Welcome to Lichfield, a vibrant city and There’s so much to see and do in Lichfield district situated in the heart of . District - one visit is never enough.

Lichfield’s rich and varied history comes alive as you Explore the district and experience the ultimate family day out at Drayton explore the city. Manor Theme Park. Visit the National Memorial Arboretum; the UK’s year round centre of remembrance with maturing woodland and over Take time to admire the stunning Lichfield Cathedral and its 1,300 years of 360 memorials.

history as the only medieval three-spired cathedral in the UK. Discover the great outdoors at Chasewater Country Park on a self-guided Uncover the life and times of Lichfield’s most famous son and writer of the nature walk or head to the water for a spot of sailing. You can also go back Dictionary of the English Language at The Samuel Johnson Birthplace in history by taking a trip on a vintage train at Chasewater Railway.

Museum. Step back in time at House, home to the Regiment Museum takes you through the story of the grandfather of Charles Darwin and leading 18th century doctor, scientist, regiment starting from its raising in Lichfield in 1705. Experience something botanist, inventor and poet. of the horror of the Western Front by touring its full-scale reconstruction of A short walk from the city centre you’ll find our beautiful historic parks. a First World War trench. boasts over 70 acres of gardens and open space where you can enjoy a leisurely walk or a range of activities.

Chasewater Country Park Drayton Manor Theme Park

Speakers’ Garrick Corner District attractions

Drayton Manor Theme Park, Fazeley National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas City centre attractions draytonmanor.co.uk thenma.org.uk Lichfield Cathedral The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Chasewater Railway, Burntwood Chasewater Country Park, Burntwood lichfield-cathedral.org thesamueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk chasewaterrailway.co.uk enjoychasewater.co.uk Beacon Park Midland Karting, Fradley Letocetum Roman Site & Museum, Wall lichfieldhistoricparks.co.uk erasmusdarwin.org midlandkarting.co.uk wallromansitefriendsofletocetum.co.uk Lichfield Garrick Theatre The Old Guildhall Prison Cells (seasonal) Fradley Junction Curborough Sprint Course, Curborough lichfieldgarrick.com lichfield.gov.uk canalrivertrust.org.uk curborough.com St John’s Chapel @StMarys Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Whittington stjohnslichfield.org stmaryslichfield.co.uk staffordshireregimentmuseum.com

visitLichfield VISITLICHFIELD.CO.UK @visitlichfield

Getting here Lichfield Tourist Information

Road A warm welcome is guaranteed at our Tourist Information desk @St Mary’s The A38 and A5 meet at Lichfield and provide direct in the centre of the city next to the Market Square. We are open Monday access to the Midlands’ motorways: M42, M50, to Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm, and are here to help you plan your visit. M40, M5/6 and M6 Toll. For more visitor information and to download maps of the city and

district go to visitlichfield.co.uk/tic or contact [email protected] Rail or 01543 308924. Lichfield has two railway stations. Lichfield City

Station on Birmingham Road is in the city centre (opposite the bus station) and offers frequent service to Birmingham New Street Station. Lichfield Trent Valley Station is a five minute drive, or a 20 minute walk from the city centre and offers direct services to London Euston and the north. For train enquiries call 03457 484950. There is a taxi rank at Lichfield City station or call our Tourist Information for local taxi numbers.

Parking There are ample car parks in the city centre. All car parks are marked on the map and are sign posted from the major roads coming into the city. Tourist Information Lichfield car parks are free if you hold a valid disabled badge. Street parking is also available to disabled badge holders in Tamworth Street, Accessibility Market Square and Bore Street. Lichfield operates a Shopmobility service and hires out scooters and Bus & coaches wheelchairs. Call 07779 333807 from Tuesday to Saturday. For further Lichfield, Burntwood and the district’s main villages are served by several information about accessibility contact our Tourist Information or go to bus companies and National Express coaches arrive and depart from visitlichfield.co.uk/accessibility Lichfield bus station. If you are a group organiser and would like to bring a coach, or for more information on coach parking contact our Tourist Tours of Lichfield Information on 01543 308924. If you want to find out more about Lichfield, why not book on a tour? We offer a varied programme of guided tours throughout the year. Information for groups visits can be found at visitlichfield.co.uk/groups Explore the sights on our city tour or discover Lichfield’s darkest secrets on our Gruesome and Ghostly tour. To book, or to arrange a private tour, visit the Tourist Information desk or call 01543 308924.

Beacon Park visitlichfield VISITLICHFIELD.CO.UK

A place for events and festivals A place to stay Lichfield is fast becoming known as the City of Festivals. From Whether you’re visiting as a family, looking for a romantic getaway large-scale nationally recognised festivals to traditional events and or planning a night out with friends, you’ll find the perfect place to music concerts to food festivals, hardly a week goes by without stay in Lichfield District. some kind of entertainment taking place in the city. Highlights include the annual Lichfield Festival, Lichfield Proms in Beacon Park From the historic city centre to the surrounding idyllic countryside, and the popular events at Lichfield Cathedral. For a full list of local there’s a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes and events you can order or download a copy of the What’s On budgets. Get a good night’s sleep at a cosy farmhouse bed and brochure, either contact our Tourist Information or go to breakfast, spoil yourself in a stylish boutique hotel or set up under visitlichfield.co.uk/brochurerequest the stars at a holiday park.

For full listings of places to stay throughout the district go to The latest events can be viewed at visitlichfield.co.uk/events visitlichfield.co.uk/accommodation

Lichfield Market Square

Lichfield Festival Colton House

A place for food & drink A place for shopping Feast your eyes on our wide range of cafés, pubs, bars and With its historic streets and modern shopping centre, Lichfield offers restaurants in and around the city. Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, a unique shopping experience. Find a rare gift in one of our many English... you’ll be spoilt for choice with our restaurants offering a charming independent shops, enjoy the hustle and bustle of the great range of mouth-watering dishes. Whether you fancy a market or treat yourself at one of our high street stores. morning coffee, pub lunch or late night drinks, there’s something for all tastes. Market days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, with a Farmers’ and Craft Market on the first Thursday of the month (excluding January). See what’s on offer at visitlichfield.co.uk/foodanddrink For information on city and district wide shopping go to visitlichfield.co.uk/shopping

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Famous Lichfeldians

Samuel Johnson Erasmus Darwin Dr Samuel Johnson is perhaps Lichfield’s most famous son. Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin, moved to He was born in 1709 in the house on the corner of Lichfield in 1756 as a young doctor. During the 25 years he Breadmarket Street, which is now a museum dedicated to his spent here his fame grew, not only as a brilliant man of life. In 1737 he left Lichfield with David Garrick, walking to medicine, but also a scientist, inventor and famous poet. London to pursue a career as a poet, critic and biographer. Along with Matthew Bolton, James Watt and Josiah He was commissioned to compile the Dictionary of the Wedgewood - huge names during the Industrial Revolution - English Language and was later awarded a pension of he founded the Lunar Society. His Lichfield home is a £300 by King George III. museum that is well worth visiting.

David Garrick When Johnson left for London he was accompanied by his Anna Seward was born in 1742, moved to Lichfield in 1749 friend and former pupil David Garrick. Garrick became the and later lived in the Bishop’s Palace when her father greatest actor of his age, attaining overnight fame as became Residentiary at the Cathedral. Darwin Shakespeare’s Richard III. Most of his career was spent in encouraged her to write poetry and sent one of her poems Drury Lane Theatre, where he brought Shakespeare’s plays to The Gentleman’s Magazine. It was published and she back to the audiences of the day. His name lives on in went on to write poetry for leading London publications. Lichfield’s Garrick Theatre. She knew and helped fellow poets, Burns, Coleridge and Walter Scott. VISITLICHFIELD.CO.UK Lichfield Designed and published by Council. Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in district council this leaflet and all information was correct at the time of print (February 2019). www.lichfielddc.gov.uk Front cover images : main - and Remembrance Gardens ( c David Keith Jones - Lichfield Cathedral Photographers), 3 small - Pom’s Restaurant, National Memorial Arboretum ( c Destination Staffordshire), Lichfield Proms in Beacon Park. Other images by kind permission of LDTA partners.