Lichfield Greenhill Bower

What to expect

The day begins at 10.30am with the Court of Arraye in the Guildhall, where the Mayor, Sheriff and city officials inspect an assembly of men in armour and hear the Dozeners report on the state of the city's defences. Entry is free but space is limited. At noon the Bower Queen is crowned outside the Guildhall and the Bower Procession sets off, with marching bands, dancers, community groups and carnival floats winding through the city. A funfair runs in the city centre and the afternoon moves on to Beacon Park for stalls and rides.

The story behind it

The Court of Arraye is older than its records. The custom was in place by the 12th century and was confirmed by the Statute of Winchester in 1285, which required towns to keep men ready to defend them. Lichfield's version became a yearly muster, and the townsfolk who attended were given the rest of the day off, which grew into the Bower, a holiday with its roots in the Middle Ages.

Getting there and home

Lichfield City station, on the Cross City line from Birmingham New Street, is a short walk from the Guildhall on Bore Street. Lichfield Trent Valley, on the West Coast main line, is about a mile and a half from the centre. Expect road closures in the city centre during the procession. There are several city-centre car parks, but they fill quickly on Bower day, so the train is easiest.

Watching, taking part and tips

The procession is made up of local groups, and the Court of Arraye is performed by the city's officials and costumed volunteers; visitors watch. Arrive early at the Guildhall if you want to see the court, as seats are limited. Find a spot on the procession route around midday. It is free and very family-friendly. Bring sun cream and a raincoat, as late May can go either way, and some cash for the fair.

Where to watch

The Bower's organiser treats the street procession and the event in Beacon Park as two different things. Work out which matters more to you before picking where to arrive: watching a parade go by is a different outing from an afternoon among the park activities. The organiser's homepage shows free park entry for 2026, but says nothing yet about next year's programme, attractions or what individual activities might cost.

Keep the council's customs information and the volunteer organisers' updates in separate boxes. The civic observance and the wider Bower celebration are covered by different people, so check with whoever runs the part you're going to. Being able to watch from the street doesn't mean there's room for you inside a civic building. For the procession, wait for this year's route before choosing a kerb or arranging to meet someone. Keep road junctions and performers' entrances clear, and don't try to tail a float through a packed crowd. If you want both the ceremony and the park, leave yourself breathing space to get between them, rather than trusting an old timetable to the minute.

Make a day of it nearby

For another side of Lichfield's history, try the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. The writer's family home tells his life story across five floors, with his dictionary, hands-on activities and family trails. General admission is free and donations are welcome. If stairs are an issue, read the museum's access information, and look for planned closures before making a special trip.

Lichfield Cathedral offers architecture, historic objects and a changing programme in a working place of worship. Its website separates sightseeing from services and lists changes to visitor access around events. Check the calendar for your actual date, since open doors don't always mean the whole building is open. Each is a separate visit with its own arrangements, even within one city day out. Pick one if you only have a little spare time, or give them a day of their own if the Bower is your main draw. A museum or cathedral is far nicer at a gentle pace than squeezed between bagging a parade spot and heading to the park.

Accessibility and families

Ask about one specific part of the Bower at a time. If your group needs seats for the Court of Arraye, a wheelchair-height view of the street procession or decent routes around Beacon Park, raise each question separately. A family-friendly description of the whole day can't tell you about surfaces, toilets or crowd arrangements at every spot. We haven't found any reserved accessible viewing for the next edition.

The Bower is run by a small volunteer team, funded through sponsorship, grants and fundraising. Get in touch early if you need a detailed answer, and be clear about the venue and the help you're asking for. With children, decide how much of the day is realistic before moving on from the civic ceremony to rides or park activities. Choose a simple meeting point away from the route, keep bags small in the crowd and agree when you'll set off for the train. If someone wants a quieter break, find the spot before the procession arrives; an empty-looking patch may be part of the working route, not a place to sit.

Questions people ask

Where it is

Map pin shows the approximate area where the event happens. Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

Go straight to the source

Independent research. The organiser’s own information always wins — we have not visited or tested the journeys.

• Lichfield City Council: customs and traditions ↗
• Lichfield City Council: civic events diary ↗
• Bower organisers:homepage and contacts ↗
• Lichfield City Council: customs and traditions ↗
• Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum:plan your visit ↗
• Lichfield Cathedral ↗