places to visit in lichfield

Top Things to Do in Lichfield, Staffordshire

Places to visit in lichfield, tours in and around lichfield.

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Top attractions in lichfield.

Other Top Attractions around Lichfield

What travellers are saying

• Lichfield Cathedral
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
• Beacon Park
• Garrick Theatre
• Erasmus Darwin House
• The Green Fairies Lichfield
• Woodhouse Farm and Gardens
• Kings Bromley Marina

Home » Travel Guides » United Kingdom » England » 15 Best Things to Do in Lichfield (Staffordshire, England)

15 Best Things to Do in Lichfield (Staffordshire, England)

Famed for its three-spired cathedral and profuse Georgian architecture, Lichfield is a glorious city 16 miles north of Birmingham.

The cathedral is the obligatory first port of call, for its Gothic lines, invaluable Flemish stained glass and an 8th-century carving of an angel.

Enveloping this monument is one of the UK’s most unspoilt Cathedral Closes, an enclave previously reserved for clergy and endowed with solemn houses dating mostly from Medieval times to the 18th century.

There are more Georgian townhouses to appreciate around the city, one where Samuel Johnson was born in 1709, and another chosen as a home by Erasmus Darwin.

Both are now museums to these two giants of 18th-century English culture.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Lichfield :

1. Lichfield Cathedral

A spellbinding monument with a turbulent history, Lichfield Cathedral has architecture from all phases of the English Gothic, but was hit hard by a siege in the English Civil War in the 17th century.

This has been a Christian site since the 700s when a church was built to house the bones of St Chad (d.

672). Today’s building was begun at the end of the 12th century, taking the place of an earlier Romanesque cathedral.

It’s the only Medieval cathedral in the UK with three spires, and has lots of absorbing stories to tell.

The windows of the Lady Chapel for example are fitted with some of the finest Flemish Medieval stained glass found anywhere.

These 16th-century windows used to be at the Abbey of Herkenrode and were brought here in 1801, replacing stained glass lost in the Civil War.

On permanent display is a stupendous 8th-century carved panel of the Archangel Gabriel, dubbed the Lichfield Angel and discovered under the nave in 2003.

2. Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum

Samuel Johnson, one of the English language’s greatest men of letters, was born at the house on the corner of Breadmarket Street and Market Street in 1709. At that time this four-storey Palladian building was just two years old, having been ordered by Johnson’s father, Michael.

Samuel spent most of the first 27 years of his life here, and in 1901 the town established a museum in recognition of its most famous citizen.

In rooms returned to early 18th-century settings there’s a complete biography of Johnson’s life, from a difficult childhood to professional obscurity and then world-renown as the author of the first authoritative dictionary of the English language in 1755. His biography is relayed with multimedia, as well as an enormous of Johnson-related artefacts donated over the last century.

There are letters, rare editions of his works, manuscripts, pieces of furniture, prints and paintings.

Johnson’s tea set, armchair, portable writing desk and breakfast table are all here.

3. Erasmus Darwin House

Grandfather of Charles Darwin, Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) was an 18th-century doctor, intellectual and abolitionist, and a central figure of the Midlands Enlightenment that helped give birth to the Industrial Revolution.

His fine townhouse on Beacon Street, just off the Cathedral Close, has become a writer’s house museum dedicated to his life.

Darwin lived here from 1758 and 1781, and in that time leading lights of the period like inventor James Watt, Benjamin Franklin and pottery entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood were all guests.

In rooms replete with 18th-century furniture and decorative arts, the most treasured exhibit is Darwin’s Common Place Book, which contains notes on his medical cases, drawing of inventions, as well as wider musings on botany and meteorology.

Outside is a recreation of Dr Darwin’s medicinal herb garden, side by side with Mrs Darwin’s culinary herb garden.

4. St Mary’s in the Market Square

The neo-Gothic Church on Lichfield’s Market Square dates from 1870 but is the third church to stand on this spot since the 12th century.

It’s a head-turning monument, built from Derbyshire sandstone, but come the middle of the 20th century the congregation had dwindled as residents left Lichfield’s city centre for the suburbs.

In the 1970s, to save the church from demolition, an initiative was launched to turn St Mary’s into a multi-use cultural facility.

Newly updated in 2018, there’s an exhibition about the history of Lichfield, as well as a performance space for live music, dance and drama.

5. Cathedral Close

Looping around the cathedral and its green is the Cathedral Close, traced by grand old houses.

Most of the facades are from the 18th and 19th century, but generally these conceal much older buildings going back to Medieval times.

Nearly all the properties are owned by the cathedral and were previously set within a walled enclosure defended to the south by the Minster Pool.

One of the prettiest parts is the Vicars’ Close in the far western corner, which has an idyllic row of black and white half-timbered houses.

On the northeast end is the former Bishops Palace from 1687, in the William and Mary style and now occupied by the Cathedral School.

6. Letocetum Roman Baths and Museum

At the village of Wall, moments south of Lichfield there was an important Roman fort and staging post on Watling Street, a 276-mile Roman Road weaving across England from the Kentish ports to Wroxeter, via London.

Later, long-distance civilian travellers would stop here for accommodation, to change horses and bathe.

The ground floors of Letocetum’s 2nd century mansio (stopping place) and baths have been excavated and safeguarded as a National Trust site.

There are information panels, as well as a museum open on the last weekend of the month, with artefacts unearthed at the site.

7. Beacon Park

On land that used to be under the Minster Pool, the Victorian Beacon Park is 70 acres of exquisite formal gardens and parkland in the middle of the city.

On a summer’s day you could make a cheap family excursion to Beacon Park, boating on the tree-fringed lake, playing crazy golf and sipping a cup of tea on the cafe’s terrace.

The children’s play area is as good as it gets, with a climbable pirate ship and train, while donkey rides are available in good weather.

To the west the park has an 18-hole pitch and putt, great for families and serious players who want to perfect their approach shots.

8. Guildhall

The exact age of this stunning Medieval building on Bore Street is unknown, but it is thought to have been completed sometime in the late 14th century when the incorporation of Lichfield’s Guild was confirmed by Richard II. The Guildhall is mostly an events venue, but if you can get inside, take in the hammerbeam roof and rich oak panelling.

Attached to the building is a prison for “felons and debtors”, built in the middle of the 16th century.

The cells can be visited on Saturdays and have a small exhibition with antique leg stocks and manacles.

9. Stowe Pool

One of two large man-made bodies of water in the city, Stowe Pool has an extremely pretty perspective of the cathedral from its north and east shores.

The pool first took shape in the 1000s when a brook was dammed close to St Chad’s Church to power a mill.

It soon became a fishery, belonging to the Bishop of Lichfield.

Even now the pool is stocked with large numbers of bream, pike, eel, perch, tench, carp and roach, as well as a rare population of white-clawed crayfish.

Samuel Johnson would come for walks at Stowe Pool, and his father owned a parchment factory on the north shore.

Close by is Johnson’s Willow, which descends from a large willow tree that Johnson loved.

10. Minster Pool

Intersecting with the Cathedral Close, the pedestrianised Dam Street has two fronts of Georgian townhouses, interspersed with low, half-timbered cottages.

Keep your eyes peeled here for a plaque commemorating the 2nd Baron Brooke, killed at this spot in 1643 by sniper fire during an assault on the cathedral in the Civil War.

In Medieval times a stream had been dammed south of the cathedral to create the Minster Pool.

Back then the pool was twice the size it is today, extending into what is now Beacon Park across Bird Street on its southwest end.

This section silted up in the 19th century and was planted over.

The Minster Pool owes its current romantic appearance to late-18th-century landscaping, intended to make it resemble the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

Traced with lawns and mature trees, the delightful Minster Pool Walk on the east bank was plotted around that time.

11. National Memorial Arboretum

On a 150-acre site in the National Forest, the National Memorial Arboretum is the UK’s centre for Remembrance throughout the year.

There are more than 330 military and civilian memorials in the arboretum, wrapped in lush parkland and woodland planted over the last 30 years.

On this thought-provoking site are monuments to the Berlin Airlift, Royal National Lifeboat Institute, Polish Service Men and Women, Commonwealth soldiers executed for desertion in the First World War, to name a small few.

The largest is the Armed Forces Memorial, commemorating personnel killed since the end of the Second World War.

Recently opened, the Remembrance Centre hosts exhibitions and has a cafe and gift shop.

12. Chasewater Country Park

This open space to the west of Lichfield encloses a functioning canal feeder reservoir first built in 1797 for the Wyrley and Essington Canal.

By the middle of the 20th century canals were pretty much obsolete as a form of transport, and the reservoir and its banks have become a place for recreation.

Some of the activities available in summer are paddleboarding, waterskiing, zorbing and wakeboarding.

On the paths beside the water you can spot wildlife, go angling, take long bike rides and find a secluded spot for a picnic.

Powered by old steam and engines, the two-mile Chasewater Railway is entirely within the park and once served a colliery in the Cannock Chase coalfields.

13. Staffordshire Regiment Museum

Anyone inspired by military history can make the short journey to this museum at Whittington Barracks, revealing the history of the Staffordshire Regiment and the Mercian Regiment that came before it.

There are around 11,000 objects in the collection, including guns, uniforms, gas masks, canteens and other field equipment, displayed in chronological order to cover everything from the campaigns in India to Kosovo, the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan.

Eight of the fourteen Victoria Crosses (the highest British military medal for gallantry) awarded to the regiment are on display.

There’s much to see outside, like a 100-metre recreation of a First World War trench, anti-tank guns, armoured vehicles used or captured by the regiment and a reproduction of a 1940s air-raid shelter.

14. Hospital of St John the Baptist without the Barrs

If you come to town via Lichfield City train station, you’ll soon set eyes on the eight tall chimney stacks of this Grade I-listed Medieval almshouse.

Here “Barrs” means city gates, and “without” means outside.

The hospital was tied to a priory and was set up in the 12th century to accommodate travellers to the city who arrived after the gates had closed at night.

Those chimneys are Tudor, and were built in the late-15th century when the hospital became sheltered accommodation for the city’s elderly residence, a role it fills to this day.

The 12th-century chapel is open to the public, and after falling into disrepair by the 1600s was heavily restored and extended in the 1800s, with new seating and stained glass windows.

15. Drayton Manor Theme Park

Families with impatient teenagers and children could plan a day out at the Drayton Manor Theme Park, which is less than ten miles from Lichfield.

In 280 acres on a former estate, it’s one of the country’s biggest fourth-biggest theme park by size.

One of many things to love about Drayton Manor is that it only lets in 15,000 people a day to avoid excessive waiting times.

Smaller children will be thrilled with Thomas Land, with 18 different rides based on the TV show Thomas and Friends.

Older kids can test their nerve on high-speed rides like Shockwave, which is Europe’s only stand-up rollercoaster.

Away from this breathless action there’s a 15-acre zoo housing more than 100 species like rheas, red kangaroos, Sumatran tigers, meerkats, ring-tailed lemurs and tropical reptiles like Cuban boas.

15 Best Things to Do in Lichfield (Staffordshire, England):

• Lichfield Cathedral
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
• Erasmus Darwin House
• St Mary's in the Market Square
• Cathedral Close
• Letocetum Roman Baths and Museum
• Beacon Park
• Minster Pool
• National Memorial Arboretum
• Chasewater Country Park
• Staffordshire Regiment Museum
• Hospital of St John the Baptist without the Barrs
• Drayton Manor Theme Park

Top Things to Do in Lichfield, Staffordshire

Things to do in lichfield, tours in and around lichfield.

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Top attractions in lichfield.

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What travellers are saying

• Lichfield Cathedral
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
• Beacon Park
• Garrick Theatre
• Erasmus Darwin House
• The Green Fairies Lichfield
• Woodhouse Farm and Gardens
• Kings Bromley Marina

Top Things to Do in Lichfield

Things to do in lichfield, tours in and around lichfield.

Nottingham Quest: Self Guided City Walk & Immersive Treasure Hunt

From Birmingham Stonehenge and Bath Day Tour

Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking Tour with Edward Shelby

Birmingham City Centre Daily Walking Tour (10:30am & 5pm)

From Canals and Victorians to Today's City: Birmingham Walking Tour

Cotswolds in a Day Tour from Moreton-in-Marsh / Stratford-on-Avon

The Bear Grylls Adventure in Birmingham

Fun, Flexible Treasure Hunt Around Birmingham with Cryptic Clues & Hidden Gems

Discovering Birmingham 2 hour Walking Tour to the Jewellery Quarter

Birmingham Gangs Nighttime Historical Walking Tour with Pub Stops

Top attractions in lichfield.

Other Top Attractions around Lichfield

What travelers are saying

• Lichfield Cathedral
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
• Beacon Park
• Garrick Theatre
• Erasmus Darwin House
• The Green Fairies Lichfield
• Woodhouse Farm and Gardens
• Kings Bromley Marina

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Attractions

There's so much to do in Lichfield!

Explore Lichfield's rich and varied history, with Georgian museums including the Samuel Johnson Birthplace and Erasmus Darwin House, through to the stunning medieval Lichfield Cathedral. Experience the inspiring National Memorial Arboretum featuring over 330 thought-provoking memorials, nestled amongst lush and maturing woodland. Or if you fancy a bit of culture check out the lineup of entertainment at Lichfield Garrick Theatre or The Hub at St Mary's.

Featured Attractions

Lichfield cathedral.

Lichfield Cathedral is a treasured landmark in the heart of the country that prides itself in offering a warm welcome to all our visitors.There is…

Beacon Park

Beacon Park is set in more than 70 acres of beautiful gardens and open space within easy reach of the city centre. Visit the park for a leisurely…

Samuel Johnson Birthplace…

Discover the life and times of Samuel Johnson, the great man of letters famous for writing 'A Dictionary of the English Language' in 1755. Explore…

More great Attractions

Samuel johnson birthplace museum.

Discover the life and times of Samuel Johnson, the great man of letters famous for writing 'A Dictionary of the English Language' in 1755. Explore an atmospheric historic…

National Memorial Arboretum

The National Memorial Arboretum is the UK's year-round centre of Remembrance. The expansive 150-acre site is centrally located in the National Forest in Staffordshire.…

Beacon Park is set in more than 70 acres of beautiful gardens and open space within easy reach of the city centre. Visit the park for a leisurely walk, golf, children's play…

Lichfield Cathedral is a treasured landmark in the heart of the country that prides itself in offering a warm welcome to all our visitors.There is plenty to explore with…

Lichfield Arts

Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust

Letocetum - Wall Roman Site

An important staging post on Watling Street, the Roman military road to north Wales

Manor Farm Fruits

Manor Farm Fruits is situated in the picturesque village of Hints in Staffordshire, 6 miles from Lichfield and just 3 miles from Tamworth. The farm has been owned and run by…

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Attractions around Lichfield

The top 10 attractions around lichfield.

Lichfield Cathedral

Hiking Highlight

Lichfield Cathedral is the only medieval cathedral in the UK with three spires. The striking 12th-century structure is located on a site that has been a place of worship for more than 1,300 years. The cathedral is Grade I-listed.

Minster Pool

Minster Pool is a pretty reservoir situated to the south of Lichfield Catherdral. From the banks, you get a lovely view over the water and cathedral. The pool is fed by Leomansley and Trunkfield brooks.

Tip by Dan Hobson

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Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.

Pipe Green is a rare habitat of unimproved meadowland. It also offers a unique view of the Cathedral.

Erasmus Darwin House

Nestled in Lichfield’s idyllic Cathedral Close, Darwin House is an independent, accredited Museum that was once the family home of doctor, inventor and published poet Erasmus Darwin (1731 – 1802). … read more

Beacon Park

Beacon Park features the formal Museum Gardens with floral displays and avenue of trees, along with a fountain, and statues to check out. It also offers woodland walks, a community garden, a food kiosk and bistro overlooking the pool.

Tip by Adie

National Memorial Arboretum

Bike Touring Highlight

Built to honour the lives of those who died during conflicts, the National Memorial Arboretum is an interesting place to visit, especially if you are interested in military history. You … read more

Fishers Mill Bridge

Fishers Mill Bridge is a minor waterways place on the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Birmingham and Fazeley Canal - Main Line) between Drayton Manor Bridges (There are two bridges here, a … read more

Tip by Sasha Taylor

Christ Church Gentleshaw

Gentleshaw Church stands as a distinctive and one-of-a-kind structure, characterized by its diverse architectural styles that evolved during various periods of alteration and extension.

Gentleshaw Common

Hiking Highlight ( Segment )

Gentleshaw Common offers a network of walking and hiking trails, making it a great place for leisurely strolls and more challenging hikes. The diverse terrain provides options for different levels of outdoor enthusiasts.

Tip by Kenny

Fradley junction 🚴‍♀️👍

Road Cycling Highlight

Note: Fradley Junction is a great Place to visit on its own should you wish a shorter ride. Two cafes canal side . read more

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Popular around lichfield.

Running Collection by komoot

Road Cycling Collection by komoot

Bike Touring Collection by komoot

Mountain Biking Collection by komoot

Explore the most popular Tours around Lichfield

Are you keen on exploring more awesome places nearby? Browse our guides:

• Curborough And Elmhurst
• King'S Bromley
• Drayton Bassett
• Clifton Campville
• Mavesyn Ridware
• Armitage With Handsacre
• Swinfen And Packington
• Wigginton And Hopwas
• Thorpe Constantine
• Fradley And Streethay
• Whittington
• Hamstall Ridware
• Farewell And Chorley

Still not found the Highlight you’re looking for? See guides of the top attractions in other regions:

• Staffordshire Moorlands
• Cannock Chase
• South Staffordshire
• East Staffordshire
• Newcastle-Under-Lyme

• 1 Understand
• 2.1 By road
• 2.2 By rail
• 3 Get around
• 10 Stay safe

Lichfield is a city in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield retains its importance as an ecclesiastical centre, but its industrial and commercial development has been relatively small; the centre of the city thus retains an essentially old-world character, with pockets of historic charm.

Understand [ edit ]

One of seven civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield has a population of 35,000 (2021). It sits 16 mi (26 km) north of Birmingham and 124 mi (200 km) north-west of London.

Lichfield is notable for its three-spired cathedral and as the birthplace of Dr. Johnson, the writer of the first authoritative Dictionary of the English Language. A Dictionary of the English Language , one of the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language, was prepared by Samuel Johnson and published on April 15, 1755.

Lichfield is also the birthplace of Elias Ashmole (23 May 1617 – 18 May 1692). Elias was a celebrated English antiquary, politician, officer of arms, astrologer and student of alchemy. He supported the royalist side during the English Civil War, and at the restoration of Charles II, he was rewarded with several lucrative offices. Throughout his life, he was an avid collector of curiosities and other artefacts. Many of these he acquired from the traveller, botanist, and collector John Tradescant the Younger. Ashmole donated most of his collection, his antiquarian library and priceless manuscripts to the University of Oxford to create the Ashmolean Museum .

Get in [ edit ]

By road [ edit ].

Lichfield is well placed for the main road network being close to the A38, A5 and M6 (Toll) so is easy to get to by car. Parking can be more of an issue as the number of spaces is often not sufficient to cope with demand, especially on Saturdays. However, the city does not usually get busy until mid morning on Saturdays and before Christmas, so early birds do well. Main car parks are as follows:

• Multi-storey car park situated near Lichfield City Station - warning tight spaces;
• The Friary - Large car park, but a little further from the centre;
• Cross Keys - A two-storey car park;
• Off Beacon Street - Large car park at rear of shops, but tends to fill up first

By rail [ edit ]

Lichfield has two stations. Both are on the Cross City Line from Birmingham . 52.68017 -1.82571 1 Lichfield City station is served by four trains an hour, with every other train also serving Lichfield Trent Valley. City Station is adjacent to the centre and is the easiest way for rail travellers to get in to the city. 52.68662 -1.80024 2 Trent Valley station is really useful because it is also on the West Coast Main Line with direct trains to London , Northampton , Stafford , Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe .

By bus [ edit ]

All bus routes into Lichfield call at the Bus Station, which is opposite Lichfield City Rail Station and adjacent to the main shopping areas. Buses serve destinations including Stafford , Rugeley, Tamworth , Cannock , The National Arboretum, Burton upon Trent , Birmingham and local villages.

Get around [ edit ]

Lichfield is small enough to be able to get around most of the areas of interest in the centre on foot. There are local buses running on selected routes, but they generally are really of use only to residents.

See [ edit ]

There are many things to see and do in the centre of Lichfield and in the surrounding area. Within Lichfield, here are the main places to visit:

• 52.68351 -1.82753 4 St. Mary's Heritage Centre , Market St, Lichfield WS13 6LG . Housing a Lichfield museum in central Lichfield market square. ( updated Dec 2017 )
• Minster Pool and Stowe Pool
• Market Place
• Corn Exchange
• Milley's Hospital
• St. Johns without the Bars

Do [ edit ]

• Lichfield International Festival . Well-established major music and arts festival every July with famous international performers at venues throughout Lichfield. ( updated Dec 2017 )

Buy [ edit ]

Most of the city's shops are on Bakers Lane.

• 52.68301 -1.825323 1 Three Spires Shopping Centre , 12 Gresley Row, WS13 6JF , ☏ +44 1543 417413 . ( updated Dec 2017 )

Eat [ edit ]

Within the city there are many good places to eat out, most are situated on Bird Street. They are typically of high quality and attract customers from outside the city. Recommended restaurants include the following:

• Eastern Eye
• Lime Pickle
• Thai Rainbow
• Pizza by Goli
• Ego , New Minster House, Bird Street , ☏ +44 1543 258234 . noon-10:30PM .  
• Melbourne in Lichfield
• Numerous pizza, kebab and fish and chip shops
• On Friday nights a mobile fish and chip van drives around much of Lichfield cooking and serving as they go - the food couldn't be fresher!
• 1709: The Brasserie , 3-5 Lombard Street , ☏ +44 1543 257986 . A brasserie serving fine British cuisine ( updated Aug 2018 )

Drink [ edit ]

• Queens Head , Queen St, +44 1543 410932. Popular and friendly pub just outside of the city centre serving six top quality real ales. There is a huge cheese counter where customers can order cheese, pickles, bread to accompany the beer!
• Earl of Lichfield , Conduit St, +44 1543 251020. Popular city centre pub serving well kept Marston's Pedigree from nearby Burton on Trent.
• The Gatehouse , 1 Bird Street . 8AM-midnight . A branch of Lloyds No.1 bars a medium range of JD Wetherspoons Bars.  
• Apres , 13 Bird Street . 10AM-11PM . A bar and restaurant from the well known chain.  
• The Acorn Inn , 16-18 Tamworth St, WS13 6JJ . 8AM-11:30PM . A JD Wetherspoons Bar  
• The Scales , 24 Market Street . An old style English pub in the heart of the city centre.  
• George IV , 34 Bore Street . An old pub with many live music performances  
• The Bowling Green , Friary Road . 11:30AM-11PM . Owned by Ember Inns, a pub and restaurant with a bowling green on the premises.  
• Malt , Wade Street . 10AM-10PM . Opened in 2010, a restaurant and bar specialising in real ales from local breweries.  
• Duke of York , 23-25 Greenhill . 11AM-11PM . The oldest inn in Lichfield.  

Sleep [ edit ]

• Best Western George Hotel , Bird Street , ☏ +44 1543 414822 , fax : +44 1543 415817 . Check-in: 2PM , check-out: 11AM .  
• Netherstowe House
• 52.651 -1.804 1 Swinfen Hall , The Drive, Swinfen WS14 9RE , ☏ +44 1543 481494 , fax : +44 1543 480341 , [email protected] . Upscale hotel in grand Georgian manor, great comfort, atmosphere and service. No dogs. B&B double £160 . ( updated Aug 2020 )
• St. Johns House , St. John Street, Lichfield. WS13 6PB , ☏ +44 1543 252080 . Check-in: 2PM , check-out: 10AM . Four beautifully appointed rooms with all facilities. inc. Wi-Fi. £70-110 .  
• Cathedral Lodge Hotel , Beacon Street , ☏ +44 1543 414500 .  

Stay safe [ edit ]

As with the rest of the UK, in any emergency call 999 or 112 (from a land-line if you can) and ask for ambulance, fire or police when connected. It is free to call the emergency services from payphones.

Lichfield is a generally safe city with most crime levels well below the national average. Incidents of violent crime and sexual offences are very low. However, as with the rest of the United Kingdom it is advisable to avoid large drunken groups where possible as alcohol-related crime is on the rise throughout the country. It is also advisable to exercise normal security measures.

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Navigation menu

Top Things to Do in Lichfield

Things to do in lichfield, tours in and around lichfield.

Nottingham Quest: Self Guided City Walk & Immersive Treasure Hunt

From Birmingham Stonehenge and Bath Day Tour

Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking Tour with Edward Shelby

Birmingham City Centre Daily Walking Tour (10:30am & 5pm)

From Canals and Victorians to Today's City: Birmingham Walking Tour

Cotswolds in a Day Tour from Moreton-in-Marsh / Stratford-on-Avon

The Bear Grylls Adventure in Birmingham

Fun, Flexible Treasure Hunt Around Birmingham with Cryptic Clues & Hidden Gems

Discovering Birmingham 2 hour Walking Tour to the Jewellery Quarter

Birmingham Gangs Nighttime Historical Walking Tour with Pub Stops

Top attractions in lichfield.

Other Top Attractions around Lichfield

What travellers are saying

• Lichfield Cathedral
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
• Beacon Park
• Garrick Theatre
• Erasmus Darwin House
• The Green Fairies Lichfield
• Woodhouse Farm and Gardens
• Kings Bromley Marina

THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Lichfield

Things to do in lichfield, tours in and around lichfield.

Nottingham Quest: Self Guided City Walk & Immersive Treasure Hunt

From Birmingham Stonehenge and Bath Day Tour

Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking Tour with Edward Shelby

Birmingham City Centre Daily Walking Tour (10:30am & 5pm)

From Canals and Victorians to Today's City: Birmingham Walking Tour

Cotswolds in a Day Tour from Moreton-in-Marsh / Stratford-on-Avon

The Bear Grylls Adventure in Birmingham

Fun, Flexible Treasure Hunt Around Birmingham with Cryptic Clues & Hidden Gems

Discovering Birmingham 2 hour Walking Tour to the Jewellery Quarter

Birmingham Gangs Nighttime Historical Walking Tour with Pub Stops

Top attractions in lichfield.

Other Top Attractions around Lichfield

What travellers are saying

• Lichfield Cathedral
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
• Beacon Park
• Garrick Theatre
• Erasmus Darwin House
• The Green Fairies Lichfield
• Woodhouse Farm and Gardens
• Kings Bromley Marina

Travel With A Dog

Things to do in Lichfield, Visit The Cathedral & Dog Friendly Pubs

We had a fun day out in a new dog friendly city to me, Lichfield. Lichfield is a place with many things to do and see. The Staffordshire city has some great tourist attractions, the centrepiece being the cathedral.

I arrived by train to Lichfield City railway station on a day trip from Birmingham . I always ignore first impressions of places when arriving by train, but within 2 minutes I was pleased to have opted to visit. We visited on St George’s Day and the town had some events on, sadly missed by us except by posing as St George outside the guildhall and popping in George IV pub.

My plan was to visit a few of the city’s tourist attractions and find a few dog-friendly places for refreshments. A walk in the parks and a general exploration were on my list of things to do on my visit.

About Lichfield

Lichfield is a cathedral city and civil parish in Staffordshire. It is one of eight civil parishes with city status in England. The city is situated roughly 16 miles to the North of Birmingham, 9 miles from Walsall and 13 miles from Burton Upon Trent. Notable for its three-spired medieval cathedral. It also was the birthplace of Samuel Johnson, the writer of the first authoritative dictionary of the English Language.

The city’s recorded history began when Chad of Mercia arrived to establish his Bishopric in 669. Subsequently, the settlement grew as the ecclesiastical centre of Mercia. More info…

Visit Dog-Friendly Pubs & Restaurants in Lichfield

There are many options for you to eat or drink out while visiting the Staffordshire town. These are easy to locate, as there are so many other people with pets out and about.

Faro Lounge is a nice place to eat out

For lunch, out on a bit of a budget, we opted for a light bite at Faro Lounge, a dog-friendly chain I have visited before in other towns. There were 4 dog bowls at the end of the bar and a few other dogs patronised the restaurant. Food was nice and service good but was busy at the bar for service and server was OTT about the queueing system. Lunch included a chicken soup and pulled pork panini.

George & Dragon a Dog friendly Pub

The George & Dragon pub in the city centre is a lovely real ale pub that is dog friendly. They have both indoor seating and a wonderful beer garden for guests to enjoy within sight of the beautiful spires of the cathedral. For bar snacks, they serve delights such as a cheeseboard, pork pies and scotch eggs. You can also choose some nice food from their menu .

The Hedgehog

The Hedgehog is a lovely real ale pub in Lichfield and is rather dog friendly. They welcome dogs in their bar area and provide water and treats to canine guests. The Hedgehog is housed in a restored 18th-century building, thus is a pleasant venue. They specialise in seasonal British pub food accompanies by various options for real ales. Their menu has some fantastic options including Sunday roasts, slow cooked belly pork and also some vegan options too.

Tourist Attractions, What to see and Things to do

There are lots of things to see and do in Lichfield, thus making it a great day out. There are many tourist attractions to visit and places to explore.

Visit the three-spired Lichfield Cathedral

The focal point of my trip was to visit Lichfield Cathedral , recommended by a friend after I was discussing an earlier visit to Gloucester Cathedral . This cathedral has over 1300 years of history and is the only medieval three-spired cathedral in the UK! You can see a medieval wall painting, the famous Herkenrode stained glass, the Lichfield Angel, or even sit and reflect on life.

The puppy enjoyed a run in the cathedral grounds while to 2 grown-ups took turns browsing this fascinating building. Henry even made friends with another canine for good measure. Recent news is that the cathedral is trialling dog friendly Fridays where dogs are allowed. Find out more.

Relax by the lake in Memorial Garden

We had a sit down in The Memorial Garden looking out over Minster Pool. The garden was pretty and well maintained. I really enjoyed the views of the lake here.

Explore Beacon Park

Beacon Park is a renovated Victorian garden with original features. It has an 18-hole par-3 golf course and has good flat walking paths. Also it has a play area for children and a small boating lake near to the toilets. The Park, to our surprise, had a prominent statue of Captain Edward J. Smith, The Captain of The Titanic.

Hire a pedal boat at the boating lake

There was a small boating lake in the park where you can hire a pedal boat for some fun. On my visit, we hired a swan-shaped pedal boat for 6 to enable the dog to enjoy his first boat experience. This was a test for him before we do a canoe trip on The River Wye soon. The test was a success, and we all had fun, also remained dry.

Do Some Shopping

I was not on a shopping trip this time, but clocked loads of nice independent shops and a farmers’ market, which I wish was local to me. Notable shops spotted were;

• Walter Smith , a butcher’s shop on Market Street that had a great window display with very nice-looking meat.
• The Cheese Cavern , a cheese shop with a wonderful variety of cheeses that looked great quality.

Is Lichfield Dog-Friendly?

This visited was a discovery of a very dog friendly city with dogs of all sizes seen everywhere. Also, there were many water bowls outside shops. There were no problems finding bins to dispose of poo bags, unlike in other places. Pubs welcomed canine guests. Or maybe we were lucky.

Is Lichfield in Staffordshire Worth Visiting?

Lichfield is a lovely place to visit for a West Midlands day trip and there are plenty of things to keep visitors occupied. The city is very dog friendly with bowls at every turn. Lichfield’s food offerings are very good and pets can dine out with you in most places. The most impressive part of the city is the cathedral.

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Top Things to Do in Lichfield

Things to do in lichfield, tours in and around lichfield.

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10 Beautiful Places to visit in Lichfield

Lichfield museum.

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Lichfield is a cathedral city in England’s Staffordshire. It is a famous and scenic part of England with lots of amazing places to see and explore. For this reason today we present to you the most beautiful places to see in Lichfield. Without further delay, here are the 10 most beautiful places you must visit and and explore in Lichfield! Used to be known as “Lichfield Heritage Centre, this museum is set on the south side of the market square and on the second floor of St. Mary’s Church. Opened in 1981, it features a treasury exhibition and the Lichfield Heritage Collection which chronicles the history of the city for the last 150 years. Audio visual presentations are also held to narrate the past of Lichfield. Click the next ARROW  to see the next image!

Minster Pool

Situated between Bird Street and Dam Street, this reservoir lies south of Lichfield Cathedral and is an important amenity to Lichfield and the memorial gardens. Visitors can enjoy the views and the peace and quiet of the place, on the seats and benches located in the area. There is also the Garden of Remembrance on the bank of the pool, on the northern side. Click the next  ARROW  to see the next image!

This is another reservoir in Lichfield and was a former fishery. It was converted into a reservoir in 1856 and is now a public amenity. Visitors come here for recreation and relaxation. Just walking distance from the centre of the city, this site is now a designated site of special scientific interest. Fishing is also allowed here. Also the home to different bird species as well as endangered ones, this attraction is one of the beautiful places in the city. Click the next  ARROW  to see the next image!

Castle Ring

This is a hill fort dating back from the Iron Age. It has an elevation of 242 metres which makes it the highest point on Cannock Chase. Said to have been occupied by the Celtic Cornovii tribe in AD 50, not much has been left on the area except for the earthworks on the perimeter. However, it gives picturesque views overlooking the Trent Valley, Staffordshire and Cannock Chase. Click the next  ARROW  to see the next image!

Lichfield Canal

This is a seven mile body of water that used to be a part of the Wyrley and Essington Canal. In the 1960s, the water was refilled and in 2009, a feasibility report was submitted for its restoration. There are also bridges all throughout the canal. Click the next  ARROW  to see the next image!

Fradley Junction

This is a centre of activities in Lichfield where people come here to enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings, go boating or just take walks. There are also pubs and cafes nearby.  This is also where the canals of Coventry and Trent and Mersey meet, making it one of the most stunning waterside scenes in Staffordshire. Click the next  ARROW  to see the next image!

Speakers’ Corner Lichfield

This site is a significant one for the locals in Lichfield since it is a place for activities and events that mean so much to the community. Here, members of the community can come and speak about what they want to say. After it was launch in 2009, a plaque and a code of conduct can now be found at the site. Click the next  ARROW  to see the next image!

Beacon Park

Located in the heart of Lichfield, this 70-acre park was built in 1859 and is comprised of open space, beautiful gardens, tennis courts, bowling greens and an 18-hole golf course. The Museum Gardens which used to be a lake, the Bishops Fish Pool, and a marshland gives a view of the spires of the Lichfield Cathedral. There are also sculptures and monuments in the park that are worth seeing. Click the next  ARROW  to see the next image!

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum

A biographical museum and bookshop, this attraction is located in the heart of Lichfield. This Grade I listed building is the birthplace of famous lexicographer, poet and critic, Samuel Johnson. He lived the first 27 years of his life here and then moved to London, only to return to his place of birth up until his death. This structure ahs reconstructed rooms and audio-visual media for the visitors to learn the life and achievements of Johnson. Click the next  ARROW  to see the next image!

National Memorial Arboretum

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THE 10 BEST Cheap Things to Do in Lichfield

Best budget-friendly things to do in lichfield.

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1. Lichfield Cathedral

2. Lichfield Garrick Theatre

3. Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum

4. Beacon Park

5. Erasmus Darwin House

6. Curborough Hall Farm Countryside Centre

7. St Mary’s in the Market Square

8. Wall Roman Site

9. The Old Guildhall Prison Cells

10. Lichfield Antiques Centre

11. Stowe Pool

12. Beerbohm Bar

13. The Green Fairies Lichfield

14. Midland Karting

15. The BitterSuite Pub

16. Turnpike Lichfield

17. The Whippet Inn Micropub

18. George and Dragon

19. Horse and Jockey

20. The Cheese, Gin & Ale Barn

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Top Things to Do in Lichfield

Things to do in lichfield, tours in and around lichfield.

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Fun, Flexible Treasure Hunt Around Birmingham with Cryptic Clues & Hidden Gems

Discovering Birmingham 2 hour Walking Tour to the Jewellery Quarter

Birmingham Gangs Nighttime Historical Walking Tour with Pub Stops

Top attractions in lichfield.

Other Top Attractions around Lichfield

What travellers are saying

• Lichfield Cathedral
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
• Beacon Park
• Garrick Theatre
• Erasmus Darwin House
• The Green Fairies Lichfield
• Woodhouse Farm and Gardens
• Kings Bromley Marina

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The best places to go shopping in the West Midlands in 2024 from historic towns to city centres

The top 100 places in Britain to shop have been revealed in a new study and there are five destinations in the West Midlands named the best

• by Kirsty Bosley
• 03:00, 20 Apr 2024

New research has been revealed to show the best places in Britain to shop and five are in our neck of the woods. A study by Newmark Retail has assessed towns, cities and neighbourhoods around the country, taking a look at empty units, customer footfall and more to work out which places are the best for shoppers.

No destinations in the West Midlands featured in the top 50, which was topped by Cambridge city centre and dominated by destinations in London and the south. Chester bucked the trend for the north by placing eighth while three areas in Yorkshire (Ilkley, Harrogate and York) made the top 50.

However, destinations in our region placed in spots between 51-100 with Birmingham city centre in that 51st position. While the Bullring has seen a number of its empty units fill in the last year, with M&S moving in to the lower floors of the former Debenhams, Pull & Bear and Bershka occupying the space where Topshop once stood and Toca Social and two new branches of Zara on the horizon too, the High Street and New Street still have a number of empty shops which might account for it not achieving a higher placing on the list.

Read more: The beauty spot walk near old mining town where you can't see a thing

Sign up for the Brum Food Club free weekly newsletter for updates on what's happening in the city's food and drink scene .

There's no replacement yet announced for the old Marks and Spencer down towards Dale End and on New Street there's still no retailers operating at the former Morrisons . Meanwhile, a number of food venues are closed on New Street.

Here, we'll take a look at each of the destinations in and around the region that made the top 100:

Birmingham City Centre (placed at 51)

Home to the World's Biggest Primark , Selfridges, a two-storey Marks and Spencer and a number of luxury brands, Birmingham City Centre is still a great place for shopping, even if there are still a number of empty units along New Street and the High Street.

The Bullring has seen a number of its spaces refreshed in the past year, with destinations like Zara committing to opening new stores too. Others, like JD Sports and Foot Locker, moved into bigger units in recent months.

There's also a balance of entertainment and food and drink destinations to keep visitors in the city, including Sandbox VR in Grand Central and Lane 7 on Link Street between Grand Central and the Bullring.

Shrewsbury (placed at 60)

Shrewsbury made the top 100 thanks to its shopping destination The Darwin Centre as well as a number of independents dotted around the town centre. The Darwin is home to brands like Home Bargains, The Entertainer, Smiggle, Primark and JD Sports.

Outside there are a number of gift shops, jewellers and clothes shops and Shrewsbury Market Hall is home to an artisan chocolate maker, a second hand bookshop, a games shop and a wine store.

If you get the train to Shrewsbury from Birmingham, you can visit the 11th century Castle and the old prison too, if you're looking to make the most of your visit. We stayed over last halloween and can confirm it's haunted , but much nicer to explore by day and with the lights on!

Leamington Spa (placed at 66)

The 'swanky' commuter town of Leamington Spa has 'Bridgerton and hipster vibes' according to our reporter who did an in-depth look into why it was named a top UK place to live - you can read about that here .

Among its 500 shops and restaurants are independent boutiques as well as high street brands, all of which are within ten minutes of each other in the town centre. Out of town, there are a number of shopping parks too.

Don’t miss

Alison wrote about the array of women's clothing boutiques and homeware shops in the town which are 'overflowing with candles and pashminas'. There's also, in true Bridgerton style, a florist in Regent Grove is called Regency Flowers. Lovely.

Lichfield Town Centre (placed at 83)

Lichfield's old streets are lined with quirky little shops, including independents with big personalities and chains too. Gifts, antiques, arts and crafts stores make for fun mooching, while the Three Spires shopping centre has more than 50 retailers that you'll recognise like WH Smith, Ryman, Trespass and Bodycare.

Lichfield is particularly good for food. It got its first Michelin Star in recent years, with Tom Shepherd's place Upstairs above the family jewellers getting high praise. There's a little bakery nearby too, which attracts queues around the corner. Larder is serving posh pub grub and house-brewed beer is on tap with the burgers at Brewhouse and Kitchen.

While you're in town, factor in a visit to Lichfield Cathedral. Maybe do it before you shop, so you're not rustling your shopping bags about in the quiet, sacred space. It really is spectacular, even if you're not particularly religious.

Stratford-upon-Avon (placed at 86)

The home of Shakespeare is filled with fun heritage things to do, from visiting The Bard's old house to wandering down the river to find his grave, complete with sinister curse engraved on the stone. Read about that here .

The shopping is pretty good too. Little antique and collectible nooks mean you'll likely come away with something you can't find anywhere else and there are lots of cute little shops selling unique gifts and trinkets too.

Further out, the Maybird Shopping Centre offers big brands, including Asda Living, Matalan, Boots and B&Q. Stratford might be posh, but there are still two branches of Greggs if you need sausage roll power to fuel you on your riverside walk with your bags of goodies.