Welcome to Stratford-upon-Avon
The author of some of the most quoted lines ever written in the English language, William Shakespeare was born in Stratford in 1564 and died here in 1616. Experiences linked to his life in this unmistakably Tudor town range from the touristy (medieval recreations and Bard-themed tearooms) to the humbling (Shakespeare's modest grave in Holy Trinity Church) and the sublime (taking in a play by the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company).
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Stratford-upon-Avon activities
City Sightseeing Stratford-upon-Avon Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
With great views from the top of the bus, strategically placed stops and an interesting commentary, this City Sightseeing tour is the best way to see the sights of Stratford-Upon-Avon! You can hop-on and off as many times as you like aboard this open-top double-decker bus. There are 10 stops in total and the entire route takes approximately 55-65 minutes. The bus departs every 30-60 minutes from each stop (weekdays and weekends differ). Along the route, passengers will pass numerous famous locations relating to the famous English Language writer, William Shakespeare - including Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare’s New Place, Hall’s Croft and Shakespeare’s Grave! Did you know that Shakespeare is the best selling fiction writer of all time with over 4 billion copies sold?! First up is Shakespeare’s Birthplace at Stop 2, hop-off and discover the story behind Shakespeare’s life as a child, how his father made a living as a glove manufacturer and the first few years he was married to his wife whilst living in the cottage. Hop-off at Stop 4 And visit New Place, where you can walk-in the footsteps of Shakespeare and enjoy a stroll through the beautiful gardens located here. Hop back on as the tour heads to Hall’s Croft, the former home of Shakespeare’s eldest, Susanna, where she lived with her husband in the 17th century. This elegant house boasts an extremely well-preserved exterior, as well as beautiful furnishings and decorations inside. Take a break from learning about Shakespeare and hop-off at the River Avon to take a peaceful strong along the riverside, or hop-off at the Maybird Shopping Centre and enjoy a fabulous shopping spree! Other major attractions along the route include Shakespeare’s Grave at Trinity Church and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage along Cottage Lane. Hop-off and discover the former farmhouse where Shakespeare’s wife Anne once lived. Other stops along the route include: Visitor Information Centre, Bridge St Shakespeare’s Birthplace Market Sq and American Fountain Shakespeare’s New Place and Guild Chapel River Avon & Royal Shakespeare Theatre Hall’s Croft, Holy Trinity Church & Shakespeare’s Grave Evesham Place Alcester Road Anne Hathaway’s Cottage Maybird Shopping Centre
Tour of the Cotswolds from Stratford-upon-Avon
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: High Street Chipping CampdenOne hour of free timeDuration: 1 hourStop At: Dover's HillViewpointDuration: 20 minutesStop At: Broadway TowerStop at Broadway Tower Country Park. Tower has magnificent views. Climbing to the top of the tower is optional. Cafe and shop available. Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Stow-on-the-Wold Market SquareLunch stop at Stow-on-the-Wold. Free time. Duration: 1 hour 10 minutesStop At: Arlington RowVisit to Bibury (including the famous Arlington Row of cottages)Duration: 25 minutesStop At: Bourton on the WaterFree time to explore the village.Duration: 40 minutes
Shakespeare's Schoolroom and Guildhall Entry Ticket and Tour
Visit: Shakespeare's Schoolroom & GuildhallStratford's newest visitor attraction provides the missing chapter of the story of William Shakespeare's life in his home town - his education and the inspiration that led him to become the world’s greatest playwright. Visitors are invited to explore the very building in which young William Shakespeare was educated in the 1570s. Learn about what subjects he would have studied and the teaching methods of the day. Films provide background information about Shakespeare's school days and the historic significance of Stratford-upon-Avon's Guildhall. Built in 1420, this building is one of only a few remaining medieval Guildhalls in the country. Knowledgeable and passionate guides will bring the many stories to life about the building's role in Stratford's civic life over the centuries and how the Shakespeare family was involved.See the Council Chamber, where William Shakespeare's father served as Bailiff (Mayor). Enter the space where Shakespeare first witness performances by some of the country's greatest actors of his time. Participate in a Tudor lesson and brush up on your Latin. With this interactive and engaging visitor experience for all ages, you can dress up in Tudor-style for a 'selfie,' play Tudor games and get messy with quill and ink, and marvel at the medieval wall paintings. Major restoration and meticulous conservation work of the Guildhall, provides an extraordinary history of the building and of over 400 years of civic history of Stratford.
Shakespeare's Birthplace: Shakespeare's Family Homes
Visit: Shakespeare's BirthplaceShakespeare’s Family Homes and gardens offer something for everyone. Enjoy tales from our fascinating guides and discover Shakespeare's life story while you visit his beautiful homes and gardens, explore various exhibitions, watch live performances, and visit with rare breed farm animals. Take part in trails, quizzes and many other family activities throughout the year. • Shakespeare's Birthplace: Walk in Shakespeare's footsteps and explore the house where he was born and grew up. • Hall's Croft: Explore the beautifully furnished Jacobean home of Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her wealthy physician husband, Dr John Hall. • Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Gardens: Relive Shakespeare's Tudor love story where he courted his bride-to-be. • Mary Arden's Farm: Experience the sights, sounds and smells of his mother's working Tudor farm. • Shakespeare's New Place: Visit Stratford-upon-Avon’s newest and most exciting attraction. The house that isn't there - Walk in his footsteps on the site of his family home for nineteen years with specially commissioned sculptures and exhibitions in a contemporary landscape setting.
Cotswold Discovery Trail
Timings and Structure:The recommended start time is 9.30am with an estimated finish time between 5-6pm. Make your way to one of the suggested start points indicated on the Trail maps. Each Trail takes a day long to complete with a total driving time of between 2-2.5 hours. The rest of the day will be you exploring on foot. A lunch stop is built in to these timings. South Trail: Bibury - Regarded by many as the most picturesque village in England. Chedworth - A beautiful village hidden in a valley. Painswick Beacon - A short walk to stunning 360 degree views and the ancient remains of an Iron Age fort. Painswick - Known as the Queen of the Cotswolds, there is so much to discover here. Minchinhampton - A charming little medieval village. Badminton - Famous for the Horse Trials, the architecture is very different here to the rest of the Cotswolds. Sherston - An ancient market town with a wide thoroughfare. Tetbury - This little Cotswold town is brimming with charm and history. Source of the River Thames - Yes, the great big river in London has its source here. You can find it with a short 10 minute walk. Cirencester Roman Amphitheatre - The Romans left their mark all over the Cotswolds. This is the biggest example of it. North Trail:Burford - The view as you enter the town from the top of the hill is incredible. Bourton-on-the-Water - The River Windrush runs through the heart of the village setting a wonderful scene. The Slaughters - Picture postcard stuff. Stow-on-the-Wold - A bustling ancient market town with loads going on. Chipping Campden - Stunningly beautiful hughstreet with loads of interesting things to discover. Broadway Tower - A grand folly with spectacular views. Winchcombe - Another town with epic historical tales and architecture to match. Belas Knap - The oldest of monument on the Trails dating back 5000 years. It's a 10 minute rural walk to find it. Northleach - Much fascinating ancient and modern history to discover here. Mode of Transport: The Trails are designed to be completed by a car and on foot. Your own car or a rental suitable for your group size. Whats involved: Follow the directions on the maps to complete the Trails. Along the way you uncover loads of interesting information about your surroundings and have to keep you wits about you to answer questions as you move around and explore each location. Pack contains other goodies including pens paper, car stickers, additional challenges and activities for younger children.
Transfer-Tour from Stratford upon Avon to Bath via the Cotswolds
We offer an utterly different kind of travel experience. Our transfer-tours are the travel equivalent of a 3-Star Michelin Tasting Experience. We immerse those looking to truly experience England in the beauty, culture, cuisine, heritage of our region. We'll transform your transfer into a chocolate-box adventure that combines history, landscapes, stories, dining & a personalised approach to create a truly magical & unforgettable experience. We tailor the experience around you so you can relax & focus on enjoying an extraordinary experience... Our guides are also exceptional. Each one is a talented story-teller but also highly insightful, thoughtful & engaging. The conversations you'll share will likely be about more than simply the tour...On this trip you'll escape the highways for an adventure deep into the English countryside, history and culture. We'll give you the choice of journeying through the rural, idyllic Cotswolds, or into Prehistoric England to discover northern Europe's most enigmatic & prehistoric sites on a breath-taking journey along some of England's most scenic routes. You'll arrive in Bath, relaxed & having experienced an England most visitors never see, with memories you'll treasure forever.