo Discimus]

I drive up there from the midlands every week for work at the moment.
Parts of it are beautiful, the rest seems like every other city really, nice bits and rubbish bits.

I'd want a car if I lived up there, plenty of amazing history if that's what she's into. Birdoswald fort (Hadrian's Wall) is 20 mins away.

[JQ]

Out of interest, what degree? One of my family is a Professor at Carlisle.

[SteBrown91]

I did a Placement year in Carlisle about 12-13 years ago so I could have out of date views, but I thought on the whole it was an alright place.

Its not exactly full of things to do, and its alot of cheap ex industry terraces which obviously has a certain market and contains alot of a certain type of person, but I thought overall it was nice.

It was just a bit devoid of things to do especially for someone in their late teens/early twenties.

But as I said things could have changed in the last decade.

[RayDonovan]

I was always told to say nothing if you can't say something nice.

I'll stay silent

[omniflow]

Assuming she's looking at actual Universities rather than ex-Polytechnics, Bristol and Cardiff are both Russell Group and the other two aren't.

If the courses are the same, then a degree from Bristol or Cardiff will have more kudos than a degree from the other 2 - assuming the grade is the same. It also costs the same (living expenses may differ)

[Le Gavroche]

I'm sure you have heard of Turdtowns, a YouTuber who travels all over the UK reviewing the worst that Britain has to offer.

Well he did an episode on some of the small and rather crappy towns in Cumbria, but Carlisle wasn't on the list.

He then did this episode separately:

Is this the best city in England?



Carlisle is currently undergoing a massive renovation project, which will obviously make it a nicer, but it is overall fairly pleasant. Perfectly safe, a load of decent bars and restaurants, nice parks and loads of history and historical tree lined streets, but the shopping has taken a hit like many small towns.

The student nightlife was better 20 years ago when there was a lot more students, but the University is reinvesting in the town and building a new city centre campus.

Other bonus points go for:

20 mins outside the Lake District.
Right on the M6 so great road links.
Major station in the city centre - Manchester 1.5 hours, Edinburgh 1 Hour, Newcastle 1 Hour, London 3 hours. All direct door to door.
Cumbria is generally really nice.

To be honest though, Bristol would be better for a student who wants a decent nightlife and shopping.

[sjabrown]

Carlisle is an alright place. Well connected to other towns and cities. Enough in it to keep someone occupied. Probably cheaper than many other cities which could be a significant thing for a student.

[POORCARDEALER]

Cumbria gets more than its share of wet weather .

[BenS94]

Lived in the same house all my life. It's a lovely place, generally friendly, decent people. Quite safe to be out at night, something I didn't feel when visiting down south 14 years ago.

[Scottie - NW]

I’d find it hard to recommend Carlisle over Bristol. The latter is also a better location to stay after Uni and has far better job prospects.

[daqinggregg]

Carlisle is a lovely old historical town, with some very nice parts, which I’m quite happy to spend time in, Just seems the action is elsewhere.

I’ve lived in Bristol, didn’t really like it, seemed a somewhat parochial, I just couldn’t gell with the place.

Spent time at Bristol University, loved the place and the city, if that makes sense; as a whole package it worked.

Considering your location, it would be Bristol.

[ecsrobin]

BenS94 said:

Lived in the same house all my life. It's a lovely place, generally friendly, decent people. Quite safe to be out at night, something I didn't feel when visiting down south 14 years ago.

Interesting. I’m a southerner and around a similar time visited Carlisle for work overnight. I couldn’t believe how run down the place was, witnessed multiple fights (Friday night) and then had some kids around 12 years old telling me to F off as I wouldn’t buy them cigarettes in the shop. I decided to have my meal and head back to the safety of the hotel

[CammyN]

University towns are seen as something different for students as compared to residents.

Huddersfield and Sheffield have huge student populations, former students actually come back after graduation for weekends of leisure and rekindling the best years of their education. A friend of mine, in his 60s and now a FD of a plc, loves to come back to West Yorkshire and goes back to the curry houses and pubs of his youth.

Perhaps Carlisle is the same

[Jonmx]

Carlisle is cheap and cheerful and small enough to avoid the issues some bigger cities have. The city feels like it's not moved on since the 90's which is a good and bad thing.