Stratford upon Avon
Stratford upon Avon is inevitably linked with William Shakespeare. The bard was born
here, spent most of his adult life in London, then retired here.
To see Stratford, the Avon and follow the Shakespeare trail you are well advised to
park your car, then use a mixture of walking and bus to discover the history of
Shakespeare. A two hour walk will cover the following
- Shakespeare's birthplace, an early 16th century, half timbered building in Henley
Street.
- Down Bridge Street to Clopton Bridge, built in the 15th century
- Shakespeare also went to school here at the Grammar School
-
- Along the River Avon to the modern (built in 1932) Royal Shakespeare Theatre. There are
three theatres in the complex, one of which runs the Shakespeare productions. Tickets,
particularly for the classics like Hamlet, can be difficult to obtain.
- Along Southern Lane to the tree lined approach to Holy trinity Church, overlooking the
river, where Shakespeare is buried. His tomb is marked by a simple engraved stone in front
of the alter
- Near the church is Halls Croft. This is a fine Tudor house with a walled
garden, which was the home of Shakespeare's daughter Susanna.
- If you then take the open top tourist bus, you can get to Anne Hathaway's
cottage, at Shottery, one mile west of the town. The cottage is a thatched
house with 12 rooms, where Shakespeare is thought to have courted his future
bride.
- You will find that the bus, which follows a circular route, is a convenient
way to see everything. The ticket enables you to get on and off at will. You
just catch the next bus when you are ready
Stratford
Stratford upon Avon
