Stratford and the surrounding area has many attractions for everyone to visit and enjoy. Here are just a few of them, for a full list visit the Discover Stratford website.
Shakespeare's Birthplace is possibly the most famous of the shakespeare houses and has been welcoming visitors for over 250 years. William Shakespeare grew up here and he played here. He ate meals in the hall and he slept and dreamed in these rooms. Shakespeare also spent the first five years of married life in this house with his new wife, Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway's Cottage is a thatched farmhouse with stunning grounds and gardens, which overflow with beautiful blooms, and traditional shrubs.The cottage is in Shottery, a hamlet within the parish of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is just over one mile from the town centre and can be accessed via a pleasant, well sign-posted footpath.
Nash's House was named after Thomas Nash, first husband of Shakespeare's grandaughter, and a wealthy local property owner.Today, it is a well preserved Tudor building and the ground floor is furnished as it would have been in Nash's day. Next door to Nash's House are the foundations of New Place. This was the house bought by William Shakespeare in 1597.
Visit Mary Arden's Farm and explore the house where Shakespeare's mother grew up. Experience for yourself the daily routine, skills and crafts the young William would have known from visits to his grandparents in the 1570s.
Wander through Hall's Croft the elegant home of Susanna Shakespeare and her husband, Dr John Hall. Enjoy the luxurious rooms and beautiful decoration of this fascinating house, befitting a wealthy physician of Dr John Hall's status.
The Shakepeare Birthplace Trust manage, run and maintain the 5 Shakespeare properties in and around Stratford-upon-Avon.
Experience the largest classical theatre company in the world in its iconic home and setting, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. With the Royal Shakespeare Company offering programmes covering not only Shakespeare, but other classic and contemporary writers there are always performances to thrill, inspire and captivate audiences. The Theatre also offers tours, a roof top restaurant and the opportunity to experience some of the best views in Stratford-upon-Avon from its new tower.
Tickets are valid for 24 hours and passengers can hop on and off at 14 stops including each of the Shakespeare Houses. A live guide or audio commentary in seven languages is available, including a child's commentary.
Visit Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm and enjoy the unique pleasure of watching hundreds of the world's most spectacular and colourful butterflies flying all around. You can see them feeding and flying in a wonderful tropical environment.
See their amazing lifecycles in the Caterpillar Room. Observe the fascinating and strange Insect City, where Stick Insects, Beetles, Leaf-cutting ants and many more remarkable creatures are to be found. For the bold, get close to the deadly and dangerous in perfect safety in Arachnoland; home of the worlds largest spider, a scorpion colony and other spinners of webs and dealers of death. Afterwards take a look at the many gifts available in the Papillon Gift shop
Warwickshire's award-winning art gallery since its opening in 2004, Compton Verney delivers an exciting international programme of exhibitions and events including a diverse collection of art from around the world. Set in a Grade 1 listed Robert Adam mansion located in 120 acres of spectacular parkland, Compton Verney makes a great day out with much more to offer than 'just' art
With its 'Capability' Brown landscaped grounds offering lakeside or woodland picnic areas and walks, Compton Verney and its grounds are in themselves a work of art.
Home to the Lucy family since the 12th century, Charlecote Park illustrates the family's life through the parks history. Their stories are told throughout the house by their portraits, the objects they collected from around the world and the design influence they had on the house and parkland. The house was remodelled in Victorian times to make it in to the formal House we see today. The gardens include a formal parterre, woodland walk and the wider parkland (inspired by 'Capability' Brown), which offer walks with picturesque views across the River Avon. A herd of fallow deer has been in the park since Tudor times.
Looking for something just a little different? The Heritage Motor Centre motor museum in Gaydon is home to the world's greatest collection of British Cars! The motor car is over one hundred years old and is one of the world's most influential inventions. The Heritage Motor Centre motor museum in Gaydon tells its story, from some of the very first cars to take to British roads, right up to the latest designs.
Through its rich and varied history, the house has witnessed some of the most defining moments in British history – from the court of Henry VIII to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Coughton Court still has many of its original features including its flamboyant sixteenth-century gate tower. It is one of the last remaining Roman Catholic houses in the country to retain its historic treasures: it houses one of the very best collections of portraits and memorabilia of one family from the early Tudor times. Alongside family items on display, there are pieces such as the chemise reputedly worn by Mary Queen of Scots when she was executed and a bishop’s Cope, with intricate needlework, believed to have been worked upon by Catherine of Aragon.
The name Coughton (pronounced "Coat-un") suggests a settlement or farm known for the hunting of woodcock or game birds. It is believed that there was a medieval house on the site when John de Throckmorton arrived in 1409 to marry into the de Spiney family. Since that time, Coughton Court has been home to the Throckmortons, one of the UK’s oldest Catholic families. This year the family is celebrating its 600th anniversary of residence at Coughton Court.
Stratford Armouries is a truly unique museum set in 86 acres of rolling Warwickshire countryside. The galleries house a range of world-class exhibits that will amaze the whole family; The new home of the Wellington Aviation Museum, Massive Wellington Bomber tail section, A brand new WWII exhibition, A huge German Heinkel 111 crash relic, Life-sized armoured Indian elephant, World’s oldest Cannon, Leonardo da Vinci’s giant crossbow, Lawrence of Arabia’s rock crystal dagger, Beautiful artefacts from Shakespeare’s birthplace and is the new home to the National Collection of Model Soldiers.
Britain's Greatest Medieval Experience! This is history that you live for yourself. Experience a medieval household preparing for battle in 'Kingmaker'.
Visit the magnificent Towers and Ramparts, the Great Hall and State Rooms, the Mill & Engine House. There's also a dungeon where gore seekers will be greeted by decaying bodies, chanting monks, torture implements, execution and ‘the labyrinth of lost souls’ - a fantastic scary mirror maze. Warwick Castle truly brings history to life!
