Lichfield Cathedral
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Lichfield
What it’s like
Wander a genuinely huge medieval cathedral for free, spot the carved Lichfield Angel, and climb the library's spiral steps if legs allow.
There's no ticket booth here. You just walk in through the main door and have a look round, with a suggested donation of £5 a head if you feel like leaving one. That makes it an easy one to slot into a day in the city without committing to anything, and step-free access at the main entrance means a buggy isn't a problem.
Kids get pointed towards the Lichfield Angel, a carved stone panel that's genuinely old, plus the Herkenrode stained glass and some medieval wall paintings dotted about. If you fancy more of a mission, there are Library Tours that take you up 35 spiral steps, which is either a highlight or a hard no depending on how your child feels about tight staircases. Worth knowing that daily services (Morning Prayer, Eucharist, Evening Prayer or Choral Evensong) happen right through opening hours, and the east end sometimes closes off during these, so a visit can get interrupted if your timing's unlucky.
The catch that'll actually affect your plans is the toilets: there are none inside the building itself, so you need to head to The Old Stables next door if anyone needs a wee. The café there is also mid-refurbishment and shut until May 2026, so factor that into how long you plan to stay, since there's nowhere on site to grab a coffee or a snack while you're here. Parking is another one to sort in advance, as there's nothing in the Close beyond a handful of Blue Badge spaces, meaning everyone else is heading for the city car parks and walking in.
Dogs on leads are allowed inside during visitor hours, which is a nice touch if you're doing a family walk around the city and don't want to leave the dog in the car. Last entry is 16:30, so don't turn up at ten to five expecting a proper look round.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- No set age range given, but the library steps suit kids old enough to climb stairs alone
- Last entry
- 16:30
- Parking
- No public parking in the Close
- Wheelchairs
- Step-free access at main entrance
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs welcome on leads during visitor opening hours
- Getting there by bus or train
- Lichfield City station 10-minute walk
- Services happen through the day, so the east end sometimes closes off while these are on.
- Bring cash or card if you want to leave the suggested £5 donation.
- The Library Tour involves 35 spiral steps, so it's not one for buggies or dodgy knees.
- The gift shop is inside the Cathedral itself if you want a souvenir on the way out.
Plan your visit
Is it free to get in?
Yes, entry is by donation with a suggested £5 per person, but nobody's checking your pockets on the way in.
Do we need to book?
Just turn up during opening hours and check in at the desk. Some tours and special events do need booking separately.
What time do you need to arrive by?
Last entry is 16:30 both on weekdays and Sundays, even though the building stays open until 5pm.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The café near The Old Stables is closed for refurbishment until May 2026, so you're looking at the cafés in the city a short walk away.
Are there toilets inside?
Not inside the Cathedral itself. You'll need to pop into The Old Stables next door, which also has accessible facilities.
Can we park nearby?
There's no public parking in the Close, just a small number of Blue Badge spaces. Everyone else uses the city car parks and walks in.
Are dogs allowed?
Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome during visitor opening hours.
Is it accessible with a pushchair or wheelchair?
The main entrance has step-free access, and there are Blue Badge parking spaces in the Close for those who need them.
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