Days out to Burton-on-Trent and Lichfield

Tuesday 28^th June

We are staying put today and we are off to Burton-on-Trent on the bus.

Burton Indoor Martket

The sun was shining as we set off for the bus stop, through the Water Park and up the road past the shops to the main road, about a 10 to 15 minute walk.  We were catching the X12 bus and they do a bus ticket called a two stop ticket to Burton for £3 each.  Basically it’s a return ticket, but you don’t have to use the second ticket on the same day, you can use it on another day and also going the same way if you want.

Brown's where we had lunch

The bus came along and after a short bus ride we were in Burton.  We had a look around the shops, then went to the National Brewery Centre but didn’t do a tour as they were only twice a day and when we got there we were in between the times.

We then went back to the shop and went in a place called Brown’s and had lunch.  They did two meals for £6.99, we both had gammon steak, chips and peas, it was real good value and also we had lime and soda to drink and the girl who served me said I don’t charge for cordial so they were free!

National Brewery Centre

Langan's Tea Rooms

The sun shined all day so we had another stroll around the shops then went for a coffee in Langan’s Tea Rooms which were in a beautiful building, we thought it was going to be olde worlde and posh but it wasn’t, it was okay though.

We got the bus back to Branston and walked back to the boat.  Burton-on-Trent is a nice place and worth a visit.

Wednesday 29^th June

It was raining when we got up this morning and the forecast was not good all day, so we decided to stay put and get the bus to Lichfield.

Lichfield

We walked up to the bus stop. We were catching the X12 again, it goes along the A38 to Lichfield so doesn’t take very long.  They do a bus ticket called a Duo for £7 for both of us.  It is a two stop ticket for two people, very good value. 

Dr Johnson's Birthplace Museum

We got to Lichfield and were walking around and came across The Birthplace Museum  of Dr Samuel Johnson.  The house was built in 1707-8 for Samuel’s parents Michael and Sarah.  It served as both the Johnson family home and Michael’s bookshop.  Samuel was born in the large room on the first floor in September 1709.  He left Lichfield in 1737 to find work as a writer in London and published his Dictionary of the English Language in 1755.  He became one of the greatest celebrities of his day.

Gin Menu

Our Gins

We had a good look around the house, it was really interesting.

 

We carried on walking around the shops and then came across The George Hotel which was advertising a Gin Menu so of course we had to go inside and try one.  I had Haymans Old Tom Gin and Kev had  Death’s Door, they were both really lovely.

We then went to Lichfield Cathedral and had a look around.  It really is a lovely Cathedral.  It was then time for a bit of lunch so we went to the Faro Lounge and Tapas, which was absolutely delicious.

 

Tapas Lunch

Lots of Spires in Lichfield

Suitably full, we had another walk around. The weather was not very good and it kept raining on and off so before we went to catch the bus, we went for a coffee and a toasted tea cake at The Tudor tea rooms in a really old building which has been a family business since 1935 and the tea cakes are made to Granny Burns-Mace’s secret recipe and the lady who served us, it was actually her granny and I must say they were really yummy.

Lovely windows in Cathedral

Lichfield Cathedral

We then caught the bus back to Branston and the sun was actually out when we got off the bus and had stayed out ever since so that is good.  Let’s hope its dry tomorrow as we are on the move.