5 bed terraced house for sale

Castle Street, Carlisle CA3

Some houses are difficult to describe without simply saying, “you really need to come and see this for yourself” - and Number 3 Castle Street is absolutely one of them! This substantial and beautifully presented Grade II listed five-bedroom home is packed with character, individuality and some genuinely incredible surprises, all arranged across three floors in one of the most historic and recognisable parts of Carlisle.

Step outside your front door and Carlisle Castle is just a few short steps away, while Carlisle Cathedral, Tullie House and the heart of the city centre are practically on your doorstep. But despite this wonderfully central setting, Number 3 also offers something incredibly valuable and increasingly difficult to find in the middle of a city - its own private outdoor space and dedicated off-road parking for approximately two to three vehicles.

Formerly used as commercial premises, the property has been thoughtfully and sympathetically transformed into an extraordinary family home, and what has been created here is certainly not something you’re going to find every day.

Period character and original features sit beautifully alongside high-quality modern fixtures and some wonderfully imaginative design choices, creating a house that feels luxurious without losing the personality and history that make it so special. From the bespoke cantilever staircase and working library to the incredible dining room, luxury bathrooms, cellar, attic games room and even a spiral staircase, there seems to be another surprise waiting around almost every corner.

And what better way to enter a house like this than through that big, bold red front door!

It immediately makes a statement and gives you your first clue that Number 3 is going to be anything but ordinary. Step inside and the entrance vestibule provides a wonderful introduction, with a beautiful decorative tiled floor beneath your feet and a glazed timber door ahead inviting you through into the main entrance hall.

And what a hallway this is!

The entrance hall is quite simply breathtaking and immediately sets the tone for everything that follows. High ceilings create a tremendous feeling of space, while the bespoke cantilever staircase sweeps upwards towards the upper floors and becomes an architectural feature in its own right. The decorative tiled flooring continues through from the vestibule and numerous doors lead away towards the living room, library, dining room, kitchen, storeroom and WC. Even beneath the staircase there’s another surprise, with a doorway providing access down into the cellar, which is currently utilised as valuable additional storage.

The main living room is a fantastic size and provides a wonderful place to relax at the end of the day. There’s plenty of room to experiment with different furniture arrangements, while decorative timber panelling to the lower walls introduces another layer of character. A traditional sliding sash window faces the front elevation and allows natural light to pour into the room, while an electric fire creates an attractive focal point and adds to the cosy atmosphere.

And then we come to one of our favourite rooms in the entire house.

The library.

Now, how many homes can genuinely say they have a proper working library like this?

This is an absolutely fantastic room and feels as though it has been lifted straight from the pages of a novel. Beautiful parquet flooring runs beneath your feet, while bespoke handmade shelving and bookcases extend across the walls and provide room for an incredible collection of books. There’s even a working timber library ladder that moves along the bookcases, allowing you to reach the upper shelves and completing the whole look brilliantly.

An open cast-iron fireplace provides a wonderful focal point and additional warmth during the colder months, while the high ceiling, decorative coving and ceiling rose remind you of the history and proportions of the building. Whether you’re an avid reader or simply want an incredible second sitting room where you can switch off with a glass of wine and a good book, this really is a special space.

From the library, glazed timber doors lead through into another room that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face - the dining room.

And this certainly isn’t your average dining room!

Overhead is a fabulous curved brick ceiling complete with delicate fairy lighting, creating an atmosphere that becomes particularly special in the evenings. The parquet flooring continues through from the library and large windows overlook the rear garden, while a door provides direct access outside. There’s plenty of space for a substantial dining table and chairs, making this an incredible room for dinner parties, Christmas gatherings and those occasions when the entire family gets together. With its lighting, exposed brickwork and unique architectural design, we suspect this is one of those rooms your guests will still be talking about long after they’ve gone home.

A further doorway reconnects the dining room with the main entrance hall, giving the ground floor a lovely flow and making it particularly well suited to entertaining.

The ground-floor cloakroom is another useful addition and, as you would expect by now, even this has been given plenty of personality. A WC is complemented by a striking glass wash hand bowl with a mixer tap, decorative timber panelling, quality flooring and a floor-standing radiator, continuing the attention to detail found throughout the house.

And then we reach the heart of the home.

The kitchen is another real highlight and combines substantial proportions with a beautifully considered finish. A high-quality fitted kitchen in a striking navy matt colour is complemented by a mixture of white and grey granite work surfaces, while a large central island provides additional preparation space, storage and somewhere for everyone to naturally gather while meals are being prepared.

A traditional Belfast sink fits perfectly with the character of the property, while two electric ovens and an induction hob provide everything the keen cook could ask for. The current owners have also cleverly introduced a bespoke handmade display cabinet with glazed doors and integrated lighting, providing additional storage while complementing the kitchen beautifully.

There’s more than enough room for a large dining table, meaning this can easily become an informal everyday dining space in addition to the more dramatic separate dining room. Two large windows overlook the rear garden and flood the room with natural light, with secondary glazing installed internally while retaining the traditional sash windows externally. A glazed door provides direct access into the garden, making it incredibly easy to take food and drinks outside during the warmer months.

Positioned just off the kitchen is the separate utility room, providing another invaluable space for busy family life. There’s room for the usual laundry appliances and household essentials, allowing washing, cleaning equipment and everyday clutter to remain away from the main kitchen and entertaining spaces.

Heading upstairs via that fabulous staircase is an experience in itself, and on reaching the first floor you’re greeted by another generous landing providing access to three substantial bedrooms, the family bathroom, office and additional hobby/storage room.

The principal bedroom is a wonderful double room with the kind of proportions you would expect from a property of this scale. Two large sliding sash windows face the front elevation and flood the room with natural light, while a feature fireplace with an electric fire introduces another cosy focal point. Built-in wardrobes provide useful storage without compromising the space available for additional furniture, and there’s even room to create a comfortable chair or reading area within the bedroom.

And, of course, the principal bedroom benefits from its own private en-suite. Compact but incredibly useful, the en-suite incorporates a walk-in shower area, WC and wash hand basin, providing exactly the privacy and convenience you want from a principal bedroom.

Bedrooms two and three are equally impressive and are both fantastic double rooms with an enormous amount of space and plenty of natural light through their large windows. Bedroom two continues the period theme with another feature fireplace, while bedroom three has the unusual added benefit of its own WC and wash hand basin - a brilliant feature for older children, relatives or overnight guests who want a little more independence.

And then there’s the family bathroom.

Wow, what a bathroom this is!

This is far removed from your average functional family bathroom and instead feels much more like something you would expect to discover in a luxurious boutique hotel. A beautiful freestanding bath immediately catches the eye, while a substantial walk-in shower, WC and wash hand basin set within a stylish vanity unit complete the suite.

Luxurious floor tiling, decorative timber panelling, chrome accessories and carefully chosen feature lighting create a room that feels indulgent and full of personality. A striking glazed and timber screen separates the main bathroom from a dressing area, where two large windows introduce an abundance of natural light. It’s a bathroom with genuine wow factor and another brilliant example of how thoughtfully this house has been transformed.

Also positioned on the first floor is a separate office area, perfect for anyone working from home and wanting a dedicated workspace away from the main living accommodation. There’s also an internal storage room currently used by the owners as a hobby and craft room, giving you yet another flexible space that could adapt to suit your own interests and requirements.

And just when you think you’ve probably seen everything Number 3 has to offer, another discreet doorway reveals a spiral staircase providing an alternative connection with the upper accommodation.

Continue upwards using the main staircase, and you arrive on the second floor, where things become even more interesting.

The first room has been transformed into a fantastic games room complete with a pool table, dartboard and arcade game - and what a brilliant space this is! Large timber storage cabinets sit to either side and provide an enormous amount of useful storage, while a Velux window introduces natural light from above. For families with teenagers, this could be the ultimate hangout space, but its versatility means it could just as easily become a substantial fifth bedroom, cinema room, hobby space or additional home office depending upon your requirements.

Adjacent is bedroom four, another fantastic double room with excellent proportions, a Velux window providing natural light and an extensive arrangement of fitted timber storage cupboards.

From this bedroom you can access another staircase descending towards a small landing, which in turn connects with the spiral staircase leading back to the first floor. From here there’s also access to a separate WC with a wash hand basin - particularly useful for anyone occupying the upper floor - as well as the boiler room containing the main heating equipment serving the property.

Then we head outside, where the surprises continue.

For a substantial home right in the heart of historic Carlisle, having your own private outside space is a fantastic feature in itself. The rear garden has been designed to be attractive but incredibly low maintenance, combining artificial lawn with beautiful Indian sandstone paving to create several areas where you can sit outside, entertain friends or simply enjoy a bit of fresh air without having a huge garden demanding your attention every weekend.

There’s even a water feature and a covered canopy area, giving the garden additional character and providing somewhere sheltered to sit outside. Large timber gates open towards the rear parking area, and this brings us to another feature that simply cannot be underestimated.

Number 3 benefits from approximately two to three dedicated off-road parking spaces.

When you consider just how centrally located this house is, private parking for several vehicles is an enormous advantage. Carlisle Castle, the Cathedral and city-centre shops are all within walking distance, yet you can still arrive home and park immediately behind your own property rather than relying solely on public car parks or searching for an on-street space.

And the location really is extraordinary.

Castle Street forms part of Carlisle’s historic core and is one of the key pedestrian links between the city centre, Cathedral precinct and Carlisle Castle. In other words, you’re not simply close to Carlisle’s history - you’re living right in the middle of it.

At one end you have the imposing Carlisle Castle, one of the most besieged castles in England and a landmark that has stood guard over the Anglo-Scottish border for centuries. At the other, the historic city centre opens up around you, while Carlisle Cathedral sits just off Castle Street.

And despite having so much within walking distance, transport connections remain excellent. Several bus services stop around Market Hall, while Carlisle railway station is approximately a 10-minute walk from the Castle area, providing another huge advantage for anyone commuting or regularly travelling further afield.

What makes Number 3 Castle Street so special, though, isn’t simply its location or even its size. It’s the fact that this house has personality in abundance.

Where else are you going to find a Grade II listed city home with a bold red entrance door, sweeping bespoke staircase, proper working library complete with moving ladder, cast-iron fireplace, atmospheric dining room beneath a curved brick ceiling, substantial navy kitchen, luxurious boutique-style bathroom, cellar, office, craft room, attic games room, spiral staircase, private garden and parking for several vehicles - all within a few steps of Carlisle Castle?

This isn’t a house for somebody searching for ordinary.

It’s a home for someone who wants character, history, space and individuality, but who also wants the convenience of having Carlisle city centre quite literally outside the front door. The property benefits from full gas central heating and has been thoughtfully transformed into a wonderful family home that is ready to be enjoyed from the moment you arrive.

Number 3 Castle Street really is one of those properties where photographs and words can only tell you so much. To properly understand the scale, the character, the quirky details and the atmosphere that runs throughout this remarkable home, you simply have to step through that big red door and experience it for yourself.

Tenure - Freehold

Council Tax Band - tbc

EPC Rating - N/a - Grade II Listed Property

Misrepresentation Act 1967 - These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set out for guidance only and do not constitute any part of an offer or contract - intending purchasers should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact but must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to their accuracy. All electrical appliances mentioned in these details have not been tested and therefore cannot be guaranteed to be in working order.

Money Laundering Regulations - By law, we are required to conduct anti-money-laundering checks on all intending sellers and purchasers, and we take this responsibility very seriously. In line with hmrc guidance, our partner, MoveButler, will carry out these checks in a safe and secure way on our behalf. Once an offer has been accepted, MoveButler will send a secure link for the biometric checks to be completed electronically. There is a non-refundable charge of £15 (inclusive of VAT) per person for these checks. The Anti-Money Laundering checks must be completed before the memorandum of sale can be sent to solicitors confirming the sale.