I had to laugh at your remark because a Shakespeare seminar and British literature I, II and III were all my favorite classes in high school. When I came to Stratford I made a beeline for the box office at the Royal Shakespeare Company and was able to get the last matinee ticket for the day to King Lear, starring Sir Ian McKellen. It was a front row seat and I had the time of my life. I can't wait to check out the MAD Museum when I go back!
Leamington is lovely i'll be going there soon in the next couple of weeks the cotswolds are not bad for tourists as well because they don't mind travelling, they are such cute dinky little charmful enchanting villages we go a lot in christmas
It's really nice just to walk along the river Avon, which is lined with parkland. There are places where you can buy food to feed the swans and ducks, and there's a little hand-powered ferry boat that you can ride across for a small fee that runs sometimes. Even if you can't get tickets to a show at the RSC, it's worth visiting the theatre because there are interesting theatre tours you can book and exhibitions about Shakespeare, the history of performance and stagecraft, as well as a pretty cool view from the RST tower. There's lots of nice places to visit nearby as well. Warwick, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Coventry, Birmingham. Some are more conventionally touristy than others, but all have interesting stuff to see and do.
DO: ask for senior citizen prices. I saw on the price list on this video that they list a lower price for "concession." When I was in Scotland, I found out that it mean the senior citizen price, which I am never afraid to ask for! LOL
My hometown! Really interesting to hear your thoughts as someone who's followed your channel for so long. Definitely only need 1-2 days for Stratford itself as a tourist. Some great Cotswold towns around would be Moreton-in-Marsh, Broadway, Chipping Camden, Burford, but they do all get a little over-touristy in peak season (and I'll be honest about most Cotswold towns--they're pretty but there's not a lot there). I'd just allow a long weekend for this part of the country but it's well worth it. Not far from Oxford either, where there's a bit more to see. I really like Shipston-on-Stour as a base for exploring these places. Another nice little town with a great high street and a few pubs and inns, which is pretty much halfway between Stratford and the Cotswolds proper. Also if you want to go to the theatre and can't get tickets for the RSC, try the Attic Theatre. A much smaller, cheaper, cosier theatre with smaller productions, and actually preferred by a lot of my theatre friends.
Thanks for sharing... it is quite hard to hate the Bard because of what he did. He did shows, plays, scrips, songs, sonnets, poems, invented words, help shape the modern language, used words in a different way, helped shape the writing rules and changed how stuff worked. He did struggle due to many reasons and, it did put a strain on him and yet, it continued to help put him up the top. He never thought he would be popular, nor would it carry on 450 years later as a celebrated celebrity figurehead of sorts.. He is an iconic legend that still produces and sells....he is top of the classic best seller list just behind Mozart. Thanks for sharing, this is great. The name Shakespeare will continue forever I guess.
We literally got back from Stratford 2 days ago. If you go DO go to the theatre. The RSC is a world renowned theatre company and has 2,3 or 4 plays on the go depending on when you visit. Theatre is THE British art form and the RSC is the best of the best.
A must see is the Shakespaw Cat Cafe (if you’re a cat lover) you can have afternoon tea/cake/sandwiches. It’s right in the centre of the town. I went to the butterfly farm as a child I thought it was terrifying! Some of the butterflies are bigger than your head flying at you 😱😱😱 they’re much much bigger than normal butterflies . . . If it’s the spring/summer you can hire a rowing boat, the views are beautiful. If you go at Christmas time there’s a Victorian Christmas market. I agree with some of the other comments, I would say Warwick/Leamington Spa/Kenilorth are worth a visit if your in the area. Warwick Castle and Kenilworth castle for history lovers. Lots of shops and resturants nearby 😊
My wife and I got married in the registry office right next to Shakespeare's birthplace and one thing I would add is don't take pictures of pictures of couples coming in/out of the registry office. It may be seen as creepy or intrusive. We had tourists lining up next to our photographer taking pictures of us when we were going in/out of the registry office. We didn't really mind, as we appreciated people were seeing "fancy dressed" people just outside Shakespeare's birthplace, but it was also quite off-putting at times. We do sometimes wonder how many different tourist's photo albums we ended up in.
My hometown. I really like that we have visitors from all over the world because I can get to chat with so many different people - just yesterday with a lady from China (we get a lot of Chinese tourists nowadays). So my tip if you're visiting, especially if you're in a pub, is to strike up a conversation.
I would recommend Birmingham as a base for those who wish to visit Stratford-upon-Avon as a daytrip (cheaper and closer than London for a start), as you'll have plenty of other great options for daytrips from there too. For example, the historic cities of Worcester and Hereford, with the picturesque Malvern Hills between them. Also, you got Lichfield with its stunning three-spired cathedral and marketplace; Bournville with the Cadbury World chocolate factory; a railway museum and heritage railway at Kidderminster (stopover at Stourbridge Junction on the way for their quirky rail shuttle to the town on the UK's shortest branchline); the twin cities of Cheltenham and Gloucester; of course, Oxford is an hour away on the train; as is the historic border town of Shrewsbury in the other direction. You're really spoilt for choice, as all these places mentioned are easily reachable from Birmingham by train.
Nice to see a review of my home town, Shame it rained but we have had alot of that this year !! Don't forget one of the most famous pubs in the coutry the Dirty Duck where all the actors go for a drink after a show, just up from the theatre. best restaurants are Lambs, Loxleys, Oppo and Vinter on sheep street and the Boat house just over the river. if you head out to Anne Hathaways cottage in Shottery - about a 15 monute walk the bell is also a nice spot :-)
I love Stratford Upon Avon I am very lucky to live nearby so I visit quite regularly. They have a fantastic food festival in the town centre in September. Also just down the road is a place called Caffeine and Machine and also the Piston Club at The Stag if you are into cars and motorbikes they are great places to visit to have some food and drink and a natter with like minded people.
Love how the Christmas-shop ornaments are mostly the typical breakable glass from what I see in this video - not exactly travel-friendly...maybe with so many tourists, they didn't think that through? LOL
Stratford is only 25 miles or so from Birmingham (2nd city with over a million people) and has a train link so it can get really busy on a sunny day in the holidays with the local tourists so I would advise booking restaurants in advance if you want a sit down meal.
I know this may be off topic but I am planning a trip to England in October for 2 weeks. Do you have a how to pack light for two weeks for women? Thanks Mark!😊
Shakespeare was one man, but there are conspiracy theories claiming he was different people because he sometimes spelt his name differently. There are also conspiracy theories he wasn’t real because he wasn’t from the aristocracy and some of his family members were illiterate, some people don’t believe a man who was not from a literate family or educational institution could write his works. However, there is contemporary evidence he was a real man form an ordinary family.
He did work with some collaborators at times, but the conspiracy theories about his identity are generally pretty silly and based on wishful thinking or ignorance about the time he lived in.
If you are a horseracing fan Stratford and Warwick racecourses stage regular meetings most months of the year except the main summer months as they are both jumps only.
We visited there and did most of what you described in a day and our fav little tea and scones shop was The Four Teas! Tnx as always for sharing your knowledge. My husband and I Hope to run into you and your family someday.
You need to travel about an 40mims north next time you're in the area. Come and see the Black Country. Museums and history a plenty. Plus the best Chips in the world!! Birmingham ok too I suppose 😂
2:03 maybe "well educated" rather than "well trained". Sounds a bit degrading as they clearly are there because they have a passion for Shakespeare and likely have done a lot of research themselves
I’m just up the road from Stratford in Evesham. If you like your craft beer, make sure to visit ‘Ya Bard’ Warwick castle is a must if you have time plus Broadway and Bourton on the water!
Two words to the overseas visitors to the UK: expectations management. In Stratford,.as in many other old towns and cities, quaint and beautiful architecture is limited to a small area (usually in the center). The rest can be unexpectedly disappointing (even the Royal Shakespeare Company building in Stratford is mehhh). The little Cotswolds villages and towns are a remarkable exception, don't miss out on those.
Don't forget you can easily walk or drive to the Welcombe Hills and/or Clopton Park just out of town. You are suddenly in the countryside with great views of the town below.
Just to add to what else has been said - there are some lovely walks from the centre for the more adventurous, along the canal to the village where Shakespeare’s mother had a farm, along the Greenway (there a railway carriage with food) and it lies on the Monarch’s Way which can be followed into the countryside. There’s good coffee in the Antiques Centre which is tucked away on Ely Street.
you will be mad to visit the UK now, to be honest. try to keep out of europe if you can. they dont like you here. when bricks fly they dont ask for your passport or if you are a tourist or a local. try to go on holidays to thailand or singapore instead. cheaper and nicer
It's fine if you choose to travel outside of London and stay away from questionable neighbourhoods elsewhere. It's not quite as dire as it is being presented in the media. I'd be more concerned about disruptions to travel (airports, trains) that l would about violence.
@@desiderata2209 there are 100 riots all over the country. In about 30 cities. You just have to meet two or three skinheads anywhere to have a big problem, potentially deadly. Why you want to come to a country and spend your money in a country that hates you? And what is a questionable neighborhood anyway? You want to spend your holidays locked in a hotel? Unable to walk freely, always looking over your shoulder and be mistreated? Think about it. It is mad and about to get madder. STAY AWAY FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY.
@@Warriorcats64 yes, the Balkans, nicer now with Russians running amok. Spanish, Italians, Greeks and the rest have made clear they don't want tourists. Rest my case.
I had to laugh at your remark because a Shakespeare seminar and British literature I, II and III were all my favorite classes in high school. When I came to Stratford I made a beeline for the box office at the Royal Shakespeare Company and was able to get the last matinee ticket for the day to King Lear, starring Sir Ian McKellen. It was a front row seat and I had the time of my life. I can't wait to check out the MAD Museum when I go back!
Warwick Castle and Royal Leamington Spa are nearby, they are also worth a visit
Leamington is lovely i'll be going there soon in the next couple of weeks
the cotswolds are not bad for tourists as well because they don't mind travelling, they are such cute dinky little charmful enchanting villages we go a lot in christmas
It's really nice just to walk along the river Avon, which is lined with parkland. There are places where you can buy food to feed the swans and ducks, and there's a little hand-powered ferry boat that you can ride across for a small fee that runs sometimes. Even if you can't get tickets to a show at the RSC, it's worth visiting the theatre because there are interesting theatre tours you can book and exhibitions about Shakespeare, the history of performance and stagecraft, as well as a pretty cool view from the RST tower. There's lots of nice places to visit nearby as well. Warwick, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Coventry, Birmingham. Some are more conventionally touristy than others, but all have interesting stuff to see and do.
DO: ask for senior citizen prices. I saw on the price list on this video that they list a lower price for "concession." When I was in Scotland, I found out that it mean the senior citizen price, which I am never afraid to ask for! LOL
My hometown! Really interesting to hear your thoughts as someone who's followed your channel for so long. Definitely only need 1-2 days for Stratford itself as a tourist. Some great Cotswold towns around would be Moreton-in-Marsh, Broadway, Chipping Camden, Burford, but they do all get a little over-touristy in peak season (and I'll be honest about most Cotswold towns--they're pretty but there's not a lot there). I'd just allow a long weekend for this part of the country but it's well worth it. Not far from Oxford either, where there's a bit more to see. I really like Shipston-on-Stour as a base for exploring these places. Another nice little town with a great high street and a few pubs and inns, which is pretty much halfway between Stratford and the Cotswolds proper.
Also if you want to go to the theatre and can't get tickets for the RSC, try the Attic Theatre. A much smaller, cheaper, cosier theatre with smaller productions, and actually preferred by a lot of my theatre friends.
That was really helpful - thank you! 😊
Thanks for sharing... it is quite hard to hate the Bard because of what he did. He did shows, plays, scrips, songs, sonnets, poems, invented words, help shape the modern language, used words in a different way, helped shape the writing rules and changed how stuff worked. He did struggle due to many reasons and, it did put a strain on him and yet, it continued to help put him up the top. He never thought he would be popular, nor would it carry on 450 years later as a celebrated celebrity figurehead of sorts.. He is an iconic legend that still produces and sells....he is top of the classic best seller list just behind Mozart. Thanks for sharing, this is great. The name Shakespeare will continue forever I guess.
We literally got back from Stratford 2 days ago. If you go DO go to the theatre. The RSC is a world renowned theatre company and has 2,3 or 4 plays on the go depending on when you visit. Theatre is THE British art form and the RSC is the best of the best.
Glad to see The Cornish Bakery is still there, I still remember the taste of those pasties.
We visited Stratford-Upon-Avon in 2016 during Shakespeare Week. It was a lot of fun with the actors and the other festivities.
That had to be a fun time
To go there or not to go there, that is the question...
A must see is the Shakespaw Cat Cafe (if you’re a cat lover) you can have afternoon tea/cake/sandwiches. It’s right in the centre of the town.
I went to the butterfly farm as a child I thought it was terrifying! Some of the butterflies are bigger than your head flying at you 😱😱😱 they’re much much bigger than normal butterflies . . .
If it’s the spring/summer you can hire a rowing boat, the views are beautiful. If you go at Christmas time there’s a Victorian Christmas market.
I agree with some of the other comments, I would say Warwick/Leamington Spa/Kenilorth are worth a visit if your in the area. Warwick Castle and Kenilworth castle for history lovers. Lots of shops and resturants nearby 😊
My wife and I got married in the registry office right next to Shakespeare's birthplace and one thing I would add is don't take pictures of pictures of couples coming in/out of the registry office. It may be seen as creepy or intrusive. We had tourists lining up next to our photographer taking pictures of us when we were going in/out of the registry office. We didn't really mind, as we appreciated people were seeing "fancy dressed" people just outside Shakespeare's birthplace, but it was also quite off-putting at times. We do sometimes wonder how many different tourist's photo albums we ended up in.
Definitely worth visiting Warwick and Leamington which are near by. Warwick castle is awesome but the two towns are just worth seeing in general
1) don't use the words Ye, Thine, Hence, or Thus when interacting with locals
😂
Forsooth!
Nice video! Would love to see a similar video about Odense, Danmark and H.C Andersen!
My hometown. I really like that we have visitors from all over the world because I can get to chat with so many different people - just yesterday with a lady from China (we get a lot of Chinese tourists nowadays).
So my tip if you're visiting, especially if you're in a pub, is to strike up a conversation.
Great Market by the river on a weekend as well. Worth checking out
Can’t. Tried many times to go there. Couldn’t ever get the train schedule right. Pre internet days were tough.
I would recommend Birmingham as a base for those who wish to visit Stratford-upon-Avon as a daytrip (cheaper and closer than London for a start), as you'll have plenty of other great options for daytrips from there too. For example, the historic cities of Worcester and Hereford, with the picturesque Malvern Hills between them. Also, you got Lichfield with its stunning three-spired cathedral and marketplace; Bournville with the Cadbury World chocolate factory; a railway museum and heritage railway at Kidderminster (stopover at Stourbridge Junction on the way for their quirky rail shuttle to the town on the UK's shortest branchline); the twin cities of Cheltenham and Gloucester; of course, Oxford is an hour away on the train; as is the historic border town of Shrewsbury in the other direction. You're really spoilt for choice, as all these places mentioned are easily reachable from Birmingham by train.
Nice to see a review of my home town, Shame it rained but we have had alot of that this year !! Don't forget one of the most famous pubs in the coutry the Dirty Duck where all the actors go for a drink after a show, just up from the theatre. best restaurants are Lambs, Loxleys, Oppo and Vinter on sheep street and the Boat house just over the river. if you head out to Anne Hathaways cottage in Shottery - about a 15 monute walk the bell is also a nice spot :-)
If you need "normal" shopping there is a retail park just outside the centre.
I love Stratford Upon Avon I am very lucky to live nearby so I visit quite regularly. They have a fantastic food festival in the town centre in September. Also just down the road is a place called Caffeine and Machine and also the Piston Club at The Stag if you are into cars and motorbikes they are great places to visit to have some food and drink and a natter with like minded people.
Great job, thanks
The most important do is go to the theatre. The food at the restaurant there is awesome.
Love how the Christmas-shop ornaments are mostly the typical breakable glass from what I see in this video - not exactly travel-friendly...maybe with so many tourists, they didn't think that through? LOL
That butterfly farm is literally my childhood 😅
❤❤❤❤
Stratford is only 25 miles or so from Birmingham (2nd city with over a million people) and has a train link so it can get really busy on a sunny day in the holidays with the local tourists so I would advise booking restaurants in advance if you want a sit down meal.
Was there yesterday
I'm from the UK, you've been more places than me. I live in South Korea now so maybe do some Asian vids!!
The butterfly house is worth a visit and don't forget you have a drink (or eat) in the famous "Dirty Duck".
A.K.A. "The Black Swan".
Do come on a Saturday and buy some vinyl records off of me at Rother Street market!
Don't go to Stratford, East London by mistake!
Don't riot, that's an important one right now.
I know this may be off topic but I am planning a trip to England in October for 2 weeks. Do you have a how to pack light for two weeks for women? Thanks Mark!😊
I’m English and it’s where you will meet the most Americans in England other than London..
I thought Shakespeare was more than one person? Did they all grow up in that room?
Shakespeare was one man, but there are conspiracy theories claiming he was different people because he sometimes spelt his name differently. There are also conspiracy theories he wasn’t real because he wasn’t from the aristocracy and some of his family members were illiterate, some people don’t believe a man who was not from a literate family or educational institution could write his works. However, there is contemporary evidence he was a real man form an ordinary family.
He did work with some collaborators at times, but the conspiracy theories about his identity are generally pretty silly and based on wishful thinking or ignorance about the time he lived in.
If you are a horseracing fan Stratford and Warwick racecourses stage regular meetings most months of the year except the main summer months as they are both jumps only.
What is being anti-Shakespere?🤔
Wherefore means why....not where, so the first do is don't misquote Shakespeare.
Stratford-upon-Avon was so boring even Shakespeare moved out.
Warwick Castle and Cadbury World are nice to checkout, as they are not too far from there.
We visited there and did most of what you described in a day and our fav little tea and scones shop was The Four Teas! Tnx as always for sharing your knowledge. My husband and I Hope to run into you and your family someday.
You need to travel about an 40mims north next time you're in the area. Come and see the Black Country. Museums and history a plenty. Plus the best Chips in the world!! Birmingham ok too I suppose 😂
The Royal Shakespeare Company and its theatre have a very prestigious reputation, with top actors.
2:03 maybe "well educated" rather than "well trained". Sounds a bit degrading as they clearly are there because they have a passion for Shakespeare and likely have done a lot of research themselves
Dont give Birmingham a miss if your in this part of the world! A great, friendly, city.
I’m just up the road from Stratford in Evesham. If you like your craft beer, make sure to visit ‘Ya Bard’ Warwick castle is a must if you have time plus Broadway and Bourton on the water!
The Old Thatch is haunted, we’ve experienced it ourselves. Thank you for reviewing our town 😊
Stratford market is on a Friday, fantastic coffee stall (monsoon)
Two words to the overseas visitors to the UK: expectations management. In Stratford,.as in many other old towns and cities, quaint and beautiful architecture is limited to a small area (usually in the center). The rest can be unexpectedly disappointing (even the Royal Shakespeare Company building in Stratford is mehhh). The little Cotswolds villages and towns are a remarkable exception, don't miss out on those.
Stratford-upon-Avon: Tracing Shakespeare’s Early and Late Years
Don't forget you can easily walk or drive to the Welcombe Hills and/or Clopton Park just out of town. You are suddenly in the countryside with great views of the town below.
It's not 'wherefore art thou, Romeo?', but 'Wherefore...art thou Romeo'? , i.e. "Why are you Romeo'?
Just to add to what else has been said - there are some lovely walks from the centre for the more adventurous, along the canal to the village where Shakespeare’s mother had a farm, along the Greenway (there a railway carriage with food) and it lies on the Monarch’s Way which can be followed into the countryside. There’s good coffee in the Antiques Centre which is tucked away on Ely Street.
Do a backstage tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company if you can.
Definitely stop and chat to your favourite travel TH-camr if you see them in Stratford!
Thanks for the video. Worcester is worth visiting and not far away.
I live 30 mins drive from Stratford, we sometimes drive in when the street food market is on.
Hey Mark, awesome video
Shakespeare doth be a hack
you will be mad to visit the UK now, to be honest. try to keep out of europe if you can. they dont like you here. when bricks fly they dont ask for your passport or if you are a tourist or a local. try to go on holidays to thailand or singapore instead. cheaper and nicer
It's fine if you choose to travel outside of London and stay away from questionable neighbourhoods elsewhere. It's not quite as dire as it is being presented in the media. I'd be more concerned about disruptions to travel (airports, trains) that l would about violence.
@@desiderata2209 there are 100 riots all over the country. In about 30 cities. You just have to meet two or three skinheads anywhere to have a big problem, potentially deadly. Why you want to come to a country and spend your money in a country that hates you? And what is a questionable neighborhood anyway? You want to spend your holidays locked in a hotel? Unable to walk freely, always looking over your shoulder and be mistreated? Think about it. It is mad and about to get madder. STAY AWAY FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY.
Western Europe save Ireland/Iceland perhaps. The Baltics + Balkans are still quite friendly and cheap.
@@Warriorcats64 yes, the Balkans, nicer now with Russians running amok. Spanish, Italians, Greeks and the rest have made clear they don't want tourists. Rest my case.
Total rubbish..it’s safe everywhere….but if youre in a city and you hear shouting just walk the other way..