Great Itineraries

Great Itineraries

Stratford-upon-Avon is ideal for day visits or as a convenient base. If you have only a day here, arrive early and confine your visit to two or three Shakespeare Birthplace Trust properties, a few other town sights, a pub lunch, and a walk along the river, capped off by a stroll to the cottage of Anne Hathaway.

If You Have 2 Days

Stratford-upon-Avon-deserves at least a full day and a drama-packed night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Five historic properties are must-sees: three are in town—Shakespeare's Birthplace,on Henley Street, Nash's House and New Place,and Hall's Croft —whereas the others—Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Mary Arden's House —are just a few minutes out of town. After your Stratford sojourn, spend the next day touring selected sights, including the mansions of Baddesley Clinton,Packwood House,and Charlecote Park. In between, take in some of the villages nearby, ideal for lunch. Spend your second night back in Stratford or in one of the inns along the way.

If You Have 4 Days

After two days spent touring Stratford-upon-Avon-and the Shakespeare-linked attractions of the immediate vicinity—including Henley-in-Arden —you will be ready for a change of scene. Dedicate your third day to visiting two or three of the stately houses within easy driving distance. Plan your route along minor roads to take in some off-the-beaten-track hamlets. Nearest of these is fetching Welford-on-Avon,hugging the river as it loops west from Stratford. A short distance north, on either side of the village of Alcester,an appealing one-horse town, lie two notable country houses, Palladian Ragley Hall and Elizabethan Coughton Court,each surrounded by inviting parkland. Head to Warwick for the night, devoting the next morning to exploring the town's medieval castle. Other lower-key attractions are worth an hour or two. If castles are your thing, see ruined Kenilworth Castle,a short drive north.