Located in the heart of England, the county of Warwickshire has beautiful countryside and is the home of Stratford-upon-Avon. Probably best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare this lively town is a cultural, shopping and leisure destination for locals and tourist alike.
Stratford contains four theatres - the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Swan Theatre, The Other Place and Waterside Theatre. There’s a rolling programme of Shakespeare’s plays on at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the other venues offer a variety of theatre experiences from contemporary plays to family favourites.
The River Avon flows through Stratford and its banks are a good place to watch the world go by, enjoy a beer in a local pub, an ice cream or take a boat trip.
In the surrounding area there are many interesting places to visit. Warwick Castle provides a good family day out. This medieval castle was originally built by William the Conqueror, it retains a powerful presence in the landscape. In 2007 the castle was sold and is now used as a family leisure destination providing lots of events and exhibitions.
Stratford boasts 800 years of history, the town retains many of the buildings from Shakespeare’s day. These include the sixteenth century house where Shakespeare was born, Shakespeare’s school and Guildhall and the house belonging to Anne Hathaway’s family. These houses give a sense of stepping back into Shakespeare’s world and are rare survivals from the sixteenth century.
Owned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre has over 1,000 seats and is situated right beside the river Avon. Here you can enjoy a rolling programme of Shakespeare’s plays. There's also exhibition space as well as a rooftop restaurant and bar providing views over the river.
Charlecote Park is a sixteenth century house near Stratford. Set on the banks of the River Avon, the house is surrounded by various gardens. These include a formal garden with a parterre, a series of woodland walks and the wider parkland. All these areas provide opportunities to enjoy the countryside, do a spot of bird watching and admire the deer.
The Welcome Hills, which are located near Stratford are perfect for a walk through woodland and grassland. The wood contains a wide variety of trees such as oak, horse chestnut and beech. There are many species of birds to see, these include sparrowhawks, woodpecker, finches and little owl. In the spring you may even spot a Brimstone butterfly.
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