54407WES
Shakespeare’s Birthplace Visit
Welsh Family Evening Meal
Check TM Envelope for Welsh Family Visit Instructions. In doubt contact London Office.
08.00 Depart Bath
10.00 Arrive Stratford
As this stop will also incorporate lunch you may wish to do a brief coach panoramic which will help people orientate themselves and allow you to point out the various cafes and places to shop once they have visited the Birthplace.
Over the Clopton Bridge, left along Waterside with the RSC on your left, head towards Holy Trinity Church. At junction turn right (church is on left) turn first right into Church Street which leads into the High Street and then to the Birthplace Coach Drop Off Point, Windsor Street. Inform group what time to return after lunch.
Stratford
Ensure group is aware that having left the site, they cannot re-enter.
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 at 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. Ensure group is aware of meeting points/times before they disperse for free time. A good place to meet after the visit is the Jester statue (top of Henley St.).
Holy Trinity Church
Itineraries now often include entry to Holy Trinity Church to see the burial place of William Shakespeare. There is a fee to enter the chancel of the church where the burials are located, andthey have a card machine to process payment.
Facilities/places of interest in Stratford
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH Trinity Street. Sanctuary doorknocker, lovely stained glass, Shakespeare 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. Admission charge. New Place was Shakespeare’s last residence.
ROYAL SHAKESPEARE THEATRE & SWAN THEATRE Stratford home of the RSC. Waterside. Backstage tours info www.rsc.org.uk/theatretours
GRAMMAR SCHOOL EXHIBIT ON ELIZABETHAN SCHOOL LIFE (ADMISSION CHARGE)
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.
BUREAU DE CHANGE – Post Office, Henley Street
12.30 Depart Stratford
ALTERNATE ROUTE: If LLangollen is not listed then you could choose not to do this and put your faith in the M40/M42/M6Toll/M6 and A55, which in theory should be half an hour quicker. However with anything that incorporates the M6 that is not always the case. Discuss with Driver.
14.45 Arrive Llangollen.
In centre of town turn right off the A5 and then first left takes you to the town coach park. Restrooms are in the corner of the parking area (entry charge). If you continue down Castle Street away from the A5 you come to the river. Various little Welsh souvenir shops. The tradition of Love spoons is a quintessential Welsh gift.
15.15 Depart Llangollen.
16.45 Arrive Caernarfon.
Add another 15 mins to this schedule if you wish to stop at the top of the Llanberis Pass. People do complain if they do not get the chance to jump off for a photograph. Weather conditions and availability of the one coach spot will help determine this decision. Allow at least an hour for check-in at the hotel prior to departure for evening meals.
Evening Welsh Home Visits (see below).
The organisation of this evening can appear overly complicated, but majority of it will have been sorted out by the London office prior to the trip. Follow the checklist below.
– Group size for the family meal is usually 6-8. You will be told the exact breakdown.
– You will only be required to accompany a group if there are not sufficient Teachers/Adults for there to be one adult for every student sub-group. London office will inform you of this prior to the trip. If not required evening meal allowance can be submitted on expenses. (Driver to submit their meal expenses to their company.)
– At arrivals meeting double check vegetarian numbers. It is usual that vegetarians will be accommodated with one family. This will be specified beforehand.
– Break groups down into sub groups required. If you have multi-group bus this can sometimes be tricky as evening numbers do not always match groups. The numbers stated for each family must be adhered to.
– London will have pre booked taxis Huw’s taxis, however reconfirm as they often send one taxi to do two drops or send mini-vans if two families are located nearby.
– For each group the ACIS office will have listed a price for a round-trip taxi fare. Give this to the driver. Passengers do not need to worry about tipping.
– Groups are expected to be with their families by 6.30 pm. They should meet in hotel lobby at 6pm. Those who might be visiting families within walking distance of the hotel can leave a little later.
– Groups are often apprehensive about outstaying their welcome. Whilst there is no set time limit, inform them that two hours might be a reliable guide. And that it would probably be incumbent on the adult in each party to ask the host to call for the taxi. If they feel they need to offer an excuse the following morning’s departure will probably be early. Check envelope for details. Any questions please contact the office.