A Stratford-Upon-Avon Pit Stop
The historical and picturesque town of Stratford-Upon-Avon lies upon the River Avon (hence the name) and is most well-known for being the home of Shakespeare. Ever heard of him? It was the perfect little pit stop before heading to the hustle and bustle of my beloved London. We were able to stop for a delicious lunch and tour some of the main sights. Stratford will not only make you fall in love with Shakespeare all over again, but will make you fall in love with its beautiful gardens and quaint cotswolds architecture.
Stopping somewhere for a quick few-hour pit stop or day trip is a great way to get a little taster of a place even if you can’t stay the night. Every time I have a stopover like this, I try to see as much as I can in the little time I have. Just like my pit stop in Brussels allowed me to see some gorgeous architecture and try delicious food in the beautiful city, my pit stop in Stratford-Upon-Avon left me in love with this fairytale town.
Stratford-Upon-Avon was the perfect town for a quick visit. You can see plenty of the lovely sights of Stratford-Upon-Avon in a day, or even an afternoon if you’re crunched for time. I do wish we could’ve had more time there, though! There were plenty of things to do! Here were some of my favorite spots:
Obviously, you must visit Shakespeare’s birthplace! I mean…duh. The whole place is adorable. The rooms are set up exactly how they would’ve looked at the time, and the tour guides are Shakespeare EXPERTS. I mean…live and breathe Shakespeare. That was great because we learned so much! The house also includes a little museum with relics and even more information about his life and family. We were also lucky enough to be able to catch actors reenacting the famous balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet! Romeo, Romeo, where art thou Romeo?
Another spot in Stratford-Upon-Avon that I loved was Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Gardens! This place was absolutely adorable and just so happens to be where Shakespeare courted young Anne! Not only does the thatched-roof cottage look completely untouched by time, but it has the most beautiful gardens overflowing the roses and other flowers.
Besides these two sites, we basically spent the afternoon wandering around. Stratford-Upon-Avon has THE cutest streets and little shops. We ate at a local restaurant called the Red Lion, and I had a delicious steak and kidney pie. Then, we wandered along the town center popping in and out of shops.
Unfortunately we missed out on touring the Globe Theater, which is a big tourist attraction there and a well-known cultural venue in Britain. So that’s worth a look if you’ve got the time!
I visited Stratford-Upon-Avon on the way into London, but it also makes a great day trip from London after a 2 hour train ride. If you’re in the area, definitely consider checking out this cute little town! There are lots of things to do. I’m a huge Shakespeare fan, but you don’t have to be to appreciate its charm and history! My only complaint is that I wish I had had more time there. Maybe when I’m in Ireland I can pop over and explore some more?
Have a great weekend everyone!
