Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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21. St. Chad’s Church
On a hilltop west of the town center, this church designed by George Steuart, the architect of Attingham Park, is one of England’s most distinctive ecclesiastical buildings. Completed in 1792, the round Georgian church is surmounted by a tower that is in turn square, octagonal, and circular, as well as topped by a dome. When built, it provoked riots among townsfolk averse to its radical style. The interior has a fine Venetian east window and a brass Arts and Crafts pulpit.
St. Chad's Terr., Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1JX, England01743-365478Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; donations welcome -
22. Symonds Yat and King Arthur’s Cave
Six miles south of Ross-on-Wye, outside the village of Symonds Yat (a local dialect word for "gate"), the 473-foot-high Yat Rock commands superb views of the River Wye as it winds through a narrow gorge in a great five-mile loop. It's best approached from the south on B4432, and from there, it's a short walk. A small, hand-pulled ferry takes passengers across the river from the Saracens Head pub (£1.20). About a mile northeast of Symonds Yat is King Arthur’s Cave, although any link to the legendary monarch is, well, just a legend. Several important Paleolithic finds have been made in the cave, including flint tools and the bones of a woolly mammoth and a saber-toothed cat. Today, it is home to a colony of bats. To find the cave, take the exit marked Symonds Yat West from the A40. Park at the rest area just before Downard Park campsite, and follow the path a short way into the woods.
Symonds Yat, Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, England01600-890435-ferry -
23. The Firs, Elgar’s Birthplace
The composer Sir Edward Elgar was born in the village of Lower Broadheath, eight miles north of Great Malvern, in this tiny brick cottage. Set in a peaceful garden, the museum contains personal memorabilia, including photographs, musical scores, and letters. Be sure to take a seat next to the statue of the musician as he admires the Malvern Hills that so inspired him.
Crown East La., Lower Broadheath, Worcestershire, WR2 6RH, England01905-333330Sight Details
Rate Includes: £8, Closed Nov., Dec., and Tues.–Thurs. -
24. The Roundhouse
Based in an incredible historic building in a forgotten part of the city, this heritage center, a joint enterprise between the National Trust and the Canal and River Trust, has seen 19th-century stables once used to house Birmingham's hard-working horses brought back to life. Inside the horseshoe-shaped brick building, you can learn about the history of the building, as well as how integral both horses and the canals have been to the city's fortunes. Now essentially a hub for city tours—on foot, bike, kayak, and boat—it's also a font of knowledge for those interested in Birmingham's industrial past. The visitor center is free to visit, and there's a good café on site, but most people come here to book a kayak tour, take a guided tour on foot through the city, or take a cycle tour along the canals. There are also tours of the building itself.
1 Sheepcote St., Birmingham, Birmingham, B16 8AE, England0121-7164077Sight Details
Rate Includes: Walking tours £14; bike tours £15; kayaking £30 -
25. Warwick Castle
The vast bulk of this medieval castle rests on a cliff overlooking the Avon River and is considered "the fairest monument of ancient and chivalrous splendor which yet remains uninjured by time," to use the words of Sir Walter Scott. Today, the company that runs the Madame Tussauds wax museums also owns the castle, and it has become more theme park than an authentic heritage site, but it is still a lot of fun. Warwick’s two soaring towers, bristling with battlements, can be seen for miles: the 147-foot-high Caesar’s Tower, built in 1356, and the 128-foot-high Guy’s Tower, built in 1380. Warwick Castle’s monumental walls enclose an impressive armory of medieval weapons, as well as staterooms with historic furnishings and paintings. Other exhibits explore the castle’s history through the ages, display the sights and sounds of a great medieval household as it prepares for an important battle, and tell the story of a princess’s fairy-tale wedding. Elsewhere, a working trebuchet, falconry displays, and rat-throwing (stuffed, not live) games add to the atmosphere. Below the castle, strutting peacocks patrol the 64 acres of grounds elegantly landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century. Each summer the castle also hosts one-off immersive experiences. Arrive early to beat the crowds. If you book online, you save 30% on ticket prices. Lavish medieval banquets take place throughout the year, and plenty of food stalls serve lunch. For the ultimate castle experience, you can "glamp" in a medieval tent, stay in a wooden lodge in the Knight’s Village, or spend the night in your own luxury suite in the 14th-century Caesar’s Tower.
View Tours and ActivitiesCastle La. off Mill St., Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 4QU, England01926-406610Sight Details
Rate Includes: Castle £37; £24 in advance -
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26. Westons Cider Mill
Just six miles southwest of Ledbury, this cider mill is a fantastic way to get a (quite literal) taste of the drink Herefordshire is famous for. They've been making cider on this very site since the late 19th century and many of the ciders are familiar brands. Tours (offered daily at 11 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm, and 3:30 pm) take about an hour and 20 minutes and conclude with a tasting of about five different ciders. Make sure you factor in a stop at the very good on-site restaurant the Scrumpy House to try one of the excellent pies.
Much Marcle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2NQ, England01531-660–108Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tours £12.50 -
27. Worcester Cathedral
There are few more quintessentially English sights than that of Worcester Cathedral, its towers overlooking the green expanse of the county cricket ground and its majestic image reflected in the swift-flowing waters of the River Severn. A cathedral has stood on this site since 680, and much of what remains dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. Notable exceptions are the Norman crypt (built in the 1080s), the largest in England, and the ambulatory, a cloister built around the east end. The most important tomb in the cathedral is that of King John (1167–1216), one of the country’s least-admired monarchs, who alienated his barons and subjects through bad administration and heavy taxation, and, in 1215, was forced to sign that great charter of liberty, Magna Carta; it's worth joining one of the expert talks by his tomb. Don't miss the beautiful decoration in the vaulted chantry chapel of Prince Arthur, Henry VIII's elder brother, whose body was brought to Worcester after his death at Ludlow in 1502. The medieval library (accessible only by pre-booked tour) holds around 300 medieval manuscripts, dating from the 10th century onwards. Worcester is eight miles north of Great Malvern.
8 College Yard, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR1 2LA, England01905-732900Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; cathedral tours £7; King John\'s Tomb talks £7; library tours from £10 -
28. Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings
You can see old architecture typical of Worcestershire at this 19-acre open-air museum, which is situated 15 miles outside the city center and which has rescued more than 30 structures from destruction. Alongside half-timber buildings are Victorian chimneys, a collection of phone booths, a three-seater "earth closet" (lavatory), a 1946 prefabricated house, and a working windmill. During the week, school groups usually arrive at the museum in the morning, making afternoons a less crowded time to visit. Wear good walking shoes.
Stokeheath, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 4JR, England01527-831363Sight Details
Rate Includes: £11, Closed Mon., Tues., and Wed. -
29. Bancroft Gardens
Between the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Clopton Bridge lie these well-tended expanses of lawns and flower beds. The swans gliding gracefully along the river are permanent residents, coexisting with the pleasure craft on the river and the nearby canal. The centerpiece of the gardens is the Gower Memorial statue, designed in 1888 by Lord Gower and adorned with bronze figures of Hamlet, Lady Macbeth, Falstaff, and Prince Hal—symbols of philosophy, tragedy, comedy, and history, respectively.
Off Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6BA, England -
30. Birmingham Cathedral
City CentreThe early-18th-century Cathedral Church of St. Philip, a few blocks from Victoria Square, contains some lovely plasterwork in its elegant, gilded Georgian interior. The stained-glass windows behind the altar, designed by the Pre-Raphaelite Edward Burne-Jones (1833–98) and executed by the firm of William Morris & Company, glow with sensuous hues. There are regular free guided tours (most Monday at 12:30 pm and Wednesday at 11:30 am) where you can find out about how this church became a cathedral.
Colmore Row, Birmingham, Birmingham, B3 2QB, EnglandSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
31. Black and White House Museum
The half-timber Old House, crisscrossed with black beams and whitewashed walls, is a fine example of domestic Jacobean architecture. Built in 1621, the house started out as a private home, before spending years as a butcher’s shop and then a bank, but has been preserved as a museum since 1929. It’s kept in the style it would have been in the early 17th century. Across the three floors, you can explore a kitchen, dining hall, parlor, and bedrooms complete with four-poster beds. Look for the rare wall paintings and the unusual dog’s door between the nursery and master bedroom.
High Town, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 2AA, England01432-260694Sight Details
Rate Includes: £3.50, Closed Mon. in Oct.–June -
32. Cadbury World
The village of Bournville (five miles south of Birmingham city center) contains this museum devoted to—what else?—chocolate. In 1879, the Quaker Cadbury brothers moved the family business from the city to this "factory in a garden." The museum traces the history of the cocoa bean and the Cadbury dynasty. The 4-D Chocolate Adventure Zone and the accompanying play areas may seem like overkill, but Cadbury World is extremely popular with kids. You can watch (and smell) chocolates being made by hand, enjoy free samples, and then stock up from the cut-price shop. The restaurant has specialty chocolate cakes as well as lunches. Opening times change almost daily, and reservations are essential; call or go online to check times and book tickets.
Linden Rd., Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1JR, England0121-393–6004Sight Details
Rate Includes: £21, Closed early–mid-Jan. and select days in Dec. -
33. Charlecote Park
A celebrated house in the village of Hampton Lucy just outside Stratford, Charlecote Park is a Prodigy house, built in 1558 by Sir Thomas Lucy to impress Queen Elizabeth I (the house is even shaped like the letter "E" in her honor). Shakespeare knew the house—he was supposedly even caught poaching deer here. Overlooking the River Avon, the redbrick manor is striking and sprawling. It was renovated in neo-Elizabethan style by the Lucy family, represented here by numerous portraits, during the mid-19th century. A carved ebony bed is one of many spectacular pieces of furniture. The Tudor gatehouse is unchanged since Shakespeare's day, and a collection of carriages, a Victorian kitchen, and a small brewery occupy the outbuildings. Indulge in a game of croquet near the quirky, thatched, Victorian-era summer hut, or explore the deer park landscaped by Capability Brown. Interesting themed tours and walks take place in summer—call in advance to find out what's on offer. The house is five miles northeast of Stratford; by car it is reached via the B4086 or it costs around £15 in a taxi from Stratford-upon-Avon.
Wellesbourne, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV35 9ER, England01789-470277Sight Details
Rate Includes: £11 -
34. Chester Rows
Chester’s unique Rows, which originated in the 12th and 13th centuries, are essentially double rows of stores, one at street level and the other on the second floor with galleries overlooking the street. The Rows line the junction of the four streets in the old town. They have medieval crypts below them, and some reveal Roman foundations.
Along Watergate, Northgate, Eastgate, and Bridge Sts., Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH1 1NG, England -
35. Chester Zoo
Well-landscaped grounds and natural enclosures make the 80-acre zoo one of Britain’s most popular and also one of its largest. Highlights include the Realm of the Red Ape, the jaguar enclosure, and the Dragons in Danger habitat. Baby animals are often on display. Eleven miles of paths wind through the zoo, and you can use the water-bus boats or the overhead train to tour the grounds. Fun 10-minute animal talks, aimed at kids, take place at various locations around the zoo throughout the day; little ones will especially love the Madagascar PLAY zone.
View Tours and ActivitiesA41, Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH2 1LH, England01244-380280Sight Details
Rate Includes: £29.08 -
36. City Walls
Accessible from several points, the city walls provide splendid views of Chester and its surroundings. The whole circuit is two miles, but if your time is short, climb the steps at Newgate and walk along toward Eastgate to see the great ornamental Eastgate Clock, erected to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Lots of small shops near this part of the walls sell old books, old postcards, antiques, and jewelry. Where the Bridge of Sighs (named after the enclosed bridge in Venice that it closely resembles) crosses the canal, descend to street level and walk up Northgate Street into Market Square.
Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, England -
37. Collegiate Church of St. Mary
Crowded with gilded, carved, and painted tombs, the Beauchamp Chantry within this church is considered one of the finest medieval chapels in England. Despite the wealth of late-medieval and Tudor chivalry, the chapel was built in the 15th century in honor of the somewhat-less-than-chivalrous Richard de Beauchamp, who consigned Joan of Arc to burn at the stake. Alongside his impressive effigy in gilded bronze lie the fine tombs of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, adviser and favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, and Dudley’s brother, Ambrose. The church’s chancel, distinguished by its flying ribs, houses the alabaster table tomb of Thomas Beauchamp, one of the first Knights of the Order of the Garter, and his wife. In the Norman crypt, look for the rare ducking stool (a chair in which people were tied for public punishment).
Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 4RA, England01926-403940Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; £2 donation suggested -
38. Compton Verney
A neoclassical country mansion remodeled in the 1760s by Scottish architect Robert Adam has been repurposed by the Peter Moores Foundation as an art museum with more than 800 works. The house is set on 120 acres of spectacular rolling parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. Intriguingly varied works of art are beautifully displayed in restored rooms: British folk art and portraits, textiles, Chinese pottery and bronzes, southern Italian art from 1600 to 1800, and German art from 1450 to 1600 are the main focus. Tours take place Tuesday through Sunday and bank holidays at noon. It's 10 miles east of Stratford; by car, take the B4086.
Off B4086, Kineton, Warwickshire, CV35 9HZ, England01926-645500Sight Details
Rate Includes: £17, Closed Dec.–Mar. except certain weekends in Feb. and Mon. except bank holidays -
39. Eastnor Castle
Completed in 1820, Eastnor Castle, a turreted Norman-revival extravaganza on the eastern outskirts of Ledbury, includes some magnificent neo-Gothic salons designed by 19th-century architect Augustus Pugin. The Hervey-Bathurst family has restored other grand rooms, full of tapestries, gilt-framed paintings, Regency chandeliers, old armchairs, and enormous sofas, making Eastnor a must-see for lovers of English interior decoration. In the Little Library, look out for the rare game of Life Pool, originally played on the billiards table. Within the grounds, there is a knight’s maze and adventure playground to keep kids entertained (along with an ice cream parlor). Opening days vary throughout the season; check the website in advance before you visit. There is also a campsite and two cottages within the castle’s deer park and some spectacular rooms in the castle itself.
Off the A438, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1RL, England01531-633160Sight Details
Rate Includes: House and grounds £13 online; grounds only £9, Closed Fri., Sat., and Oct.–Easter -
40. Goodrich Castle
Looming dramatically over the River Wye at Kerne Bridge, from the south, the castle looks like a fortress from the Rhineland amid the green fields; you quickly see its grimmer face from the battlements on its north side. Dating from the late 12th century, the red sandstone castle is surrounded by a deep moat carved out of solid rock, from which its walls appear to soar upward. Built to repel Welsh raiders, it was destroyed in the 17th century during the Civil War, and it's where you can view the only surviving Civil War mortar, known as "Roaring Meg."
Castle La., Goodrich, Herefordshire, HR9 6HY, England01600-890538Sight Details
Rate Includes: £9.80, Closed weekdays Nov.–mid-Feb.
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