His Majesty King Charles III to visit Lichfield Cathedral
We are honoured and excited to announce that on Monday 27 October we will be welcoming His Majesty King Charles III to Lichfield Cathedral.
The Rt Revd Jan McFarlane, Dean of Lichfield said: “We are thrilled to welcome His Majesty King Charles III to Lichfield Cathedral, 14 years after The Late Queen Elizabeth II, visited us. We are so proud of our magnificent Cathedral and City, and it means a great deal to everyone to be able to show our King all that is happening in our community. We very much hope that residents of our fine city will line the streets to greet our King with enthusiastic cheers.”
Public viewing areas will be set up around The Close, with public access from 9:00 am. Please note: there is limited capacity and once this area is safely filled, access to the Close will be closed and the public will be directed to Beacon Street, where they can get a view of the convoy's arrival. There will be no parking (including blue badge) on site on Monday 27 October until 13:00.
For more information on public access, please read the FAQs below:
FAQS
Who is visiting Lichfield Cathedral on Monday 27 October?
His Majesty King Charles III will be visiting Lichfield Cathedral on his way to another local venue on Monday 27 October 2025.
Can I come to see the King?
King Charles III will see invited guests inside the Cathedral, including volunteers and choirs from around the area.
Whilst entry to the Cathedral will be for invited guests only, there will be provision made for those who wish to greet the King on his arrival
What time can I arrive to greet the King?
General public are invited to arrive from 09:00 on Monday 27 October where entrance to The Close will be controlled (please don’t arrive earlier) and from Dam Street only. We expect the visit to finished by 12pm at the latest, with the Cathedral reopening to the public afterwards.
Where will I be able to see the King?
Limited provision has been made at the front of the Cathedral on grassed and pavement areas for the public to welcome the King on his arrival and departure from Lichfield Cathedral.
Please be aware that there is limited capacity in The Close itself and pedestrian access via Dam Street only will be police-controlled, with security undertaking bag searches. Once the capacity in The Close is reached, public will be directed to Beacon Street for a glimpse of the convoy as it arrives and leaves.
How accessible is the experience?
The viewing area will be from a sloping grass bank. This will suit pushchairs but not wheelchairs, mobility scooter, or for visitors with mobility issues. There is a reserved hard standing space and to access it please make an event steward aware of your needs. There will be limited capacity and once this is full the viewing area on the north side of the Close is entirely flat and accessible.
Please note: there will be no seating available in the public viewing areas.
There is no parking on site, including no accessible parking. For nearby city car parks with accessible bays, visit the Lichfield City car park map.
An accessible toilet will be available near the Dam Street entrance of the Close. However, access may be temporarily restricted as the convey moves around the site. This is some distance from the viewing area and therefore we recommend using the facilities as you arrive.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, but we would ask that your dog is kept under control throughout your visit.
How do I get there?
Access to the Close via Dam Street will be solely on foot, with security and police checks in place at both entrances. There will be strictly no cars or pedestrians permitted access from Beacon Street and no parking, including no accessible bays, will be available on the day.
Are there any restrictions?
We ask that you only bring what is necessary, no large bags, just small handbag size. Bags will be subject to searches on the day. The Close is private land and the Cathedral reserves the right to refuse entry.
Where can I park?
There will be no parking on site, not even any accessible spaces. We suggest you use nearby carparks in the city (link to map)
What can I bring with me?
There will be bag searches in place so only bring what is necessary, a small handbag will be allowed but no large bags.
Are there toilets?
The only toilets we have available are those outside of the Cathedral near the Old Stables (opposite the statue of St Chad) and close to the entry from Dam Street. Access may be restricted as the convey moves around the Close. This is some distance from the viewing area and therefore we recommend using the facilities as you arrive.
Will the Cathedral be open to visitors?
We would warmly welcome you coming into the Cathedral once His Majesty the King has left, to see the Fenland Black Table. The Cathedral will open to visitors from 12:00-17:00. Entry is by donation.
Where can I find out more about The Fenland Black Oak Table?
Come and view this spectacular 13-meter-long table made from a section of 5,000-year-old black oak. The 'Table for the Nation' was created for Diamond Jubilee of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The Table will be in residency at Lichfield Cathedral for 1 year, until May 2026 and can be seen during usual visitor opening hours.
On Tuesday 28 October at 19:00 the founder of The Fenland Black Oak Project, Hamish Low will be giving an illustrated talk in Lichfield Cathedral, if you wish to learn more about this fascinating table.
Please send any press and media enquiries to marketing@lichfield-cathedral.org