Lichfield Gloucester Train

Lichfield Cathedral. in the Staffordshire city of Lichfield, is dedicated to St Chad and Saint Mary and is located in the Staffordshire city of Lichfield. The cathedral has an internal length of 113 meters and is 21 meters wide. The cathedral's central spire is 77 meters high and its western spires are both around 58 meters high. The cathedral was constructed out of local sandstone which was quarried for a site to the south of the city. Interestingly, the walls of the nave lean slightly outwards due to the weight of the stone used in the vaulted ceiling. The stained glass window of the Lady Chapel contains some of the finest medieval Flemish painted glass, having originally come from the Abbey of Herkenrode in Belgium in 1801. Modern day Lichfield has retained its status as an ecclesiastical centre and the city has managed retained over 200 listed buildings.

In the 18th century Lichfield became a busy coaching centre where Inns and hostelries grew in order to provide accommodation. Industries dependent on the coaching trade such as coach builders, corn and hay merchants, saddlers and tanneries also began to thrive. The main source of wealth to the city came from the money generated by its many visitors. However, the invention of the railways saw a decline in coach travel, and with it came the decline in Lichfield's prosperity.

The city of Gloucester is located in the county of Gloucestershire and lies close to the border with Wales. The city, which also lies on the River Severn, has a rich past dating back to Roman times. At the heart of the city, and standing in College Green, is the Norman cathedral with its breathtaking fan-vaulted cloisters and great east window. From the cathedral it is only a short walk down narrow cobbled streets, past historical buildings, to the main shopping area in the city. From there it is, once again, a short walk to the Victorian Docks with its now converted warehouses. In the docks you are likely to see all manner of vessels from narrow boats to sea going ships. The city is also an excellent base from which to explore the surrounding area and take in the splendour of the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean. The Cotswolds is an area of rolling hills which rise from the meadows of the upper Thames to an escarpment, known as the Cotswold Edge, above the Severn Valley and Evesham Vale. The Forest of Dean is an area of mixed ancient woodland and forms a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.