Lichfield St Albans 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.

Located in the county of Hertfordshire, the city of St Albans is a historic market town and is now a dormitory town within the London commuter belt being only about 20 miles to the north of London. The St Albans Museum service runs two museums. The Verulamium Museum, which tells the story of everyday life in Roman Britain using objects from the excavations of the important Roman Town and the Museum of St Albans, which focuses on the history of the town and of Saint Alban. The Watercress nature reserve is by the River Ver and is run by the Watercress Wildlife Association.

St Albans is not a large city and it is possible to walk from one edge to the other in about one hour. Most bed and breakfasts, hotels and attractions require a shorter walk. The main railway station is roughly 10 minutes walk from the city centre with the St Albans Abbey railway station located down a steep hill right next to the Verulamium Park and near the Abbey itself, which is around 15 minutes walk. St Albans is well linked to neighbouring towns by bus, although despite the distances, journey times are relatively long. There is also a frequent direct bus service to London Heathrow Airport.