Show notes
Let’s take an imaginary trip to see the Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, farmland, Tudor schoolrooms, Dr. Hall’s house and medicinal garden, Tudor streets, Holy Trinity Church, a world-class theatre, and swans on the river. In other words, let’s go strolling through Stratford with Shakespeare!
As you get off the train at the Stratford Station, you can wander through the city, seeing the Town Square, Henley Street, High Street, and more on your way towards the River Avon and the Visitor Information center. You get maps and buy tickets there, and the guides can help you plan your day. I’m going to take you through just some highlights of the wonders of Stratford by following the map—of course, you could easily plan different routes, as the town is easily walkable!
Along the River you’ll also find the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC typically welcomes more than a million visitors each year. The RSC is the only theatre company with its own armory right on-site; they produce breastplates, gauntlets, and all kinds of weapons for use in productions and education activities. The RSC runs three theatres: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Swan Theatre, which share a building next to the River, and The Other Place, which is a short walk away.
Continue your walk along the River, and you’ll come to Holy Trinity Church. The church holds many treasures for its visitors including the Thomas Becket chapel; the Crossing; the Altar, which features a medieval stone altar slab; a King James Bible published in 1611 that is chained in place to prevent it being stolen; and, of course, Shakespeare.
This is the church where Shakespeare’s family worshipped. He was baptized here on 26 April 1564. It’s very likely he worshipped here with his family as a child and a young man, and that he returned to this church when he retired to Stratford after his life in London. Finally, Shakespeare was buried here on 25 April 1616, after his death on 23 April. It’s very likely he worshipped here with his family as a child and a young man, and that he returned to this church when he retired to Stratford after his life in London. And, of course, Shakespeare was buried here on 25 April 1616, after his death on 23 April.
Getting to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage takes a mile walk, and it's definitely worth it. The cottage is a 12-room farmhouse where Anne lived with her family as a child. There are some items in the Cottage that will take you right back in time. The Hathaway Bed was made between 1580 and 1650. The Tester Bed is dated to the late 1500s, so it is likely associated with Anne’s family. In fact, it would certainly have been known to Anne while she lived there. The cottage is surrounded by nine acres of woodland, orchards, and gardens. You can take a woodland walk, visit the Shakespeare arboretum, and relax in a willow cabin while you listen to Shakespeare’s sonnets.
Head to Henley Street and you'll find Shakespeare’s Birthplace. This is a true highlight of your day, as you’ll be able to get up close and personal with William Shakespeare and his family. John Shakespeare lived and worked in this house for 50 years. He married Mary Arden and they had eight children there. In 1568, John became Mayor of Stratford, a status that enabled his son to attend the King Edward VI school and also brought troops of traveling players to his home so he could approve their performances before they played in the Town Square. It’s easy to imagine young Will meeting actors and learning about play-making while living there.
Stratford offers the opportunity to walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps, to get close to rare objects from his lifetime, and to explore the ways Shakespeare continues to shape our lives today.
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