Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life

Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life has existed within Carlisle Castle since 1932. Located in the Outer Ward of the Castle, the Museum of Military Life displays objects, photographs and other memorabilia from the last 300 years of military history in Carlisle and Cumbria as a whole. The Museum celebrates the local regiments from the Border Regiment, the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment, to the present day Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. Additionally, the Museum of Military Life also hosts an extensive collection of service records and photographs that is open for research enquiries.

Things to see and do:

• Explore the history of the local area through state of the art audio/visual displays.
•  Examine objects from the Napoleonic Wars, military hardware used in the World Wars, and more personal items like the bible that stopped a bullet during the First World War.
• An extensive photograph and soldier service record archive that offers research assistance (for a charge).
• A small café that provides John Watt’s award winning coffee, cakes and snacks.
• There is also a shop that sells a range of books and gifts.

For information on opening times and pricing please see here. Joint tickets for the Museum of Military Life and Carlisle Castle are also available.

Click here to explore Tullie, another museum and art gallery that celebrates historic Carlisle. It is only a short walk over the road from Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life.

Accessibility:

The Museum is wheelchair accessible with all the main collections displayed on the ground floor. Temporary exhibits are accessed using a staircase but a wheelchair stair lift is also available upon request. It is recommended to phone ahead to enquire about details.

Accessible toilets can be accessed in the Castle.

Blue Badge holders are able to park in Parade Square in the Outer Ward of Carlisle Castle.