StratfordStratford upon Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare and as such the town is rich in history and culture, making it an important and popular tourist destination in the UK. Stratford upon Avon is in the county of Warwickshire located in the heart of England. The town itself was built on the banks of the River Avon and is surrounded by the beautiful Warwickshire countryside. Approximately three million visitors worldwide come to visit the town every year.
RSC The Courtyard Theater
The Courtyard theater was built in 2006 and is currently being used by the Royal Shakespeare Company during the redevelopment of the Royal Shakespeare Theater.
My trip to Stratford upon Avon was based around the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Hamlet, starring Patrick Stewart and David Tennant. We had been lucky enough to get tickets and decided to take a mini break whilst we were there.
Despite our early start we unfortunately missed the first scene of the production due to bad traffic on the M25 motorway. Out of courtesy to the rest of the audience we were asked to wait until there was a scene change before we could be shown to our seats. However we were able to watch the first scene on a screen in the foyer. After the scene was over we were ushered to our seats and I have to say we were amazed by the rest of the performance. It really was a special and once in a lifetime experience.
The theater is in a horse shoe shape with the stage protruding out into the audience. As our seats were at the end of the aisle on many occasions the actors and actresses actually passed us as they exited and entered the stage. This added to the intimacy and the atmosphere of the theater.
The Courtyard Theater is only a temporary building and will be demolished once the Royal Shakespeare Theater reopens. Even so there is no denying that it has a magical feel to it as well as great facilities including a gift shop and a cafe bar. It is worth noting that The Royal Shakespeare Company productions are incredibly popular and it is recommended that you book in advance to avoid disappointment. Visit the RSC website to see what plays are on in the future.
The Ghosts of Stratford upon Avon
As our trip coincided with Halloween we couldn't resist attending one of the towns evening ghost walks.
After watching the matinée performance of Hamlet we dropped off our bags at the hotel and headed back into the town to meet the ghost walk group by the shores of the River Avon. We recognized our tour guide immediately as he was dressed in authentic 17th century costume. The walk took us through Stratford upon Avon where our guide stopped at certain buildings and places to tell us the stories of particular ghosts of the town. There are many ghost tales, from the lady who haunted the Royal Shakespeare Theater frightening certain people in the audience, to the 17th century serving girl who haunted one of the local tea rooms and was known to help out from time to time.
It was all great fun and we were thoroughly amused throughout, although absolutely freezing by the end of it! The tours are all year round, not just at Halloween, and are organized by the Stratford Town Walk group.
Ann Hathaways CottageWilliam Shakespeare
Of course Stratford upon Avon is most famous for being the home and birthplace of William Shakespeare. There are five original Shakespeare houses to visit located either in or nearby to Stratford upon Avon. As we were only staying for a couple of days we couldn't fit everything in so we decided to visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the family home of Shakespeare's wife.
The charming cottage is located just a short drive away from Stratford upon Avon and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. It really is a wonderful place to visit. The cottage itself is thatched and you can explore the rooms which are laid out much as they would have been in Anne Hathaway's day. There are actors and actresses throughout the cottage and the grounds, revealing interesting information on the history of the place. Once you have wandered through the cottage you can explore the cottage gardens, orchards and woodland area.
As we exited the grounds we were lead out, inevitably, through an irresistible gift shop. We were most pleased when on purchasing a gift the shop assistant gave us a complimentary bag full of the scrumptious apples grown from the orchards in the grounds. We thought it was a wonderful parting gift and they really were delicious. 
Hathaways Orchard
Of course if you are visiting Stratford upon Avon it is highly recommended that you go to see all of the Shakespeare buildings. You can visit Shakespeare's Birthplace where Shakespeare was born and grew up, Mary Ardens's Farm the childhood home of Shakespeare's mother, Halls Croft home to Shakespeare's eldest daughter Susanna and her husband Dr John Hall, and Nash's House & New Place which was Shakespeare's family home from 1597 until 1616.
There are a variety of other attractions and activities in and around Stratford upon Avon. You could take a river cruise or walk along the River Avon or visit Falstaff's Experience a waxwork museum which will give you a glimpse back into time.
There are also a number of different bars and restaurants, as well as historical pubs and hotels.
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