Lichfield is a small cathedral city in Staffordshire with a rich history. There are more than 230 listed buildings within the city, many of which have Georgian architecture and retain the area’s historic nature.
Lichfield is close to Birmingham, making it a great choice for commuters. Lichfield has two train stations; Lichfield City Station and Lichfield Trent Valley Station. There’s a direct train line to London which reaches the capital in less than two hours. Birmingham is the closest major city and it’s just 40 minutes away on public transport and roughly the same by car. Birmingham International Airport is 30 minutes away and flies to destinations all around Europe, making it easy to get away somewhere new.
Lichfield has nine primary schools, which have all been rated good by Ofsted, apart from Willows Primary School, which was rated outstanding. There are two independent schools and three secondary schools, including The Friary School, which also has a sixth form.
The beautiful historic streets of Lichfield have a host of shops to tempt locals, including high street names and independents. Quercus Antiques & Collectables, Bespoke Lichfield (a gift shop) and Seasalt Cornwall (a clothing and homeware store) are just a few of the interesting local shops for you to spend your Saturdays in.
Lichfield markets run three days a week in Market Square and have many stalls to explore. There’s fresh fruit, ladieswear, jewellery, baked goods, books, leather items, chinaware, and so much more.
Lichfield’s cafe culture is strong, with loads of choice between high street chains and independent favourites for their coffee. There are plenty of places to go for a bite to eat too. Bird Street has a host of eateries to suit all occasions and budgets. The Rainbow is a great Thai restaurant and Qmin Restaurant serves delicious Indian food. Sorriso Lichfield is a good local Italian, and you can enjoy a glass of wine at The Wine House afterwards. If traditional pubs are more your thing, then head to The King’s Head, which is the oldest pub in Lichfield, opening in 1408.
The local hospital is Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, and there are several GP practices and dentists in the city centre too.
Beacon Park is just outside Lichfield city centre and has lots to do within its 70 acres, such as crazy golf, a children’s play area, bowls, basketball, tennis and much more. There’s a bistro and a café, and in the summer, there’s donkey rides and pedalos.
Lichfield is smaller than many of its neighbouring towns, but the city retains its city status due to its medieval, three-spired cathedral. Built between the 13th and 14th centuries, it’s the only cathedral of its kind in the UK so it attracts visitors from far and wide.
The city’s other main claim to fame is that Lichfield is the birthplace of Samuel Johnson, who crafted what is thought to be the original English dictionary. The effect of standardising English was unprecedented, smoothing out communication issues across the nation, as well as helping to create a national standard of reading and writing. Until the Oxford Dictionary’s publication 150 years later, Johnson’s work was regarded as the leading British dictionary. His house still stands in the city centre, and it’s now a museum to his legacy.
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