The ‘stunningly beautiful’ commuter town with homes £302,742 cheaper than London

There are two Michelin-star restaurants in the Staffordshire city (Picture: Getty Images) Just an hour and 12 minutes to Euston — but nestled in rolling countryside — it’s no wonder London leavers are flocking to Lichfield. Close to larger cities, including Birmingham, Nottingham and Stoke, the city is described as a ‘stunningly beautiful’ spot among it’s more built-up neighbours. And while residents tell Metro it was once viewed as an ‘old town, for old people’, times have certainly changed. Lichfield is regularly named among rankings of the UK’s best places to live, praised for its Michelin-star restaurants, independent shops and annual Lichfield Proms festival. According to estate agents Hunters, its appeal also lies in the fact there’s green space, access to good grammar schools, and faster purchase timelines. Considering a move? Here’s all you need to about living in Lichfield. Things to do in Lichfield Ready to start your homebuying journey? You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from: – Award winning service from the UK’s leading mortgage broker – Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week – Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice. Find out how much you could borrow online Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The cathedral famously has three spires (Picture: Getty Images) If you want to eat well, you could do a lot worse than Lichfield, as there’s two Michelin-starred restaurants in the small city. UPSTAIRS by Tom Shepherd, is famed for its signature seven-course tasting menu. Expect to be sampling things like beef tartare, red cabbage gazpacho, and trout. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Born and bred in the West Midlands, Tom’s restaurant got its moniker because it is located on the first floor, directly above his dad’s jewellery shop. For more first-class eats, there’s The Boat, which dishes out oysters, caviar, crab, and Orkney scallop. For more casual, yet still delicious, dining, Bore Street Bakery has become so popular that its pastries often sell out, and it’s even started selling its own merch. One Lichfield local tells Metro it’s the ‘best coffee’ in the city. Choosing to remain anonymous so as not to cause a caffeine-based civil war, he adds: ‘Bore Street is often in competition with other, lesser cafes for the title of best coffee. ‘People in Lichfield are quite territorial about it. You’ll see them walking around in the signature pink and black merch, so you know they’re on the right side.’ At this point we’d be remiss not to mention that the other contender for ‘best coffee’ title goes to another independent cafe, Melbourne, which also has its army of dedicated fans. For burgers, Patty Freaks has won awards for its ‘freaky creations’, including its Cinnabull, which features a smashed beef patty on a cinnamon knot (baked at, you guessed it, Bore Street). Lichfield is around 16 miles north of Birmingham (Picture: Getty Images) The restaurant is also home to a free retro gaming arcade, and a Pokemon card shop in the back. During the school holidays, they offer kids meals for just £1. And finally, for a slightly heady experience, head to Jungle St Kitchen, a world street food and bubble tea bar, serving Spanish, Mexican, Indian, Greek, South American and Vietnamese cuisine. There’s a kids menu (£7.95 for a main meal, drink and ice cream) and for adults, it’s BYOB — they don’t even charge corkage. For pubs, you’re spoilt for choice. At The Bowling Green, there’s still a bowling green outside, while the modern Work In Progress is a decent spot for craft beer. Or head Beerbohm, which specialises in Belgian beer. As for green space, there’s the 70-acre Beacon Park. It was previously given the Green Flag Award for its tidiness, and also has a nine-hole golf course, a children’s play area, and padel courts. Every year, on the first Saturday of September, the park plays host to Lichfield Proms, where families and friend groups pitch up with their tents and deckchairs, and sing along to sea shanties and Land Of Hope And Glory, with more than a few glasses of prosecco. House prices aren’t the cheapest, but they’re not diabolical (Picture: Getty Images) And, of course, there’s always the cathedral, which dates back to 659 and is known locally as the ‘Ladies of the Vale.’ The Concerts by Candlelight series has seen the back catalogues of Ed Sheeran, Whitney Houston, and Fleetwood Mac recreated in the spectacular setting. And, while you might have to head to the nearby bigger cities for some serious retail therapy, Lichfield has a thriving charity shop scene. Head to Oxfam Books to pick up a bestseller, while we’re told St Giles is the best for a fashion find. Other independent favourites include Arabella’s and Vintique Lichfield. Finally, Lichfield Library is located inside the former St Mary’s Church on the Market Square, where you can still admire the stain-glass windows. A community hub, it also hosts free concerts, exhibitions and talks, and can be hired out for private events too. What are house prices like in Lichfield? Let’s be clear, Lichfield is by no means the cheapest place to live in the country. But compared to other in-demand spots nearby, Lichfield fares pretty well. According to statistics from Rightmove, homes in the area have averaged out at £360,606 over the last year. Compare that to nearby spots like Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, which have an average home price of £416,897, and it’s quite the saving. It’s even more of a steal when you compare to London, where the typical value of a house is £663,348. There’s also two train stations (Lichfield Trent Valley and Lichfield City) for those who are considering the commute. The price for semi-detached properties in Lichfield is £317,876, while detached properties have gone for £553,304 and flats are £195,959. What do the locals say about living in Lichfield? Posting in the r/GoodNewsUK Subreddit, @something_python lives in Lichfield, having moved there as an adult. They wrote: ‘Great pubs and restaurants, a decent theatre with stuff for me and my wife, and stuff for the kids. Lots of parks and walks. A lovely town centre, and cathedral. Just a lovely place in general.’ Meanwhile, @ManipulativeAviator reckons the cathedral city has been ‘flying under the radar,’ while over on Facebook, Danielle Leigh described the town centre as ‘thriving,’ with plenty of coffee shops and eateries. Phil Poole said it ‘ticks all of your boxes,’ and Russell Cook labelled it a ‘beautiful area,’ with ‘plenty of parks and clubs for kids of all ages.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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