Carlisle has changed beyond recognition during the past 15 years. It has gone from being a friendly little City to a busy, noisy environment like many of our larger cities.

Although I say it is a small city which it is in terms of the actual inner city area, it is also the largest city in England because the city boundaries extend so far in all directions.

Carlisle is still somewhat cut off from the rest of the country in that it has no international airport. There have been plans to extend the existing local airport, but these have never got off the ground.

So, if you want to fly in you have to go to Newcastle and use the train, or a drive across the 90 mile gap to Carlisle. The other options are Glasgow airport and Airport.

There is the main railway line but train times are very restricted and if you want to travel late at night, or on a Sunday you will find that there are few trains if any.

For example, if you want to get to Preston on a Sunday you cannot travel until after 2pm. So, we are fairly well cut off from the rest o0f the country where transport is concerned.

The City used to be a network of small shopping lanes but now these have been knocked down and there is a large shopping centre in their place.

Names like Long Lane, Globe Lane and Drovers Lane still exist and are a tribute to their heritage but the ultra modern New Lanes Shopping centre now stands on the site of the Old Lanes. Here there is a whole range of modern shops like Debenhams, HMV, Next, New Look, H&M, Faith, Quiz, etc.

There is however, no supermarket in the Lanes. You have to go across the road to Marks and Spencer or Tesco for this.

Apart from a range of shops Carlisle has a cathedral which boasts the largest stained glass window in Britain, a Castle and a number of historic buildings including the Prior's Ceiling (at the Cathedral) The Guildhall and The Citadel.

It is only a few miles from Hadrian's Wall and parts of the structure are visible just a few miles away.

Tullie House is a Jacobean Mansion which houses the museum and art gallery and is surrounded by historic gardens including a herb garden and a Roman Well.

Various plaques in the City centre commemorate various historical events and eras. For example, there is a list of charges to made for entrance into the city which is attached to the old north gate. It lists various animals at 1d each and Scotsman at 2d each. At the bottom is a note that reminds visitors that Scotsmen must leave the City before nightfall.

On the wall near Woolworth's there is a plaque commemorating the last hanging in England.

Accommodation is easily found in Carlisle with a choice of many hotels including the Ibis, Crown and Mitre, Lakes Court hotel and others in the town centre.

Gretna Green is just a short drive away and Robert The Bruce's Cave on the Scottish side of the border is another popular tourist spot. Out to the west is the Solway First with its mud flats, sand dunes and spectacular birdlife.

Carlisle has everything you need including many nightspots and clubs grouped together on the southern side of the city centre. You can find plenty of interest in and around the City Centre and access to the lake District is easy by bus coach, train, or car.