Famed for its three-spired cathedral and profuse Georgian architecture, Lichfield is a glorious city 16 miles north of Birmingham. The cathedral is the obligatory first port of call, for its Gothic lines, invaluable Flemish stained glass and an 8th-century carving of an angel. Enveloping this monument is one of the UK’s most unspoilt Cathedral Closes, an enclave previously reserved for clergy and endowed with solemn houses dating mostly from Medieval times to the 18th century.
The National Memorial Arboretum 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.