Bitts Park Playground

Right on the edge of the city centre, this one’s a proper go-to for Carlisle families on a weekend. The sandbox and water feature keep younger kids busy for ages, while the tunnels and slides mean older ones aren’t standing around bored after five minutes. There’s decent shade from the trees when it actually gets warm, and the picnic tables make it easy to stretch the visit out without having to pack up and find food. The pond nearby adds a nice bit of scenery if you fancy a wander along the walking path once the kids have burned some energy. Parking’s straightforward too, which honestly makes a difference when you’ve got little ones in tow.