Where: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
When: December 22, 2012
With: Dave, Mom and Bobby
Stratford-upon-Avon is nearly synonymous with the name William Shakespeare. It's where he was born, where he lived as a child, and where his wife, the original Anne Hathaway lived. Now, the village has retained much of its original charm while preserving the legend of man behind so many of the world's most famous plays.
It couldn't have been a more perfect village to explore during Christmas. The tudor buildings, quaintly decorated streets, and small shops put you right into the holiday spirit despite the cold and dreary weather.
Right off the bat, we decided to hit up the Shakespeare Centre, which contained a bit of history on who he was. The centre from the outside was a bit of an eyesore in my opinion, particularly next to the authentic Tudor buildings on either side of it. Luckily, it made up for this lack of design with a really well-done interior, giving both a history of the playwright and of the village of Stratford as he would have grown up in.
Upstairs were the family bedrooms. The last room shows where Shakespeare was born. We got some historical fun facts by learning that the ropes on the side of the bed could be tightened to keep the mattress taut, hence the saying "Sleep tight".
The grounds around the cottage are filled with gardens. We weren't able to see much as the rain made the walk muddy and slippery, but we did get to see this twig hut that was common in Elizabethan gardens. Inside was a small bench, and in better weather, a recording of Shakespeare's sonnets plays softly.
After a bit of recovery, we took one more stroll around the town before our train. The rain had officially settled in, but the lights and Christmas decorations helped make the town beautiful.
To give us one last boost of energy, we stopped off in the quaintest of sweets shops ever. This is what candy stores are meant to look like.
After splurging on sweets and fudge, it was time to journey back to London. A long day, but a lovely one. The tickets for all the sites are good for up to a year, so maybe we'll have to make a trip back when the gardens are in full bloom to take advantage of the romance that is Stratford.
When: December 22, 2012
With: Dave, Mom and Bobby
Stratford-upon-Avon is nearly synonymous with the name William Shakespeare. It's where he was born, where he lived as a child, and where his wife, the original Anne Hathaway lived. Now, the village has retained much of its original charm while preserving the legend of man behind so many of the world's most famous plays.
It couldn't have been a more perfect village to explore during Christmas. The tudor buildings, quaintly decorated streets, and small shops put you right into the holiday spirit despite the cold and dreary weather.
Right off the bat, we decided to hit up the Shakespeare Centre, which contained a bit of history on who he was. The centre from the outside was a bit of an eyesore in my opinion, particularly next to the authentic Tudor buildings on either side of it. Luckily, it made up for this lack of design with a really well-done interior, giving both a history of the playwright and of the village of Stratford as he would have grown up in.
My model posing for me in front of Shakespeare's memorial.
Shakespeare's home is as authentic as it looks. The outside hasn't changed much in the last 500 years. It's crazy how well-preserved it is...and how gigantic it was for a house back in those days.
Entering from the back of the house, you walk through a little garden that I'm sure is less dreary and much more beautiful in the springtime.
Once inside, tour guides in period-dress explain the purpose of each room as you enter. If original furniture is not to be had, authentic replicas sit in their place, helping you to picture everything just as it was, right down to the Christmas decorations in the kitchen.
At the end of the first floor, you come to Shakespeare's father's leather workshop. The horses bringing materials would walk their carts right from the street through a hallway in the middle of the house out to the backyard. The sale of his leather goods were made right out the front window onto the street.
Upstairs were the family bedrooms. The last room shows where Shakespeare was born. We got some historical fun facts by learning that the ropes on the side of the bed could be tightened to keep the mattress taut, hence the saying "Sleep tight".
After finishing up with Shakespeare's home, we headed to the other big attraction in this village: the cottage of Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway. It's about a mile outside of the village, and in the spring time when the weather is nice, I bet the walk would be stunning.
The grounds around the cottage are filled with gardens. We weren't able to see much as the rain made the walk muddy and slippery, but we did get to see this twig hut that was common in Elizabethan gardens. Inside was a small bench, and in better weather, a recording of Shakespeare's sonnets plays softly.
The cottage itself is considered one of the most recognizable houses in the world. At first, I thought that sounded nuts, until I remembered all those Thomas Kinkade paintings that you can paint-by-number from Michael's craft store.
Inside, the house was in full preparation for the holidays. Guides gave us the full scoop of what was going on, the evolution of the house, and any information they had available on Anne Hathaway.
On the second floor, most of the furniture is original from the 1500s. The beds were beautiful, as were the rooms.
At the end of the cottage, they had a nice little project going. As romance is a main theme in the home, they asked all their guests to write down how they met their significant other and pin it to the board. Aww.
Afterwards, we walked back to center town. The cold and rainy day got the best of us, so we piled into a cozy, old pub for some hot drinks and relaxation.
After a bit of recovery, we took one more stroll around the town before our train. The rain had officially settled in, but the lights and Christmas decorations helped make the town beautiful.
To give us one last boost of energy, we stopped off in the quaintest of sweets shops ever. This is what candy stores are meant to look like.
After splurging on sweets and fudge, it was time to journey back to London. A long day, but a lovely one. The tickets for all the sites are good for up to a year, so maybe we'll have to make a trip back when the gardens are in full bloom to take advantage of the romance that is Stratford.
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