Shakespeare's Birthplace. Visit William Shakespeare's Birthplace and explore his childhood world, right where it all began. Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Relive Shakespeare's love story at Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Shakespeare's New Place. Walk in Shakespeare's footseps. Plan Your Visit. ...
Residents can explore the life, works and times of William Shakespeare for free across the Shakespeare family homes. This is available to anyone who lives in the CV37 postcode and gives unlimited, free access to Shakespeare's Birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Shakespeare's New Place throughout the year.
How long does it take to visit Shakespeare's birthplace?
Opening Times - The Shakespeare Houses are open every day except 23- 26 December inclusive. The times shown for opening to last entry. is on a much larger site and can take two hours or more if wished. Please note that on-site car parks will be closed half an hour after last entry.
15 Best Things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon [Shakespeare's Birthplace]
Does Shakespeare's bloodline still exist?
Shakespeare has no direct living descendants, but there are still descendants of his sister Joan and her husband William Hart. His childhood home on Henley Street in Stratford remains in the care of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Visit Shakespeare's Grave and the graves of Anne Hathaway, Dr John Hall and his wife Susanna Shakespeare and Thomas Nash in the chancel of Holy Trinity Church. Also in the chancel are 26 fine 15th century carved misericords. On the bank of the River Avon, this is one of England's most beautiful parish churches.
If your ticket includes Anne Hathaway's Cottage and/or Shakespeare's New Place, the 10am time-slot is the earliest you can visit, which is when the properties open. There are no time-slots for these two sites, only Shakespeare's Birthplace requires you to book a time.
Stratford-upon-Avon is worth visiting for its unparalleled connection to Shakespeare, who was born and spent much of his life here. From preserved 16th-century buildings to the town's acclaimed theatres, the area offers countless opportunities to engage with the Bard's legacy.
Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy play written by William Shakespeare around the end of the Renaissance, circa 1601. The play takes place in Illyria, a quasi-fictitious kingdom on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. This setting adds to the romantic ambience of the plot and its inciting incident: a shipwreck.
You can enjoy Stratford-upon-Avon for free by walking along the scenic River Avon Trail, exploring the historic Henley Street, relaxing in Bancroft Gardens (near the Royal Shakespeare Theatre), walking or cycling the traffic-free Greenway, visiting the Guild Chapel (exterior/grounds), and seeing Shakespeare's burial site at Holy Trinity Church (free entry). Don't miss the Canal Basin with its colourful barges and quirky statues like The Jester.
Stratford-upon-Avon has two main regular markets: the Rother Street Market on Fridays and Saturdays (9 am - 4 pm) for food, clothing, and crafts, and the Waterside Upmarket on Sundays (10 am - 5 pm) featuring local artists, crafters, and street food, running March to December. Both offer a variety of goods, from fresh produce and artisan foods at Rother Street to unique handmade items and gifts at Waterside.
Scientists, psychologists and English academics at Liverpool University have found that reading the works of Shakespeare and other classical writers has a beneficial effect on the mind, catches the reader's attention and triggers moments of self-reflection.
Anne Boleyn was executed in 1536 and supposedly buried in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London. But when restorations were done in the 19th century, bones believed to be Anne's were found… except the measurements didn't line up.
Princess Diana's final resting-place is in the grounds of Althorp Park, her family home. The original plan was for her to be buried in the family vault at the local church in nearby Great Brington, but this was changed by her brother, Earl Spencer.
Please note that online booking is essential to secure your time slot to visit Shakespeare's family homes. We'll be unable to grant you entry without a pre-booked, timed entry ticket. We're releasing tickets every Friday, with availability up to four weeks in advance.
How is Meghan Markle related to William Shakespeare?
According to ancestry website MyHeritage, she is the sixth cousin five times removed of Churchill and is the fifth cousin 13 times removed of Shakespeare.
As Anne was 60 years old when Shakespeare died, it was the eldest daughter Susanna, who inherited most of the buildings, land and money. Shakespeare was a clever businessman and also owned property in London. Amongst other things, his other daughter, Judith was given a large amount of money and a silver bowl.
