‘Must See’ UK Towns/Villages – Stratford upon Avon

Stratford upon Avon – Shakespeare Country

Now that you are thinking about planning trips again here at Great British Trips we thought it would be helpful to showcase some of our more well known ‘must see’ places along with some less well known ‘must see’ places.

We start off in Stratford-upon Avon which is a town that is synonymous with Shakespeare. The town offers a wealth of literary history along with stunning architecture.

The major attractions are the five Shakespeare properties, consisting of the Birthplace, New Place, Hall’s Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Mary Arden’s Farm. The ‘Birthplace’ offers a fantastic place to start your journey into the world of Shakespeare with an excellent film depicting Shakespeare’s plays being presented throughout the world. Move through the museum and onto the famous building. Meet the costumed cast and walk through the rooms formerly occupied by the Shakespeare family. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust have done an excellent job of sympathetically restoring and renovating this wonderful building. Next make a visit to `New Place’ and the beautiful gardens and intriguing sculptures. Onto Hall’s Croft, the home of Shakespeare’s daughter and her husband. The exhibition is extremely interesting and features medical equipment similar to those used by Dr John Hall, husband to Susanna Shakespeare. 

You can comfortably visit the three central properties in a day and then spend some time enjoying Bancroft Gardens which runs alongside the River Avon. You can take a relaxing cruise along the river and see the town from a different perspective. As you travel down the river under bridges and passing interesting buildings you will see the swans swimming along with you (fun fact, the Queen owns all the swans in England).

Continue retracing the footsteps of Shakespeare with a visit to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Just a mile from the town centre, it is a beautiful property to discover and explore. You can also visit Mary Arden’s Farm and experience life in Elizabethan England in all its glory. If you have time, why not take in a show at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, if you can’t take in a show, you can also visit the theatre for a guided tour. 

The town centre offers some lovely architecture with the historic black and white buildings. There are also traditional English cafes as well as all the shops and amenities you could want.