About Us

Johnson’s Birthplace has been a Museum to the writer and his times since 1901. The house was built for Johnson’s parents Sarah and Michael in 1708, and the family ran their bookshop business on the ground floor. Now a Grade I listing building, the Birthplace is a vibrant accredited museum with events and activities throughout the year. Visit our events and news pages for more details.

Please read our recent Tripadvisor reviews.

Accredited Museum Number 767

Dr Johnson’s Birthplace Trust is Registered Charity Number 500046

The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum is operated by Lichfield City Council.

Please read Lichfield City Council's Privacy Notice.

Find out more about our Museum, our audiences, and our plans for the future in our Forward Plan.

Opening Hours

The Museum and Bookshop is open every day (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day) and admission is Free.

1 March - 31 October 10.30am-4.30pm

1 November - 28 February 11.00am-3.30pm


Access to some rooms may occasionally vary due to events at the Museum, if you are making a special journey to the house then please contact us to find out about any changes that might affect your visit. Any planned closures will appear on this page.

Quotation mark

Knowledge is of two kinds.Quotation mark We know a subject ourselves,
or we know where we can find information upon it.


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