Stratford-upon-Avon

 

Join our guided tour to Stratford-upon-Avon & The Cotswolds

 

If it wasn't for the town having been home to the greatest playwright in the English language, Stratford-upon-Avon would be a small and peaceful throwback to medieval England. But it was the home of William Shakespeare and that makes all the difference!

 

Stratford-upon-Avon, the pilgrimmage site for all things William Shakespeare

 

As soon as you arrive in the town, a brooding statue of Bill The Bard on his plinth is there to greet you. Make no mistake, you have arrived in Shakespeareland. Everyone who can recite a line or two of his plays or sonnets is there to immerse themselves in all things Bardy. And all those that can't are there, too!

 

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest." Hamlet.

 

England can be a very 'busy' place at the best of times, but, heaven forbid, you choose Stratford on a sunny Saturday in July you'll be searching for the dictionary for a word that better describes the crush of humanity all craning for a peek into the home of the world's most famous author. I'm sure Shakespeare himself would have coined a new word or phrase!

 

Timber-framed buildings compete with Shakespeare for longevity

 

But that said, it only takes a gentle stroll a few hundred metres away from the tourist honeypots and you will be rewarded with picturesque riverside scenes, quaint historic streets and timber-framed buildings aplenty. You can escape the Shakespeare-idolising masses if you want!

 

Sit at the bar of a pub that Shakespeare would, no doubt, have drunk at.

 

But a trip to Stratford is surely to experience Shakespeare's legacy. And his shadow is cast throughout the town. Come in summer and you may be lucky enough to catch one of the free performances of a Shakespeare play held in the park by the River Avon; follow in his footsteps by sinking an ale or two at a pub he would have undoubtedly frequented; visit his grave in Holy Trinity Church and see the bust of Shakespeare above the grave that, perhaps, reveals his truest likeness; or head out of town to the quaint village of Shottery to visit the bucolic home of Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway.

 

Anne Hathaway's Cottage is a 30-minute walk from Stratford in the peaceful village of Shottery

 

Shakespeare was a respected writer in his own day but his reputation rose to its present heights in the nineteenth century. His plays have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. It is said that a Shakespeare play is being performed somewhere in the world at any moment. By visiting Stratford you will certainly get a better insight to the inspirations and themes of his work.

 

Things to see and do in Stratford-upon-Avon

 

There are numerous houses dotted across the town related to Shakespeare. All are traditional timber-framed buildings typical of 16th century England, and are decorated and furnished in the style of  of Shakespeare's time. 

 

Shakespeare’s House & Visitor Centre - You can see the house where Shakespeare was born from Henley Street but, if you prefer, you can pay to enter the visitor centre with its exhibition about all things Shakespeare, and enter the house.

 

Nash’s House & New Place - Nash’s House was the home of Shakespeare’s grand-daughter and her first husband, Sir Thomas Nash. New Place, next door to Nash’s House, was Shakespeare’s house on his return from London and the place where he died. New Place doesn't exist any longer.

 

Hall’s Croft - Home to Shakespeare’s daughter, Susanna, and her husband Dr.John Hall.

 

Holy Trinity Church - The church where Shakespeare was baptised and where he is buried.

 

Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre and Swan Theatre - The worldwide home of the acting group dedicated to promoting the plays of The Bard.

 

Tudor World - Experience the sights, sounds and smells (!) of 16th century England.

 

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage: Located in Shottery, a peaceful 30-minute walk from central Stratford, lies the house of Shakespeare’s wife. It is an idyllic cottage with a pretty cottage garden in a quaint, rural village.

 

How to visit Stratford-upon-Avon from Cambridge?

 

Join our guided tour to Stratford-upon-Avon & The Cotswolds