Stratford-Upon-Avon

Good morrow, dear readers! I am recently returned from a short trip to the birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford-Upon-Avon, 100 miles north of London. I decided to book a last-minute, solo getaway since B was out of town for work. Turns out, it was a great idea! As a Shakespeare fan, I was in literary heaven. Heck, even if I didn't know a single play, the town itself was cute enough to eat!

Avon River

Tudor architecture
The building on the right is owned by Harvard University, as the college's founder was from Stratford!

Wobbly beams

Rain couldn't damper my giddiness

The town library! Created by Andrew Carnegie

Avon River with Shakespeare Theatre on the right bank- those swans were after me!
Swans were everywhere. I'm assuming because it's one of Shakespeare's nicknames

I stayed at the White Swan hotel and restaurant, an inn and pub that dates back to 1450. It was lovely. My room included dinner in front of a roaring fireplace and a huge breakfast!

Hehe I loved this Macbeth privacy sign

I took a tour of the three historic homes in the city affiliated with the Bard (another of Shakespeare's nicknames; a bard is another word for a poet) - his birthplace, his eldest daughter's house and the land where his final house stood (also where he died.) Shakespeare (b. 1564, d. 1616) wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets in his lifetime. His work was well-received and loved during his lifetime, and tourists began flocking to Stratford almost as soon as he passed.

Shakespeare's childhood home.
It was also his father's glove-making workshop and store.

Where the Bard was born

The building was an inn and pub called the Swan and Maidenhead after his family passed away and before the Shakespeare Trust purchased it in 1847.

Many famous authors signed the birthplace guestbook, such as Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and John Keats. So of course, I made sure to sign it as well!

The next stop was Susanna's house, Shakespeare's eldest daughter. She married the town doctor, much to her family's pleasure! Their house was one of the "grandest" of the time.

Those iron poles are for spit-roasting meats - the main food source in 17th-century England. And today.

Lovely English gardens abound in Stratford

The last historic house stop in town was the property that formerly held Shakespeare's mansion and deathbed. A wealthy jerk had the building torn down after getting into a fight with the city council over taxes in the 18th century. The only thing left from Shakespeare's time is the well that used to be in the center of the courtyard. The house next door displays a museum exhibit to Will's former estate.

See the well?

Former estate turned into gardens

Building next door to former house. So pretty!

My last stop was the Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway, are buried. The lighting was horrible, so my photos didn't turn out too well. Will's epitaph says not to disturb his dusty bones. Nothing poetic or flowery at all! Just grumpy man words. But the church was beautiful.

The other draw to visiting Stratford is seeing a play at the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre. I was lucky enough to snag a last-minute (and cheap!) ticket to Much Ado About Nothing's opening weekend. The show was fantastic! And since I had some extra time the following morning, I booked a ticket for a behind-the-scenes tour of the theatre. I saw the makeup and hair room, played with fake blood, and walked around the stages of the two theaters in the building. So much fun! 

RSC Theatre - refurbished side

RSC Theatre - old side

Stratford was a great pick for my first solo travel weekend - short train ride, small, walkable town, and friendly locals. And lucky for B, I would go back to see another play any day!

Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow

That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

Romeo & Juliet

(I know, I'm a dork. But I had to throw one in! Also, I may have purchased a book of Shakespeare quotations organized by theme…)