54407LWE
Anne Hathaway’s cottage visit
Shakespeare’s Birthplace visit
· Entrances are paid by voucher for both Stratford visits.
● Check in advance for special events, closed areas of sites etc.
· Lunch in the Cotswolds.
Cotswolds
Woodstock
Take the first turning on the right as you come into the town from Oxford for the coach park (public toilets). Royal Associations since Saxon times, a Royalist base during Civil War. Entrance (the Triumphal Arch) to Blenheim Palace on the left. Architect – Sir John Vanburgh (the playwright). Built for John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. Landscape Park – Launcelot ‘Capability’ Brown.
Broadway
The show-town of the Cotswolds, makes a pleasant stop for scones and cream.
Coach parking (toilets), 5 min walk from town. If a clear day, consider stopping for photos at Broadway Tower (top of Fish Hill). Affords Stunning views over the Vale of Evesham.
Moreton-in-Marsh
(As alternative to Broadway). Bigger town so more choice of eating places, though less quaint.
Market on High St. Huge. On Tuesdays.
Batsford Arboretum – largest private collection of rare trees in UK. 15 minute walk from High St.
Cotswold Falconry Centre Next to entrance to Arboretum. Flying displays at set times – check in advance.
Tourist Info – www.cotswold.com
Stratford
Ensure groups are aware that once they have left the sites, they are not able to re-enter.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (Shottery)
Set down in Cottage coach park. Arrange time for departure. Re-group at the coach. Walk group to entrance (Now located next to shop just by coach park) & into gardens. Keep group together (they often disperse into toilets or to take photos of the beautiful gardens). As soon as cottage guides are ready, you have to move. Shop at the Birthplace stocks exactly the same merchandise as at Cottage.
Shakespeare Centre and Birthplace
Set down in the Birthplace coach park (Windsor St.). Walk group to Centre and Birthplace (Henley St.). Warn group to take care when crossing Windsor Street. Pay with voucher in the centre. You have a choice between brief audio visual or small exhibition, then into gardens, the house and shop. At height of season can become crowded.
If overnight is in Stratford, the group will have free time after the visit. Adjust times accordingly. Ensure groups are aware of meeting points/times for dinner/check in before they disperse.
If day is in reverse, a good place to meet after the visit is the Jester statue (top of Henley St).
Overnight in Stratford
For groups staying in central Stratford, dinner will be at the hotel.
For groups staying a little way out of town, dinner will be also at the hotel, and will include transfers back to the hotel after theatre, if included.
For groups staying out of town (eg in Warwick), dinner will be at a restaurant in Stratford. Hotel check-in will most likely be at the end of the evening.
FACTS AND FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS
Tourist Information Office, Bridgefoot
www.discover-stratford.com – A great resource for info, ideas.
Places of Interest
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH – Trinity Street. Sanctuary door knocker, lovely stained glass, Shakespeare & some family buried in chancel (entrance fee to chancel.) Weeping willows in graveyard, picturesque location by river.
HALLS CROFT – Old Town Street. Home of Susanna Shakespeare (eldest daughter) and her doctor husband, John Hall. Fine exhibition of Elizabethan medicine. (entrance fee)
NEW PLACE – Chapel Street. Entrance fee. New Place was Shakespeare’s last residence.
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE & SWAN THEATRE – Stratford home of the RSC. Waterside. Backstage tours and shop. www.rsc.org.uk/theatretours
GOWER MEMORIAL – Bancroft Basin by Bridgefoot. Statue (1888) of Shakespeare surrounded by 4 figures from his plays.
SHOPPING – Good mix of High Street and Shakespeare souvenirs.
Facilities
BUREAU DE CHANGE – Post Office – Henley Street (opposite Barclays Bank).
CASH-POINTS – All major High Street Banks.
