Lichfield Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Lichfield

Lichfield is an historic cathedral city and civil parish located in Staffordshire, England. Situated approximately 14 miles north of Birmingham, 18 miles south-east of Stafford, and 8 miles north-west of Tamworth, the area sits near a sandstone ridge and the site of Letocetum, an ancient Roman fortress and civilian settlement. While surrounding industrial towns expanded dramatically in later centuries, Lichfield maintained limited industrial and commercial development, preserving its traditional scale and historic identity.

The documented origin of Lichfield dates to 669 AD, when St Chad established his episcopal seat here, establishing the settlement as the primary ecclesiastical center of the Kingdom of Mercia. The city became a major destination for medieval pilgrims visiting St Chad's shrine. The region's deep Anglo-Saxon roots were highlighted in 2009 by the discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard—the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork—found four miles south-west in Hammerwich parish. During the twelfth century, the city layout was reshaped by Bishop Roger de Clinton, who fortified the Cathedral Close and created a distinctive ladder-shaped street pattern south of Minster Pool that survives to this day.

Lichfield reached its prosperous peak during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries as a vibrant coaching hub along major traffic routes linking London, Chester, and the north-east. This era coincided with a period of great intellectual activity, prompting native son Samuel Johnson to describe Lichfield as a city of philosophers. Johnson, renowned for compiling the first authoritative English dictionary, was born in the city, which was also home to prominent figures such as actor David Garrick, physician Erasmus Darwin, and writer Anna Seward. During this prosperous period, much of the medieval town was rebuilt with fine red-brick Georgian architecture.

Visitors to Lichfield can explore a city center packed with historic interest, featuring over 230 listed buildings. The primary focal point of the skyline is the medieval Gothic cathedral, famous for its three distinct spires. Originally begun in 1195, the cathedral suffered severe damage during the English Civil War—including the destruction of its central spire—before undergoing restoration. Outside the cathedral grounds, the historic core features old thoroughfares such as Market Street, Bore Street, and Bird Street. Weekly markets are still hosted in the Market Square, continuing a commercial tradition that has run continuously since receiving a royal charter in 1153.