Living in Lichfield: A Small City Guide for Home Swappers

Families are well served for choice. Five Spires Academy, St Michael's C of E, St Joseph's RC, St Chad's C of E and St Peter's & St Paul's RC primaries are all within about half a mile of the centre, so a short school run is realistic.

For older children there is King Edward VI School, The Friary School, The Bridge Academy and Queen's Croft High School, a special school, all within about a mile. Check admissions and catchment with the council before you commit, as being close does not guarantee a place.

Outside school hours there are Scout groups, including the 6th and 7th Lichfield Scouts, plus community spaces such as The Lichfield Hub and Nurture Community CIC. Across Staffordshire, under-16s make up 17.1% of the population, a little below the England figure of 18.6%.

This is one of Lichfield's strongest points. There are two train stations within walking or a short bus ride: Lichfield City is about 0.2 miles from the centre, and Lichfield Trent Valley is just over a mile. Two stations in a city this size is unusual and useful.

Lichfield bus station is in the middle of town, with a stop at the Old Library right beside it. Other stops, including The Whytmore and Agincourt Road, serve areas about a mile out.

With the shops, library, schools and hospital all inside a mile of the centre, plenty of people here manage without a car. If you do drive, bear in mind the centre is old and compact, so parking is part of the deal rather than an afterthought.

Green space is close by. Minster Pool, Stowe Fields, the Garden of Remembrance and the grounds of the Franciscan Friary are all within a quarter of a mile of the centre, so a walk or a picnic costs nothing.

The Lichfield Garrick Theatre is the main venue in town, doubling as the local cinema-style screen. The Lichfield Food Festival takes place in the centre too. For nights out there is a good spread of pubs and bars within a few minutes' walk, including The George IV, Faro Lounge and The Dirty Cow, plus Bar Home for later.

If you exercise, there are several gyms in and around the centre, from Gymophobics and Energie Fitness to outdoor public gym equipment near the parks.

Lichfield is a service and retail city rather than an industrial one. Shops, hospitality, the hospital and schools are the visible local employers, and the two train stations open up commuting to Birmingham and beyond if your work is elsewhere.

Across Staffordshire, 57.1% of adults are in work, close to the England figure of 57.4%. Unemployment sits at 2.6% against 3.5% for England, and 2.8% of working-age people claimed unemployment-related benefits in August 2026, below the England figure of 4%.

In plain terms, the wider county's job market is about average or slightly better, and Lichfield's transport links mean you are not limited to work inside the city.

Social housing is tighter here than in much of England. Across Staffordshire just 14.1% of homes are socially rented, made up of 4.9% council and 9.2% housing association, compared with 17.1% for England. Seven in ten homes are owned outright or on a mortgage.

That means fewer social homes in the mix, and it is a realistic reason why swaps into Lichfield can take patience. It does not mean it cannot happen, but be prepared to wait and to stay flexible.

The county also skews older: 22.2% are 65 or over against 18.4% for England, and there are fewer 25 to 44 year olds. If you want a very young, fast-changing area, this may feel settled to the point of quiet.