To visit or not to visit: What to see in Shakespeare’s hometown.
Stratford-upon-Avon is a quaint town on the River Avon, most famous as the birthplace and home to one of the world’s greatest writers and playwrights, William Shakespeare. Today, Stratford-upon-Avon has managed to retain most of its Tudor style and historic buildings, and is home to the Royal Shakespeare Company. Whether you’re a fan of the Bard or not, there are plenty of things to do in this picturesque city.
See Shakespeare’s beginnings
You can’t help but see Shakespeare’s influence on his old hometown, and Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street is arguably the city’s most well-known attraction, welcoming thousands of tourists every year. This restored 16th century house was where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and where he spent most of his childhood. It’s been converted into a museum where you can see a recreation of his family life complete with period furnishings, original items and costumed guides.
You can also visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage, the small house where Shakespeare’s wife lived until their marriage. Today, there are family heirlooms on display, a Tudor Courtship exhibition on what it was like dating back then, and 9 acres of gorgeous gardens to explore.
See Shakespeare’s end
Shakespeare’s New Place on Chapel Street was his family home from 1597 and the house where he died at the age of 52. The house was later demolished but has been restored with a memorial knot garden and commissioned sculptures where you can walk around and follow in his footsteps. Two days after his death, Shakespeare was buried in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church on the other side of town. You can visit the church and his grave today, a pilgrimage site for many Shakespeare fans. See his grave and read the inscription which promises a curse on anyone who moves his bones.
Catch a theatre show
As you’d expect, Stratford-upon-Avon has plenty of theatres in town, including the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre, Courtyard Theatre, the Other Place and the Waterside Theatre. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Swan puts on performances all year round, or you can simply visit the buildings and climb up the tower for spectacular views across the whole city. Treat yourself to a traditional English afternoon tea in the rooftop restaurant or enjoy a pre-show drink in the chic cocktail bar.
Go hunting for ghosts
If you’ve had enough of Shakespeare, visit Tudor World, an award-winning museum set within an authentic Tudor property. Learn all about what it was like living in the 16th century, from the plague to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The building is reportedly one of the oldest and most haunted places in Stratford-upon-Avon – after dark, you can take a ghost tour through the museum with a spooky guide who will tell you blood-curdling tales and point out evidence of supernatural activity.
Get lost with the butterflies
Located on the other side of the River Avon is the Stratford Butterfly Farm, a collection of tropical greenhouses with free flying butterflies, birds, insects and spiders. Visitors can walk through and see hundreds of butterflies flying overhead and landing on exotic blossoms. The farm has been divided into three main sections – the Caterpillar Room designed for butterfly breeding, the Insect House with exotic insects like beetles, millipedes and praying mantis, all which are locked away safe behind glass, and Arachnoland with 15 species of different spiders and several scorpions, which are also thankfully locked away.
