A town in the county of Warwickshire in Great Britain, located 35 km from Birmingham. Stratford-upon-Avon is known primarily as the birthplace of the great playwright William Shakespeare.
A mass pilgrimage to Stratford occurs every year on October 12 (if the 12th falls on a Sunday, in which case the fair is held on October 11), when the town hosts one of the largest fairs in the country, the Mop Fair.
WEATHER
The climate in Stratford is temperate maritime, and, as in the entire territory of England, it is very mild and humid.The coldest months are January and February, when the temperature drops to + 3 ° C, the warmest month is July with a temperature of + 15 ° C.
How to get there
Birmingham Airport is located 29 km northwest of Stratford, serving both domestic and international flights.
Chiltern Railways operates a regular train service to London (cost £9, journey time 2h 15m).The station is located within walking distance to the west of the city center.In the high season, in July and August, the company Shakespeare Express train runs between Birmingham and Stratford (20-25 GBP, 1 hour).
National Express operates buses to Birmingham (GBP 8.40, 1 hour), Oxford (GBP 12, 1 hour) and London (GBP 10, 3 hours).Buses depart from Riverside Bus Station.
You can get to Stratford by car on the M40 motorway from London to Junction 15. The distance is 164 km, the travel time is about 2 hours.
The city is small, so it is better to explore it on foot.Or hire a bike from Clarkes Cycles on Guild St for £17-20 per day.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SIGHTS
A lot is connected with the name of Shakespeare in Stratford. It is worth starting with the house where he was born (address: Henley St). Continue to William's wife Anne Hathaway's cottage, 1 mile west of Stratford, at Shottery or Shakespeare's mother's farm (Mary Arden's Farm), where life in the 1570s is fully recreated, including smells and traditional farming activities in which you can to participate in person. Walk to the "New Place" - the building where William Shakespeare spent his last days until his death in 1616. (address: Chapel Street). And finally, visit Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare was baptized and buried. A Shakespeare ticket is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase and can also be bought in advance at www.shakespeare.org.uk at a discount.
In addition to Shakespeare's places in Stratford, you can visit the Stratford Butterfly Farm, where a tropical habitat has been created for them inside huge greenhouses.In addition to butterflies, birds live on the farm, there is a pond with fish and an exhibition of some insects and spiders.
Stratford Armouries, located on the outskirts of the city, contains personal arms and armor from the collection of James Wigington and is considered one of the largest private collections open to the public.
Also notable are Stratford's theatres: the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, opened in 1932, the Swan Theater and the Waterside Theatre.
A special treat is a boat trip organized by Bancroft Cruises.Cruises depart from April to October from the Holiday Inn Marina and last 45 minutes (£7-10).
SHOPPING
Henley Street - one of the oldest streets in the city, is now a major tourist and shopping center with many cafes and street performances.It goes without saying that Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the best places to stock up on memorable "Shakespearean" souvenirs.
CAFES AND RESTAURANTS
National British cuisine can be tried at "Edward Moon's" restaurant, located at 9 Chapel St Town Centre, or at "Lambs" at 12 Sheep St Town Centre.
