Certainly, the best place in which to see one of Shakespeare’s many works is in the place of his birth. Stratford is home to the Royal Shakespeare Company, probably the foremost classical theatre company in the world, with productions of Shakespeare’s works staged here right throughout the year.

Today, Stratford is a thriving and busy market town of just over 20,000 residents, situated on the banks of the river Avon. It is a popular destination which attracts a few million visitors each year, and serves as a delightful northern gateway to that magnificent area of England known as The Cotswolds.

Dominated by Tudor-style architecture this town is an ode to Olde England, with antiquity seeping out of every stone, brick, and wood beam from which the stately homes, towering castles, and elegant theatres are built.

You can take a walking tour through the streets of Stratford, marvelling at the history in which it is steeped, stopping in at any number of the pubs and coffee shops for refreshments along the way. There are also a variety of meanders that begin in the town and which will take you into the countryside to enjoy the rural wonders that are there for the exploring. You can stroll along the banks of the Avon, enjoy a boat cruise on the river, or you can stop and watch the dragon boat racing that is a popular pastime here. The Stratford Butterfly Farm and Stratford Mini Golf are certain to delight young and old alike.

Along with history, art and culture are ingrained in the very fibre that is Stratford, with many award-winning gardens to admire, art and antique shops to browse, and pubs and restaurants in which to take sustenance before you journey home, having taken in as much of Stratford as you can.

Apart from the many historical and aesthetic reasons for visiting Stratford, it is easily accessible by road and rail and is in close proximity to airports, thus making it the perfect destination for a short stay or a longer holiday.