Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust Ticket Portal

Learn more about the fascinating collections from those that know them best. All talks and tours start at 2pm (unless otherwise stated) and are included with admission (free for annual ticket holders and Members), however booking is advised.

Upcoming Talks:

Tuesday 30 September, Colour: A Season of Shades, Tints & Tones

Sunday 5 October, Colour: A Season of Shades, Tints & Tones

Tuesday 7 October, Carlisle Gallery

Tuesday 14 October, Pre-Raphaelites

Sunday 19 October, Colour: A Season of Shades, Tints & Tones

Tuesday 21 October, Costume Gallery

Tuesday 28 October, Colour: A Season of Shades, Tints & Tones

Welcome to our free Lunchtime Talk.

Held in our Auditorium on the first Tuesday of the month 1-2pm 

4th November 2025

A Monstrous Find: The Tale of an Early Neolithic Artefact.

It’s a cold but bright day in February 2007. One of us is walking in the uplands of Cumbria, visiting the Neolithic long mound at Rayseat Pike. Glancing down in a gully just around 50 metres from the mound, my eye is caught by a black object glinting in the sun. Picking it up, and recognising that it had been shaped by human hands, proved to be the beginning of a voyage of discovery about a rare and intriguing artefact that turns out to be around 5500 years old.

If you want to find out what this object is, and hear its fascinating story, join us in the Auditorium where Dr. Andrew Wallis will be discussing this remarkable artefact with Neolithic specialist Dr Alison Sheridan.

2nd December 2025

The Rum Story Re-Imagined

The Rum Story is a visitor attraction, which engages with the history of the Jefferson’s family business – rum, shipping and the trading and enslavement of people from Africa. The history of the Jefferson family sits alongside a wider history of Whitehaven as a significant shipping port, built first on mining and then by the wealth generated by the Transatlantic trade of enslaved African people. The way this history is told currently aligns with how it is told by the wider heritage sector, as it dilutes the extent of Britain’s role and how it profited. It can be a challenging and triggering history to confront, but by doing so The Rum Story can make a real difference and bring change to its local communities, to Cumbria, and beyond.

The Rum Story Re-Imagined is an ambitious, much needed project to improve The Rum Story over the next five years. A partnership project between Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners and Anti Racist Cumbria. 

Throughout 2025, The Rum Story has consulted and engaged with almost 1,000 people to find out how they think the attraction should go about: getting lots more people from all walks of life to visit; becoming more accessible, thought-provoking and innovative; telling a more complete history; and creating further benefits for the local area. Katy, The Rum Story Re-Imagined Project Manager will tell you about themes coming out of the engagement and changes The Rum Story is thinking of making based on this. She would love to hear your reactions and ask for further help in finalising these recommendations to shape the attraction over the next five years.

Join us for a relaxed and engaging session designed especially for our youngest visitors. Each week, little ones and their grown-ups are invited to explore the museum through sensory play, movement, storytelling, poetry, costume, and song — all inspired by our collections.

Led by a member of the Tullie Learning Team and taking place in a different space each week, each session is themed and thoughtfully planned to support early development while encouraging curiosity and connection with the museum’s spaces and objects. Sessions follow a gentle structure, but we adapt timings and activities to suit the group’s energy and interests. Children are welcome to join in, take breaks, or engage in their own way throughout.

When: Every Thursday during Cumbrian term time, starting at 11am and lasting approximately 30 minutes. 
Who: Suitable for children aged 0–4, accompanied by a participating adult.
Cost: Children go free with an adult Annual Pass or Day Ticket. Advance booking is required.

On arrival, please check in at the Welcome Desk to receive your Tullie sticker. Then make your way to the welcome area seating by the large window, where a member of the Tullie Learning team will meet you to take you to the start location.

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October 2025

Back by popular demand! Learn how to create your own piece of beautiful Ruskin Lace. £85 per person (2-day course) which includes refreshments in the morning and afternoon and admission into the museum. A starter pack of materials can be purchased from Karen on the day.

This ticket covers both days of the course.

Saturday 18 October 2025 and Sudnay 18 January 2026

Have you ever tried a sound bath before? Ever wondered what makes these special events so beneficial to your mind and body? 

Sound impacts us on an elemental level. In fact, research shows us that sounds consist of vibrations that affect us on a cellular level, impacting brain, nerve, muscle, and organ function.

A 2020 review notes that sound therapy can significantly alter brain waves, changing agitated wave patterns to exceptionally calm wave forms.

As our brain waves slow down, we shift from an active state to a more relaxed, dreamlike state.

In this state, our breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure decrease. This helps our immune system function more efficiently, reduces our stress hormones, and triggers the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain.

Research shows us that sound healing might be able to help with:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• Fatigue
• Chronic pain
• Cognition and memory
• Overall mental and spiritual well-being
• ADHD 

Sound healing can also be a form of self care. A sound bath is a great way to relax, decompress, and focus on listening in order to connect to the present moment.

Sound healing is believed to reduce pain in the body by creating vibrations that penetrate deep into tissues, stimulating the body's natural healing mechanisms, improving blood circulation, and potentially influencing the nervous system by impacting pain signals sent to the brain through the auditory cortex, essentially creating a "gate control" effect on pain perception; this can help alleviate muscle tension, headaches, and chronic pain by promoting relaxation and reducing stress on the body at a cellular level. 

Tickets are £20 (£18 for Tullie Friends) and include museum admission on the day. 

These sound baths will be hosted by Megan from Activate Yoga. Find out more about Megan on her website and Facebook:

www.activateyoga.co.uk

www.facebook.com/activateuk 

Mrs. Warren’s Profession
by Bernard Shaw, directed by Dominic Cooke

Five-time Olivier Award winner Imelda Staunton (The Crown) joins forces with her real-life daughter Bessie Carter (Bridgerton) for the very first time, playing mother and daughter in Bernard Shaw’s incendiary moral classic.

Vivie Warren is a woman ahead of her time. Her mother, however, is a product of that old patriarchal order. Exploiting it has earned Mrs. Warren a fortune – but at what cost?

Filmed live from the West End, this new production reunites Staunton with director Dominic Cooke (Follies, Good), exploring the clash between morality and independence, traditions and progress.

Adult £15, Friend £12. Booking required.

Bar opens at 6.30pm with shows starting at 7pm.

Join us for some practical magic in October Half Term with Moorhouse Magic. Liam of Moorhouse Magic will bring an entertaining show with balloons, a puppet and spinning plates. What more could you want?

Shows are at 10am, 1pm and 3pm on 29 October.

Tickets

Children – £8

Adults £6 (£4 for Tullie Friends/Annual ticket holder)

All children must be accompanied by an adult – Suitable for ages 5 and up.

Come get cosy with us this Halloween for some time with everyone's favourite, friendly ghost Casper - 30 years since its original release (which is by far the ghostliest thing here).

Haunting the sprawling Whipstaff Manor, Casper (Malachi Pearson) befriends living teenager Kat Harvey (Cristina Ricci). Kat's father, Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) is a paranormal investigator hired to rid the mansion of Casper and his phantom friends. What could go wrong?

Thursday 30 October, film starts 2pm. Runtime 100 minutes.

Tickets are £5.

Come and take in the Bitts Park firework show (without the mud) from the best vantage point in town – Tullie’s Rotunda.

Cafe Tullie will be open from 5-7pm for your essential Bonfire Night treats – hot dogs, mulled wine and hot chocolate!

Tickets (pre-booking essential):

£5 adult

£3 child

(Tickets are for access to Tullie Rotunda to watch the fireworks, food may be purchased on the night.)

A seasonally inspired Gelli Printing workshop with Vega Brennan of Linden Print Studio.

Learn to create abstract prints using layers of vibrant colour. In the session we will be looking at and taking inspiration from the work of Patrick Heron, Paul Klee and the Gee's Bend quiltmakers.

8 November 10am - 12.30pm

Tickets £30 / £27 Tullie Friend

Directed by, choreographed by and starring Gene Kelly (he did the theme tune too), this  classic musical takes place in the Golden Age of Hollywood with the transition from silent films to 'talkies' in the 1920s. 

Runtime 130 minutes. Film starts 2.15pm

Part of our In Glorious Technicolour films series.

Tickets £5

Sunday 16 November, 1-3.30pm

Get to grips with watercolours in this fun and experimental session with local artist Seren Shaw. 

In this 2.5 hour session, you'll get to try out a number of techniques which you can then incorporate into your own practice. 

The first half of the session will focus on trying out techniques and getting used to the medium. In the second half, you'll put those techniques to the test to create a painting. 

We'll provide subject matter for you to paint, though you are, of course, welcome to paint something from your imagination. 

Tickets are £30 (£27 for Tullie Friends). All materials included. Suitable for beginners or those looking to add a few more tricks to their arsenal. 

The Fifth Step
by David Ireland, directed by Finn den Hertog

Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in the critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland.

After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.

Finn den Hertog directs the provocative and entertaining production filmed live from @sohoplace on London’s West End.

Adult £15, Friend £12. Booking required.

Bar opens at 6.30pm with shows starting at 7pm.

Mr and Mrs Claus are back!

Our Festive Fun weekends were very popular last year so make sure you book early and don’t miss out.  

Children can expect a 15-minute interactive meeting with Mr and Mrs Claus in our winter woodland Grotto. Each child will receive a present from Santa, a sweet treat and opportunities for photographs.  You can also write a letter to Santa.  

On the day activities: 

• Santa's Grotto visit with Mr and Mrs Claus (including present, selection box and photo)  

• Letter writing to Santa 

Children’s tickets are priced at £15. Children under 1 years old go free but won’t receive a present from Santa.  

Adults don’t need a ticket to accompany children on the above Santa's Grotto package.  

Please book a time slot on your chosen day to visit Mr and Mrs Claus and take part in our festive activities.

Christmas Crafts and the Elf trail in the museum are free with museum admission.

Dates: Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2025.

Slot times start at: 10:30, 10:50, 11:10, 11:30, (relaxed session), 11:50, 12:50, 13:10, 13:30, 13:50, 14:30 (relaxed session), 14:50, 15:10 & 15:30. Your visit with Mr and Mrs Claus will last approx. 15 minutes, please allow time before and after your time slot to take part in the other activities.  

Relaxed time slots for Santa's Grotto, for those children who require a quieter environment, are at 11.30am and 2.30pm on each of the above dates.  

Museum and café open 10am-4pm.   

We're delighted to be welcoming Kaffe Fasset back to Carlisle in January 2026. 

Kaffe Fassett has dedicated the last 50 years of his life to the world of knitting, needlepoint and patchwork, promoting these crafts through his own work and encouraging others to find their own creativity. He has produced close to 50 publications from ‘how to’ books to colour-in designs. He also tours internationally giving workshops and lectures, and exhibiting in galleries and museums.

Join us for an evening of all things Kaffe with exclusive evening access to the Colour exhibition which includes some of Kaffe's work followed by an evening lecture "An Eye for Colour" . In this inspiring talk, Kaffe will highlight work from his recent projects across a range of media. 

Date - 12 January 2026

Tickets - £28.00 

Exhibition open from 5pm with the talk beginning at 7pm.

Cafe Tullie will be open from 5pm for a light supper or drink with friends before the event, closing at 7pm.

It's French, it's black and white, it's Oscar-winning, it's The Artist. Like Singin' in the Rain, The Artist takes place during Hollywood's transition from silent films to 'talkies'. 

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, the film stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo as George Valentin and Peppy Miller. Valentin, an older silent film star and Miller, a young actress on the rise. The pair's stories interweave after a chance encounter, Valentin emblematic of the silent era and Miller on the cusp of the speaking wave. 

Runtime 100 minutes. Film starts 2.15pm

Part of our In Glorious Technicolour films series.

Tickets £5

Hamlet  
by William Shakespeare, directed by Robert Hastie

Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.

Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince Hamlet dares to ask the ultimate question – you know the one.

National Theatre Deputy Artistic Director, Robert Hastie (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Operation Mincemeat) directs this sharp, stylish and darkly funny reimagining.

Adult £15, Friend £12. Booking required.

Bar opens at 6.30pm with shows starting at 7pm.

Yorkshire Folk musician Johnny Campbell and Alfred Wainwright archivist Chris Butterfield, collaborate on a double headline show on most things Northern. From his Pennine Way Tour earlier in the year, walking the 268 mile route in 19 days with 17 shows en route, Johnny became the first person to tour the Pennine Way in such a way, and will regale tales of his Pennine Way Tour and songs from his latest field recording album, True North. Chris delves deep with a talk exploring the enigma that is Alfred Wainwright, author of the Lakeland Pictorial Guides. What Chris doesn't know about the great man isn't worth knowing, as Chris has devoted the last decade of his life to collecting, archiving the life's work of Northern England's finest exponents of outdoor writing.

Saturday 28 February 2026

Tickets £15 - Start time 7.30pm - 10pm.

Café Tullie and Bar will be open from 5pm for an early supper, snack or drink so why not join us beforehand.(Food served till 7pm)