London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [209]
It’s worth purchasing a combined ticket to the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust properties, which include Shakespeare’s Birthplace Museum, Nash’s House, Hall’s Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and the Shakespeare Countryside Museum. The ticket, which is valid for one year and is available at any of the properties, costs £19 for all the sites, or £12.50 for the three in-town properties (not including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Mary Arden’s House). Note that you cannot buy a ticket for just one of the in-town sites. | 01789/204016 | www.shakespeare.org.uk.
Essentials
Visitor Information Stratford-upon-Avon (01789/264–293 | www.shakespeare-country.co.uk).
EXPLORING STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Most visitors to Stratford start at Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
The half-timber building in which Shakespeare was born in 1564 is a national treasure. It was owned by his descendants until the 19th century, and it became a national memorial in 1847. It’s been furnished and decorated with simple whitewashed walls and brightly colored fabrics that were popular in Shakespeare’s time. All the textiles have been hand-dyed using period methods. The revamped visitor center tells the story of Shakespeare’s life in great detail, which makes a good starting point for any tour of Stratford. | Henley St. | CV37 6QW | 01789/204016 | www.shakespeare.org.uk | £12, includes admission to Nash’s House and Hall’s Croft | Apr.–Oct., daily 9–5; Nov.–Mar., daily 10–4, July and Aug. 10–6.
Nash’s House contains an exhibit charting the history of Stratford, against a backdrop of period furniture and tapestries. The main attraction is really the extravagant gardens around the adjacent remains of New Place, the home where Shakespeare spent his last years, and where he died in 1616. A gorgeous Elizabethan knot garden, based on drawings of gardens from Shakespeare’s time, grows around the remaining foundation of the house, which was destroyed in 1759 by its last owner, the Reverend Francis Gastrell, in an attempt to stop the tide of visitors. | Chapel St. | CV37 6EP | 01789/204016 | www.shakespeare.org.uk | £12.50, includes admission to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Hall’s Croft | Nov.–Mar., daily 11–4; Apr.–Oct., daily 10–5, July and Aug. 10–6.
Hall’s Croft is Stratford’s most beautiful Tudor town house. This was—almost definitely—the home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband, Dr. John Hall. It’s outfitted with furniture of the period and the doctor’s dispensary. The walled garden is delightful. | Old Town St. | CV37 6BQ | 01789/204016 | www.shakespeare.org.uk | £12.50, includes admission to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Nash’s House | Nov.–Mar., daily 11–4; Apr.–Oct., daily 10–5.
“Shakespeare’s church,” the 13th-century Holy Trinity, is fronted by a beautiful avenue of lime trees. Shakespeare is buried here, in the chancel. The bust of the Bard is thought to be an authentic likeness, executed a few years after his death. | Trinity St. | CV37 6BQ | 01789/266316 | Church free, chancel £1.50 | Mar., Mon.–Sat. 9–5, Sun. noon–5; Apr.–Sept., Mon.–Sat. 8:30–6, Sun. noon–5; Oct., Mon.–Sat. 9–5, Sun. noon–5; Nov.–Feb., Mon.–Sat. 9–4, Sun. 12:30–5.
Fodor’s Choice | At long last, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, famously set on the bank of the Avon and landmark home of the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford has reopened after massive renovations began in 2007. Now classic productions of the Bard can be seen in the newly refurbished Main Theatre, along with the smaller Swan Theatre in the same building is now reopened. Check the Web site to see what’s going to be on during your visit. It’s always best to book in advance, especially now that the renovated theater has garnered its fair share of world headlines; day-of-performance tickets are sometimes available. | Waterside | CV37 6HQ | 0844/800–1110 ticket