- UK Information
- UK Holiday Cottages
- Regional Guides
- Shakespeare's Country Holiday Cottages
Shakespeare's Country Holiday Cottages
A Holiday Cottage Shakespeare Style
Why not take your cottage holiday break in Shakespeare's county of Warwickshire in the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Stratford-upon-Avon is set in the rolling countryside of Warwickshire and astride the flowing river Avon.
Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most important and most visited tourist destination in the UK and a must see for the literary minded and for English history as the home of our most famous literacy genius, William Shakespeare. Cottage holidays in Stratford-upon-Avon are a popular location and cottages get booked up early as demand is high, so you must be prepared to book early to secure the cottage of your choice.
Cottage holidays in Stratford-upon-Avon are a perfect location and ideal for a fabulous break or long weekend escape. Stratford-upon-Avon has superb road and rail links and its central location makes an ideal base for trips to surrounding Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and provides a step back in time for a true taste of Olde England.
Local Attractions:-
Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean, River Wye, Worcestershire, Worcester [Civil War Museum], Malvern Hills, Oxfordshire, The Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle, Henley in Arden. Royal Leamington Spa, http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk/ Warwick Castle Coughton Court Batsford Arboretum Ragley Hall Ashorne Hall The Heritage Motor Centre National Trust Properties The Black Country Museum of Dudley The Burton Dassett Hills Wellesbourne Water Mill Compton Verney Art Gallery Drayton Manor Kenilworth Castle The Birmingham Jewellery District The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) Coventry Cathedral National Motorcycle Museum Vale of Evesham All within approximately one hour's journey of Stratford itself.
William Shakespeare
Discover more about England's famous Bard.
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 and died in 1616, ironically on his birthday the 23rd of April. William Shakespeare is England's greatest poet and playwright, the son of a tradesman and Alderman of Stratford, and the eldest son of eight. We don't know much about his life up to his 18th year when he married Anne Hathaway who was 27 years old at the time. When he was 23 William left Stratford to seek his fortune in London and started work at the Globe Theatre. He first appeared as a poet in 1593 and eventually became the joint proprietor of the Globe Theatre.
In total William was recognised as the writer and creator of 38 plays, including The Comedy of Errors, The Taming of the Shrew, Henry VI, Richard III, Richard II, King John, The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, All's well that Ends Well, Julius Caesar, A Winters Tale, The Tempest, As you Like it, Much Ado about Nothing, King Lear, Pericles, Antony and Cleopatra, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Coriolanus, Henry VIII, Twelfth Night, Troilus and Cressida, Othello, Macbeth, Hamlet, and a little love story called Romeo and Juliet. To name a few.
When Shakespeare retired from writing in 1611, he returned to Stratford to live in the house he had built for his family. Regrettably, his only son, Hamnet, died when still only a child. William also lost a daughter Judith, but his third child Susanna married a Stratford Doctor, John Hall and their home "Hall's Croft" is today preserved as one of the Shakespeare Properties and administered by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
William Shakespeare died on his birthday in 1616 and he was laid to rest in the Church of the Holy Trinity, the same Church where he was baptised in 1564. His gravestone bears the words:-
Good frend for Jesus sake forebeare,
to digg the dust encloased heare,
Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,
And curst be he yt moves my bones.
What's On in Stratford-upon-Avon?
Full details of all the local events. Orchestra of the Swan The Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres Drama, Music & Visual Art in Stratford Stratford-upon-Avon boasts a fine selection of bars and pubs. Probably the most famous being the "Dirty Duck". Situated close to the theatres, the pub is a favourite haunt of thirsty actors.
Some Interesting Places to visit:
Charlecote Park, Compton Verney, Coughton Court, Coventry Transport Museum, Holy Trinity Church [The burial place of Shakespeare] Kenilworth Castle, Leam Boat Centre,Longbarn Village, Mill Dene Garden, Mr Karting, National Herb Centre, Roman Alcester Heritage Centre, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum, St.John's House Museum, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Snowshill Manor, Stratford Racecourse, Stratford Town Walk & Stratford Ghost Walk, Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm, The Teddy Bear Museum, Tenpin (formerly Megabowl)
Warwick Racecourse and Warwickshire Museum
On a cottage holiday in and around Stratford-upon-Avon you can enjoy a wealth of glorious scenery and fascinating historical places to visit and, of course, you can immerse your self in the Shakespeare experience and step back in time. A cottage holiday in Warwickshire will enable you to enjoy the hills of the Cotswolds of Gloucestershire as well as a lovely old woollen market town called Chipping Campden. This town was unaffected by the industrial revolution, and you can enjoy old England as it used to be during 1700s.
Stratford is only a small town which is encircled by wonderful rural countryside, with numerous English villages dotted around with their own unique history and charm. Driving in and around Stratford-upon-Avon is easy and the open country roads let you enjoy the countryside and wonderful inns and great pub food.
Warwick Castle has been the home of the all powerful Earls of Warwick who were major players during the mediaeval period of England. Warwick Castle is a great day out for all the family and if you choose a cottage holiday in Stratford-upon-Avon you can reach Warwick Castle within the hour and enjoy the countryside on the way. Warwick Castle is a dramatic fortress rising majestically from the banks of the River Avon on a site first fortified by William the Conqueror in 1068. The Whole Castle has been preserved including dungeons, state rooms and towers, all of which can be visited.
Stratford-upon-Avon is easy to get to, by road, rail and even by air at Birmingham City airport only 20 miles away.
A cottage holiday in Stratford-upon-Avon is a step back into English heritage literacy history and centrally located for pleasure trips in all directions from the heart of England. With so many places to see and to enjoy for all the family within a short drive, a cottage holiday in Stratford-upon-Avon is an experience like no other.