Wilford studied at the Northern Polytechnic School of Architecture, London, from 1955 to 1962, in 1960, he joined the practice of James Stirling and in 1971 together established the Stirling/Wilford partnership. He designed the British Embassy in Berlin, in 1960 Wilford joined the practice which James Stirling created in 1956. The Stirling/Wilford partnership was established in 1971 and continued until James Stirlings death in 1992, from 1993 to 2001 Michael Wilford worked in partnership under the name of Michael Wilford and Partners. In England Michael Wilford now practices under the name of Michael Wilford architects and in Germany has established Wilford Schupp and this is his favourite school of architecture. He has been an examiner at many UK schools of architecture and sits on juries for numerous international architectural competitions. In 2001 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire