Lichfield has autumn staycations all wrapped up – culture, history, shopping, beautiful green spaces, great food and cosy places to stay – this gem of a city has it all!
Crisp days, misty mornings, and the night’s drawing in means autumn is well and truly upon us and our thoughts start to drift towards the festive season, Christmas shopping and spoiling friends, family, (and ourselves). So, what better way to kick-start the season and get ahead of the Christmas rush than by booking a short break in Lichfield, one of the UK’s most idyllic cities.
Lichfield, in the heart of the beautiful county of Staffordshire, has everything you could want for an autumnal city break; it is bursting with heritage and culture, coupled with great food, cosy places to stay, brilliant shopping and entertainment, as well as plenty of green spaces to soak up all the beauty of the season. And because it’s located in the Midlands, it is really accessible with two train stations and close to the motorway network.
The difficult decisions will be deciding where to stay, eat, and how many activities and attractions you can pack into your staycation. Whether it is one, two or three nights, there is just so much to see and do. Read on for some ideas.
Where to stay
Finding your perfect place to stay won’t be a problem at all Visit Lichfield | Stay.
Lichfield has a great choice of hotel and B&B accommodation, so whether you want to snuggle up in front of a roaring fire at a countryside escape, or stay in the charming 18th century coaching inn, The George set in the heart of Lichfield Visit Lichfield | The George Hotel, there are plenty of overnight accommodation options to suit all budgets and needs.
Heritage and culture
Lichfield is home to the only Medieval cathedral in the UK with three spires, so a visit to this treasured landmark is an absolute must Visit Lichfield | Lichfield Cathedral. There is plenty to explore with over 1300 years of history to learn about; see a medieval wall painting, the famous Herkenrode stained glass, the Lichfield Gospels (700AD) and the Lichfield Angel. Then there is The Close surrounding the Cathedral which has its very own story to tell, with picturesque gardens, stunning buildings and a vibrant history. A visit to Vicars' Close will leave you feeling like you've stepped back in time as you take in the row of quintessential medieval houses.
And no trip to Lichfield would be complete without a visit to the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum where you can discover the life and times of Samuel Johnson, the great man of letters famous for writing 'A Dictionary of the English Language' in 1755 Visit Lichfield | Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. Next should be a visit to the Georgian home of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin and leading 18th century doctor, scientist, botanist, inventor and poet Visit Lichfield | Erasmus Darwin House. And if exploring more of the city on foot takes your fancy, there are many city trails you can download to help you explore the city including the Heritage Trail, Sculpture Trail, Real Ale Trail, and Brass Rubbing Trail. And the newest addition to the trails is the Lichfield Time Travellers App - a fabulous new interactive Augmented Reality (AR) trail, where you can meet the historic characters from the city on your screen, while they tell you all about Lichfield. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the history and heritage of Lichfield Visit Lichfield | Trails. There are also guided tours Visit Lichfield | Tours if you would prefer to be personally shown around instead.
Food choices galore - a Michelin Star, afternoon teas, hearty meals and quick snacks
Whatever diet or cuisine, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, you’ll find it in Lichfield Visit Lichfield | Food Lovers.
If you’re after fine-dining, there is the award-winning The Boat Inn which serves modern British cuisine The Boat Inn | Fine Dining | Lichfield, England (theboatinnlichfield.com). Then there is Upstairs by Tom Shepherd which is Staffordshire’s first and only One Michelin starred restaurant Upstairs by Tom Shepherd | Visit Lichfield which offers flavour led, produce driven menus inspired by the seasons and surroundings.
For something a little less formal there is The Barn which has been a favourite at the Heart of the Country shopping village for many years, and with its beautiful red brick building and tranquil courtyard it’s not hard to see why. The menu boasts a wealth of locally sourced produce Visit Lichfield | The Barn at Swinfen. Pear Tree Creperie also located at Heart of the Country Village Visit Lichfield | The Pear Tree Creperie is a quaint French Creperie with lots of character, friendly smiles, a relaxed informal atmosphere and a full menu of delicious Galettes and Crepes to choose from.
If afternoon tea takes your fancy, visit The Tudor Visit Lichfield | The Tudor of Lichfield - a superb tea house with a very long history. Situated in a fantastic grade 2 listed black and white timber framed building, dating back to 1510 and the time of King Henry VIII.
Retail therapy
Lichfield's historic streets are lined with tempting shops, from high street chains to independent boutiques. From crafts and arts, to jewellery, homeware, and clothing you will be spoilt for choice. You'll find antique shops, jewellers, booksellers, music shops, delicatessens and much more Visit Lichfield | Shopping.
Soak up the scenery and great outdoors
After shopping and eating, then stretching your legs and taking in the fresh autumn air and scenery will be just what’s needed. During your visit check out the amazing greenery of Lichfield Historic Parks which bring together four distinctive green spaces amidst this beautiful and historic city. These are Beacon Park, Minster Pool and Walk, the Garden of Remembrance and Stowe Pool and Fields.
Steeped in history, boasting statues and monuments, beautiful planting and landscapes, as well as great facilities and events, there is always something to see and do at the Historic Parks. And you’ll soon work up an appetite again!
Lichfield is also home the National Memorial Arboretum Visit Lichfield | National Memorial Arboretum which is the UK's year-round centre of Remembrance. The expansive 150-acre site is centrally located in the National Forest in Staffordshire. Featuring over 330 thought-provoking memorials, nestled amongst lush and maturing woodland. Military and Civilian associations are represented alongside tributes for individuals. Rich in design and symbolism, the memorials and their fascinating stories are waiting to be discovered.
Evening entertainment
The Lichfield Garrick Theatre offers a wide variety of entertainment to suit all tastes from comedy through to drama, tribute acts to opera and ballet to pantomime Visit Lichfield | Lichfield Garrick.
Lichfield's first Social Enterprise Coffee Shop, The Hub is a colourful space in the heart of the city, located at St Mary's on Market Square. As well as lots of daytime activities, the The Hub also hosts lots of evening entertainment too including live music. To find out what’s on and plan an evening of fun visit: What's On - The Hub at St Mary's, Lichfield (thehubstmarys.co.uk).
Finally, visit the Lichfield Arts website where you can find a whole host of information about live performance within Lichfield. With a diverse offering of professional artists across many genres, Lichfield Arts’ concerts and festivals in the heart of Lichfield, are a great way to enjoy the best in live performance Home - Lichfield Arts.
Autumn offers with the Visit Lichfield Card
Businesses across Lichfield District have joined together with Visit Lichfield to create great savings for our Visit Lichfield card holders. All you need to do is apply for your free card and sign up to receive our monthly updates. Then you’ll receive the latest news and most importantly, all of the latest offers available on shopping, dining and staying in Lichfield.
apply for your car here Visit Lichfield | Offers.
There is so much to see and do in Lichfield city and district so please follow this link to find out everything that is available Visit Lichfield | Homepage.