Stratford-upon-Avon is a terrific place to visit during your vacations or weekends. The town is located in the West Midlands, and the town is renowned in the UK as it is the birthplace of the great writer William Shakespeare. Also, there are several other attractions such as museums and restaurants in the town that are intriguing. This blog post will help you create an itinerary for your visit to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Weekend Breaks Stratford-Upon-Avon
Since Stratford-upon-Avon is a small town, 48hrs are enough to explore the city. Therefore, one can plan weekend breaks Stratford upon Avon.
1. Shakespeare Birthplace Museum
The Shakespeare museum was constructed by restoring a 16th-century half-timbered house located on Henly Street in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. It is believed that the great writer lived in this house during his childhood day. Moreover, the museum is said to be the “Mecca for all lovers of literature.” The museum consists of rare artefacts related to the life of the great writer.
2. Anne Hathway’s Cottage
Anne Hathway was the wife of William Shakespeare, and it is believed that she spent her childhood days in this cottage until the year 1582. The cottage is located in Shottery, which is one and a half-mile away from Stratford-upon-Avon. The monument is surrounded by gardens that were designed by the famous horticulturist Ellen Willmott. Moreover, the house consists of ‘Hathway bed,’ ‘Shakespeare courting chair’ (where Shakespeare wooed Anne before marriage), and ‘Courting Settle.’ Astonishingly, the cottage was bought by Shakespeare trust in 1892, but until 1911, the Hathway family resided as tenant-custodians in it.
3. Mad Mueseum
MAD is an abbreviation for the “Mechanical and Arts Design” museum. It was inaugurated in the year 2012 and displayed exclusive articles on kinetic art and automata. Moreover, the museum allows interaction with machines, robots, marble runs, etc. The museum is located on Henly Street and is open on all days of the week.
4. Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal Basin
The canal basin presents a scenic view of the city and can be the most peaceful place throughout your weekend break in Stratford-upon-Avon. The basin is surrounded by beautiful flowers and a small over bridge which makes it appear serene. The canal basin is located in the happening area of the town. To be precise, the basin is in between the famous royal Shakespeare theatre and the main market. In the canal, there are permanently parks boats which offer a variety of food and refreshments. Moreover, one can have a bite of the award-winning ice-creams and have a cup of unique coffees. Also, there are short 45mins boat rides with frequent departures throughout the day.
Restaurants In Stratford-Upon-Avon
Apart from the historic places and museums, there are several restaurants in Stratford upon Avon offering delicious food and desserts. Also, there are numerous bars around the town as well. Some of the best places to eat are mentioned below.
· Salt
Salt is one of the finest restaurants in Stratford-upon-Avon, started by Paul Foster, who won the young chef of the year award in 2011. The restaurant was started in the year 2017 and is rated 6/10 in the good food guide. The place is located on Church Street and is just outside the Costworlds. A three-course meal in the restaurant costs an average amount of 40 pounds.
· Box Brownie Coffee
The shop is located on Church Street in the town and was started by Ben and Hayley. The shop offers incredibly delicious coffee. The prime reason is that Anne and Chris, two localities, roast the coffee themselves in the Monsoon estates. Moreover, the success of the coffee shop is not only because of the coffee it serves but due to the friendly atmosphere and vibes it gives to people. Also, they offer brownies, and taste ‘banging’ is what they say.
· El Greco
El Greco is a family-run restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon and is located at 27 Rother Street. The head chef Patron Dimitrios, his wife, and his son Olympios are involved in maintaining the restaurant’s standard. The USP of this restaurant is its dynamically priced menu. Moreover, they also offer exotic dishes such as taramasalata, tzatziki, souvlaki, and spanakopita.
· The One Elm
The One Elm is a gastropub that was recently refurbished by a small group called the Peaches. The pub is located on 1 Guild Street, and it opens at 11 in the morning. Some of the specialties of the pub are pork pie and piccalilli, chicken and garlic butter, and beer-battered fish and chips. Although the drink list is short but nicely curated, they offer Gin from the Costworlds and ales on tap from the Purity Brewing Company and Church Farm Brewery.
· The Stuart Restaurant
The stuart restaurant is one of the finest restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon. The restaurant is located in the Billesley Manor hotel. The hotel consists of historic setting with oak panelling and paintings on the walls.
The USP of the Stuart restaurant is its diverse seasonal food menu. The menu covers variety of dishes from Asian to continental. Moreover, a person can also give specific instructions for the dish they wish to eat.
Conclusion
Even though Stratford-upon-Avon is famous for the Birth of William Shakespeare, the town has much more to it apart from being Shakespeare’s birthplace. A person visiting the town can visit different places such as museums, restaurants, pubs, and gardens. Overall, the town of Stratford-upon-Avon is an apt location for spending a peaceful and rejuvenating weekend.