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Lichfield Cathedral
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Lichfield Cathedral

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Lichfield Cathedral
4.5
#1 of 24 things to do in Lichfield
Architectural BuildingsReligious Sites
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:30 PM - 5:00 PM
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About
An Ancient Cathedral Full of Life & Wonder There has been a Cathedral in Lichfield for over 1300 years and its story is one bursting with history, art, culture and life. If you're looking for rich heritage, ancient artefacts, and stunning architecture then Lichfield Cathedral has it all. Lichfield Cathedral's story doesn't end with its past, it is very much alive with a vibrant programme of services, events and art projects to capture the imagination of all ages.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Attractions
42 within 6 miles
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46
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0.3 miParks
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See what travelers are saying
  • SquirrelScouts6
    1 contribution
    Squirrel Scouts Visit
    We went on a visit to the cathedral with our local Squirrel Scouts troop who are aged 4-6 years old. Our amazing tour guide David gave us a tailored tour perfect for our squirrels age range and kept all the amazing information and key features of the cathedral to the interests of our squirrels. An amazing trip by all. Would 100% recommend for our youth groups and scouts to attend.
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 21, 2023
  • Ruth J
    Newbury, United Kingdom19 contributions
    Awesome experience
    Staying in Coventry for a few days and wanting to go somewhere different I decided to revisit Lichfield as it was fairly easy to reach by train, via Birmingham. I haven't been for over 10 years but it is every bit as lovely as I remember. The staff were so welcoming and knowledgeable, pointing out the things to look out for and telling me things I hadn't learned on previous visits. I was warmly invited to join in the eucharist and was made very welcome and it was nice to be included in the service which I found very moving. The cathedral is a little apart from the town but in a beautiful setting, with lots of information boards dotted around the town, which made it a very enjoyable experience. I definitely learned more of the history of this lovely little town.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 8, 2023
  • Zeva2010
    World672 contributions
    Stunning cathedral
    this is a stunning cathedral...entry is by donations but you don't need to donate anything if you don't wish too. The staff are very friendly about this, saying you dinged to donate if you didn't want to, and of course, we did donate but I loved the fact they weren't pushy at all and genuinely said we didn't need to and there was no pressure too. And it's such a beautiful cathedral you can't help but donate so they can have funds towards the upkeep.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 23, 2023
  • D3bz
    Walsall, United Kingdom70 contributions
    Stunning cathedral
    Haven't been here since I was a child, so thought I'd visit again & it's still a stunning cathedral. Beautiful inside, & the grounds are wonderful too, nice & clean, where you can sit & have a bite to eat. There is a small donation, if you want to. People are so welcoming, lots to look at, & read about, worth a visit.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 12, 2023
  • thorphere
    Leicester, United Kingdom10 contributions
    Stunning building.
    Stunningky beautiful building. It's much bigger than we expected. Voluntary donation to look round or a small fee for a guided tour. Some amazing historical books and artefacts. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 29, 2023
  • Mary W
    Aberystwyth, United Kingdom14 contributions
    Two hours well spent
    Visited the Cathedral last week. Ir is beautiful and there is lots to see. The interactive visitor panels provide a lot of information. Highly recommend going on the guided tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a good way of imparting information.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 10, 2023
  • kathy b
    Ashby de la Zouch, United Kingdom4,082 contributions
    Meatloaf by Candle Light.
    Attended the Meatloaf by Candle light concert on Friday evening. Amazing and emotional experience enjoying powerful, passionate yet tender singing with superb musicians in this stunning Cathedral. Dissapointed that once the show started you couldn`t see a candle. However, it was an awesome experience. Thanks to all the staff and volunteers for a great evening.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 23, 2023
  • OldWulf
    Wolverhampton, United Kingdom385 contributions
    Queen by Candlelight, unorthodox but wow!
    Whoever had the brainwave to put on a Queen tribute act in the cathedral needs rewarding . Folk who go to live in this quiet city are not used to having their ear drums rattled but what an amazing concert in this stunning setting. The band totally nailed it, every song on the Greatest Hits register from the melancholic Days of our Lives to the raucous Don't Stop Me Now, the singalong Someone to Love and the wonderful finale of Bohemian Rhapsody. OK it wasn't really Freddie, Brian, John & Roger but it did actually sound like Queen without descending into karaoke. The audience of mostly 50+ grandparents had dragged younger family members along to hear what proper live music sounds like but it wasn't long before they were up and bopping in the aisles joining in with the words we all know. Up in music heaven Freddie would have been watching and listening, in his words Who wants to Live Forever was well and truly answered.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 18, 2023
  • Jean C
    The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom7 contributions
    Excellent Tour
    We have visited the Cathedral many times but never had a guided tour. What a brilliant experience, Graham our guide gave us the full history of the building, explaining stories of the construction and pointing out items of interest we would never have seen without a guide. Thank you Graham, we were so impressed with your knowledge.
    Lichfield C
    So glad you enjoyed your tour, we'll see you again soon.
    Written September 7, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 30, 2023
  • Travellerclass
    Farnham, United Kingdom1,149 contributions
    Great hour spent here.
    We loved our visit to Lichfield Cathedral. Entry is free but they do ask you to support the place by making a voluntary contribution as you go around. The building is under renovation at the moment with scaffolding all around one of the three spires. Parking in the immediate area of the Cathedral is non existent with signs everywhere telling you NOT to park so be aware. There is a pay and display car park just opposite the Cathedral on the main road which was fine. The history, architecture and monuments within the building are superb and worth a visit.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 18, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
2,101 reviews
Excellent
1,600
Very good
427
Average
54
Poor
10
Terrible
10
Big_Jeff_Leo
St Helens, UK21,978 contributions
Jewel of the City
Mar 2022
Famous for its three spires, this Cathedral is really spectacular. The architecture and stonework are outstanding with many carved figures both inside and outside. The stained glass is also outstanding particularly at the right time of day when the light shines through. There's a lot to explore here, and you should calculate at least 1.5 hours to inspect most of the artworks and monuments. The entry is free, and you're allowed to take pictures at no extra cost. Take advantage of one of the free tours as your really will get the best out of your visit. Don't also miss the opportunity to explore the Cathedral Close which has a story entirely of its own.
Written March 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David B
Oxford, UK48 contributions
What a disappointment
Jul 2021
We checked the cathedral web site and saw that the cathedral had restricted opening for a few days - no indication of why, so we went ahead with a visit. I wish we hadn't...

Most of the cathedral was inaccessible due to a music event. The rest of the cathedral was more like a warehouse than an historic place of worship, with chairs lined up to form a narrow one-way system for visitors. The chairs prevented close-up viewing of the historic features and the music event meant you couldn't appreciate the fantastic architecture.

When I mentioned this to one of the staff, I got an officious 'COVID' excuse. The cathedral needs to learn from other cathedrals how to properly manage visitors; the previous day we were in Chester and the cathedral, staff and COVID management were absolutely perfect! If you have the choice, go to Chester instead...
Written July 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheekycockney190757
Basildon, UK8,458 contributions
Beautifull building inside and out
Oct 2021
Visited on Sunday 24th October 2021. Parked in Parking Lichfield opposite the Minster Pool, which was convenient for the Cathedral. The walk-up The Close Road provides a stunning view framed by the houses. We walked all the way around the Cathedral before walking in and this provides opportunities to view the building in all its glory as the surrounding buildings frame the Cathedral. Once inside the cathedral is similar to other major cathedrals in structure and unfortunately, the relationship with the visual artist the cathedral has didn't result in an interesting display on our visit but check the cathedral website to see what is on when you visit though some require payment I understand. Inside there are opportunities to make a contribution using contactless payment.
Written March 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bonjgb1009
Poole, UK873 contributions
Definitely a Cathedral with its own beauty
Feb 2020
Lichfield Cathedral with its unique three spires may not be as large or as ornate at other UK cathedrals, but walking along The Close the first views of the cathedral is impressive, even dark. The closer you get you realise how spectacular it is, especially the front facade with its enormous number of statues. It definitely has its own specific beautiful. Walk around the outside the rest is equally as good.
Inside is just as impressive. The structure, columns, arches, roof stonework and the beautiful stained-glass windows put it on a par with many other cathedrals. It may not have the grandeur of many but it has its own grandness. The memorials on the walls are very interesting especially the military memorials of the various Staffordshire Regiments and the impact of the various local residents and dignitaries.
Entrance to the cathedral was free, brilliant, donations were discretionary but when given they are very appreciative. The free guided tours taking about 45 mins, at various times during the day are well worth taking if you have the time. The guides, taking small groups, are so knowledgeable and informative and seem happy in their job.
Well worth the visit and fi in Lichfield should not be missed. We will go back.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jeand1624
Lichfield, UK215 contributions
Beautiful Cathedral
Jan 2020 • Solo
It doesn't matter how many times I visit this beautiful cathedral there is always something new to see. Christmas is an especially beautiful time with the gorgeous tree displays that have been decorated by people from schools and businesses in the community. There is the Lichfield Gospels exhibition and ofcourse the Lichfield Angel which was found in 2003 during excavations beneath the nave floor. You can sit quietly and reflect or just take in the architecture.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MrsB707
Birmingham, UK15 contributions
Not worth the money, poor.
Dec 2021 • Family
We had tickets for the cathedral illuminated, unfortunately the organisers changed it to outdoor only due to Covid, which I could not really see why, on the original instructions it stated to wear a face mask and to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test, which we would have adhered to. Why then change it to outdoor only? The show outside lasted about 30 mins, all the children were bored.
Would not go again. Might have been a different story if it was also inside. Not worth the money.
Written December 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne T
Rugby, UK11 contributions
Warm Welcome Despite Restricted Access
Sep 2020
We arrived at 11 am to find that under the current restrictions we couldn't visit the interior of the Cathedral until 1.30 which was a disappointment. There was an opportunity for quiet prayer at 11.30 and we sat quietly and peacefully in this beautiful building. We will return in due course to have a proper look around. But what was outstanding was the extremely warm welcome we received from the volunteers manning the door. They were obviously passionate about the building and apologetic that they were unable to welcome visitors in the normal way. They answered our questions and encouraged us to return, which we will. In these difficult times it was good just to 'be', and this was probably far more beneficial than seeing it a site seeing visit.
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlisonandSimon87
Hertford, UK8 contributions
Disappointing not to be able to visit
Nov 2020
We were looking forward to visiting the Cathedral while staying in Lichfield. So we arrived at 1545, with 15 mins left of admission time left (and 45 mins of visiting time), to be told quite abruptly that 'we're closing early today' and the door almost slammed in our faces. No hint of explanation or apology. We did email the Cathedral to explain our frustration and disappointment, but without any response so far.
From the outside it is a stunning structure with an unusual 3 spire design so should be well worth a visit.
Written November 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff M
Paris, France193 contributions
Interesting cathedral
May 2022
If you like wandering around English cathedrals, this one is pretty good. The interior is much as you'd expect. The welcome was friendly, and they didn't charge a fee, merely asked if we'd like to make a donation, which is fair.
Written May 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TriciaBishop
Bradford, UK1,502 contributions
Amazing cathedral
Aug 2021 • Couples
Enjoyed a walk around this beautiful medieval cathedral whilst visiting Lichfield for the first time. Both the interior and exterior are amazing and you can see the different age of the various areas.
There was an exhibition of scientists through the ages which I really enjoyed. I would love to return and take more time. A small donation is desired as the up keep of the cathedral is £6000 a day I think.
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Lichfield Cathedral

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Lichfield Cathedral is open:
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  • Mon - Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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