Stratford upon Avon

The home of Shakespeare

We stayed at the Crown Plaza in Stratford. It is perfectly located, reasonably priced with a great breakfast.

4-Star City Centre Hotel: Crowne Plaza Stratford Upon Avon (ihg.com)

During our visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, we  immersed ourselves in the world of Shakespeare, starting with a tour of his birthplace and other notable sites like Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Hall's Croft. We walked along the picturesque riverside and took a leisurely canal cruise. The highlight, however, was watching "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). The performance was fantastic, bringing the play to life in a way I had never experienced before. The intimacy of the theatre made it feel as though we were part of the story, enhancing the enjoyment of an already unforgettable evening. We also visited Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried.

There were also some great National Trust properties nearby . . .

1) Charlecote Park - Overlooking the river Avon on the edge of Shakespeare’s Stratford, the house at Charlecote Park has been home to the Lucy family for over 900 years, and remains their home today. Find out what you can see inside this Victorian family home, and discover an immaculately preserved service courtyard.

Only five rooms are open to the public at the moment: the Great Hall, the Dining Room (although it might occasionally be closed for repairs), the Library, the Billiard Room and the Drawing Room.

This is the only NT property we have visited that was so close to the River Avon.

2) Upton House was acquired in 1927 by Lord and Lady Bearsted, a couple who often used their fortune for philanthropic ventures. They also set to improve the estate itself, including hiring the garden designer Kitty Lloyd-Jones.  The Bearsted fortune came from Lord Bearsted’s father, a co-founder of the Shell oil business. It enabled the Lord and Lady to have a main London residence, a grouse moor estate, a holiday villa on the French Riviera and Upton, a place in which to house their large collection of art, entertain friends and enjoy Warwickshire’s country pursuits. The art collection makes this visit far more than simply a visit to a stately home.

Upton House Art