Lichfield Cathedral

4.8/5 based on 5161 reviews
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one of many that i have visited it is steeped in history had a good walk round outside as well
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nice building but not really so much different from any other cathedral
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The only medieval Cathedral in Britain with three spires

Pros:
Entry by donation.
Wheelchair ramp at entrance/exit.
Friendly and helpful staff.
Free map leaflet available.
Numerous information signs.
Superb architecture.
Beautiful stain glassed windows. 
Well stocked gift shop.
Cathedral coffee shop located across the road. Toilets located here. 
Souvenir guide (£3.99) available from the shop.

Cons:
None
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Make a day of Litchfield by spending an hour in the cathedral then stroll the streets and check out the street Market.
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Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
So much to see and great services, a great Cathedral to visit.
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Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Stumbled on Lichfield whilst on a business trip. The Cathedral is extremely beautiful. The admission is free, although donations are gratefully received. Their are guides who will show you around. We walked around ourselves and found the leaflet given to us on arrival explained what everything was. Well worth a visit
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This is underated as it is a beutiful cathedral in a lovely town. Guided tours are interesting
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There is something very strange about this cathedral. It was probably 'restored' during the 19th century within an inch of its life, and the decorations, particularly outside, are far too convoluted for my taste. BUT, the cathedral is more than the sum of its parts. Looked at as a whole, inside as well as outside, it is absolutely magnificant. Its unique three spires are a delight coming into the town from the A5 (where the Staffordshire Hoard was found), and they only get better as you enter the close and see the great west window. Inside, the chapter house often presents samples of the hoard, alongside the permanent Saxon exhibits, the St Chad's Gospel (eat your heart out Book of Kells) and the only recently discovered Saxon angel. probably from a pillaged shrine to St Chad. These treasures alone make a visit to the English Midlands worthwhile, but in the context of the cathedral, the cathedral close, and the town of Lichfield itself, this really is a treasure of international worth.
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I recently moved to the area with my partner, he has lived in the area all his life but i am from a different county. I was quite interested in learning some of the city's history so we visited the Cathedral. there was an optional donation charge on entry and you could go to the little shop inside to purchase a program detailing some of the history. We had a walk around and were quite breath taken at some of the stories and tales available. there were several members of helpful staff who answered some questions we had. The building itself is quite remarkable.
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Lichfield.

We visited this places as part of a National Coaches Mystery Trip, a place I have heard of but could never place it on a map or actually been, we were in for a surprise. We pulled into the coach park then set about exploring another piece of England that was just a place on a map. What we actually found was a beautiful, clean and pretty place, more so in the glorious sunshine.

We walked around the centre and shopping area and the place was buzzing, this bit of summer certainly brings out folk. We walked on to the Minster Pool, and again people sat down on the grass bank and on the benches just chilling by the water, all very relaxing. Ducks and swans were in abundance and of course were getting well fed.

From there it was to a place I didn't know Lichfield was famous for, the Cathedral. Now on first looks of the building it is weather worn and slightly dirty. Restoration has taken place and you can see the difference in the stone work, but much still needs to be done. But going around to the front of the building and my jaw dropped as there was one of the most amazing ornate entrances to a religious building that I have ever seen.

The whole front has many statues of, I should imagine, historical figures over the whole area not so much gargoyles but whole statues. There are many reference to the Civil War and the free leaflet you can pick up inside gives a brief informative description of the building and its history. Once inside however, and like many Churches and Cathedral's they are a magnificence emblem of architecture and history.

Entrance is free but a donation would be appreciated and also there is a £2 charge for taking pictures, passes can be obtained from the Cathedral shop across the road. It’s a small price to pay to see and take pictures of the history it has on show, take your time as there are lots of little enclaves off the main Cathedral building. From there we walked along the pool and came across another gem, a park.

Not just any old park but a huge area of greenery and beauty, with a boat pond and a magnificent children's play area. This park I believe is called Beacon Park and even though we ventured for quite a way there was still acres we didn't get to see. We had walked quite a bit in the heat my wife and I so we needed a little light refreshment. So we headed back to the shopping area and got a seat outside of the Costa Coffee place, then enjoyed a cup of tea or two.

And then you have a chance to look around and notice how clean and tidy the area is, not just the shopping area but Lichfield itself seems nearly litter and chewing gum free. I realised why when a council employee, I think, was constantly going round doing a litter pick and scraping up any little piece of chewing gum, the bane of our footpaths today, that happened to have been dropped.

We had been in Lichfield for about 4hrs but what a 4hrs it turned out to be. It is not just a place on the map like it was before but somewhere that should be proud of what it shows to a visitor, a clean, tidy place to visit. I cannot comment on any other aspect such as night life or things to do for a longer stay but for a day trip, or just a few hours, then Lichfield is worth that few hours of your time if you happen to be in the area, and another gem from National Coaches.
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Easy to reach by train and set in a peaceful part of the city with lakes and green spaces either side. The cathedral was built over a shorter period than many so has coherence.

The first floor chapel where St Chad's remains were once kept has a particularly calm feel to it. The pedi lavium is most unusual and the Anglo Saxon angel carving truly beautiful.

There is no charge for entry and the welcome was a warm one. It was a pity that no guided tour was available as these do enhance visits greatly. The lady watching over the treasures was very knowledgable and enthusiastic.

We visited Lichfield shortly after visiting Coventry cathedral, a good way of getting a feel for what was lost in the blitz.

The cafe was good and don't miss a visit to Erasmus Darwin's house opposite the west front.
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Whatever your faith, or none, the Cathedral is the beating heart of the local community. After all, it's down to the Cathedral that we are a small city. The Cathedral has been around for centuries, although its sandstone exterior has blackened somewhat in the years since the industrial revolution. It is unique for its three spires, and during the Civil War one was destroyed following vigorous exchanges between the roundheads and cavaliers. You can see contemporary drawings of the temporarily two-spired Cathedral which makes it look like look a mutilated carcass. The spire was restored and during the nineteenth century the frontage, with its serried ranks of statues, and other parts of the Cathedral were extensively restored. If you go round the east side look out for the eroded form of James 1, who under his stone canopy, looked as though he were taking a brisk shower. Inside if you look down the length of the nave from the entrance you will notice that the choir takes a slight deviation in angle from the main body of the church so that it looks slightly skew-whiff. Many explanations have been advanced for this but no one is wholly certain why. The first time you see it you assume you have had one too many. Inside are many wonders but look out for the Anglo-Saxon stone angel and the Lichfield Gospels. The former, which was uncovered a few years back has resulted in a wholesale revision of the notions of statuary representation of the anglo-saxon period as the fully perspectivised facial features had not previously been thought to be within the compass of contemporary sculptors. The Gospels are a wonder- comparable to the Book of Kells. Look out for the elaborate celtic-style plates depicting elaborate intertwinings of flamingo-type and other creatures, vertiginously repeating ad infinitum. Lots goes on in the Cathedral from concerts to the biennial Mystery Plays. The annual Music festival has the Cathedral as its centrepiece and there always seems to be something going on. The clergy when encountered are erudite, witty and engaging. Even for someone for whom Dover Beach set in motion an unstoppable tide, it is a fine place to be in. A serious house on serious earth .. if only that so many dead lie around, as the poet had it. Enjoy it.
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We were told by our coach guide that this was the second most visited Cathedral in the Country.
For those that like such place fine.
The downside if disabled is the steep drop walk to the Cathedral tea shop and toilets.
Some of our group found a side exit whcih made the journey much easier for some of our party of elderly ladies.
This was not mentioned by the staff when asked by myself who told me to go out of the Cathredral and walk right round the outside.
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We were in Lichfield on the weekend of The Mysteries, in May 2012. We got to see most of the Cathedral's interior, although some was roped off due to stage settings for The Mysteries. Wonderful architecture and history there, one of the best I have ever seen. It's huge, and when the exterior is lit, it is magical. The exterior is just as wonderful as the interior, the carvings and statues...it boggles the mind of how they could build something like this ages ago.
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The roof and the gothic design, the history of the people who were involved. The war between the Cavaliers and the Roundheads.
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Why go abroad to see wonderful cathedrals when we have them on our doorstep.
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This is truly a hidden gem. I have been to the major religious sites in the world - Angkor Wat, Borobodur, Notre Dame, the Temple Plain of Bagan, but this is up there with the best. It is also free to view. The cathedral dominates the small picturesque town and the carvings and stone works of the facade are wonderful. Awe inspiring.
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This is the 3rd time I have visited Lichfield, this time taking my parents for a day out. It never ceases to amaze what a magnificant building it is. Well worth a day out to see it, also it lovely to walk around the lake at Lichfield (next to town centre), and get a view of the cathedral from the far side. (Lichfield also has a few nice shops and lovely church in the centre).
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Lichfield Cathedral is full of beauty and history. If you have a sense of history is is well worth spending some time at the various points of interest inside. Some are marked with a sign, others can be identified using a simple map available at the entrance, or you can buy one of the tourist booklets if you've got spare cash. But do not move on until you have taken some time admiring the old statues outside on the West Front. It is like a history lesson.
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We arrived early evening one hour before evensong. The choir stalls were having the candles lit and there was another arear being set up for a classical symphony orchestra for an hour later. It was very atmospheric and beautiful. A must if visiting the area.
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it is a magnificent cathedral, well worth a visit, and this year the olympic torch will be seen there,
tripadvisor.co.uk
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Within walking distance of the centre (only a few mins) this is well worth a visit,

lots of history here very impressive frontage and of cource "3" spires.

People friendly, very happy to help and very heppy to discuss anything where you have questions.

Allocate at least a couple of hours, cafe just outside which works also.
tripadvisor.co.uk
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Its a beautiful cathedral, very unusual with its three spires. the atmosphere is one of peace and worship.
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Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is one of the most impressive cathedrals ive ever been to. It is a beautiful building, so much work must have gone into it. Inside it is just as impressive, there is a chapel for silent prayer that you must go up stairs to get to, it was really nice to stand at the top of the stairs on a balcony and look down onto the cathedral floor. Personally i never take photos inside cathedrals, but they asked you to buy a £2 permit to take pictures and a £3 one for videos.
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A lovely, peaceful place. A good reminder of what Coventry Cathedral would have looked like before World War 2!
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