Tullie House: what to see and how to plan a visit

Tullie House stands on Castle Street in central Carlisle’s Historic Quarter. Its position between Carlisle Castle and Carlisle Cathedral makes it easy to combine a museum visit with time among the city’s historic landmarks.

The building’s story reaches back to 1689, when Old Tullie House was built for Thomas Tullie, later Dean of Carlisle. Today, the museum brings together a wide-ranging collection and spaces for art and community activity.

If you are planning a wider visit, the one-day-in-Carlisle walk through the historic centre can help you place Tullie House among other central sights.

Tullie House’s collections cover fine and decorative art, archaeology, natural science and social history. The Roman Frontier Gallery brings Roman objects together with loans from the British Museum and interactive displays, offering a focused look at the area’s Roman past.

Old Tullie House has two distinctive art spaces. The George Howard Gallery displays Pre-Raphaelite works, while the Gordon Bottomley Gallery—also known as the panelled room—offers a different setting within the historic house.

The Carlisle Gallery explores the city as a border place shaped by wild landscapes, industry, social change, revolution and resilience. Its themes connect Carlisle’s history with its changing identity. For comparisons with other local collections, the museums in Carlisle guide covers the city’s wider museum offer.

Allow time to move between the museum’s varied collections and historic rooms. Adult admission is £8.50 for a day ticket or £16 for an annual ticket; under-18s and accompanying carers enter free. You can buy tickets at the Welcome Desk.

Opening hours

• Monday to Saturday: 10:00–16:00
• Sunday: 11:00–16:00

Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.

Opening hours and prices can change, so check the official site before you go. The gardens are free to visit and are open from 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Saturday. Café Tullie is open 09:30–16:30 Monday to Saturday and 10:30–16:00 Sunday.

In permanent galleries, you may take non-flash photographs for personal use. Flash photography and tripods are not permitted.

From Carlisle railway station, you can walk to Tullie House in 15 minutes or take a taxi for a 5–10-minute ride; a taxi rank is outside the station. The nearest bus stops are outside Sainsbury’s or the Market Hall, each within a 10-minute walk of the museum.

There is no on-site car parking. Nearby streets have one-hour disc-zone parking, and Castle Car Park is a five-minute walk away at CA3 8UL. Disabled street parking and the closest designated Blue Badge bays are on Castle Street, CA3 8TP.

The museum’s main spaces have level access or can be reached by lift or ramp. In Old Tullie House, the ground floor has level access, but the first-floor panelled room and staircase displays require visitors to use stairs.

Wheelchairs are available to borrow from the Welcome Desk on a first-come, first-served basis; you can also request one in advance. A small number of sensory backpacks are available to reserve by calling 01228 618718 or emailing enquiries@tullie.org.uk.

Trained assistance dogs are welcome inside, but other dogs are not allowed in the museum.

Carlisle Castle is close to Tullie House within the Historic Quarter, so the two landmarks can form a history-focused part of your day. The Carlisle Castle visiting guide covers the castle’s history and practical ticket details.

Carlisle Cathedral is the other nearby landmark named as a neighbour of Tullie House. You can use the museum’s central location to plan a route that takes in both the cathedral and castle, with the gallery collections as a pause between outdoor stops.