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Three miles from the town centre The home of Shakespeare's grandparents and childhood home of Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden. The house is situated in the legendary Forest of Arden and adjoins Palmer’s Farm. In the ground floor rooms of Mary Arden’s house, you can see the everyday household items used by your parents, grand-parents and great grand-parents. At Palmer’s Farm, an impressive Elizabethan farmhouse, you can experience the Elizabethan way of life and interact with the daily domestic routine of a working farm. Watch the farmer's wife prepare and cook her home grown food in the farmhouse kitchen. Wander through the orchard and wild flower meadow. Follow the nature trail and track down the Long Horn cattle and other rare breeds including Cotswold sheep and Gloucester Old Spot pigs.
One mile from the town centre. The world famous home of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, represents the perfect English country cottage and garden. You can see the room where Shakespeare is thought to have wooed Anne and the armchair known as the Hathaway “courting chair”. You can view the artefacts, furnishings and pottery relating directly the Shakespeare and the Hathaway family. Take time to explore the beautiful grounds and gardens which include the Shakespeare tree garden with its Elizabethan-style maze and Shakespeare inspired sculptures created by young British and American artists.
A Star Wars rendition of Shakespeare’s life. Using the latest developments in show technology and special effects, Shakespearience reveals the man behind the well-known face and provides spectacular entertainment and fun for all the family. Audiences of all ages will be enthralled by the special effects that are used to present the story of William Shakespeare in this thrilling ‘virtual reality’ show. Gusts of wind, flashes of lightning and claps of thunder are all part of this theatrical spectacular. Act 1 tells a visual story of William Shakespeare’s early life in Elizabethan Stratford. Join Quentin Willson on a fascinating tour of historic locations such as Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Holy Trinity Church. Discover the man behind the well known face and gain a fascinating insight into his literary influence on modern day life. Act 2 is set in a timbered playhouse. Using innovative show technology, Shakespeare appears as an ethereal voice to talk to a young, contemporary actor. ‘On stage’ performances of 9 of Shakespeare’s plays are presented in a magical and spectacular way using advanced staging effects, theatrical lighting, moving scenery and surround sound.
A mere 4 miles away in Warwick. You don't just visit Britain's Greatest Medieval Experience. You live it! Bursting to the towers with tales of treachery and torture, passion and power and above all fascinating people, times and events, Warwick Castle is so much more than simply a castle. Experience preparations for battle, feel the weight of a sword and get a soldier's eye view from beneath a battle helmet, see lavishly decorated State Rooms, watch as a household prepares for a Victorian party and discover how electricity was generated over 100 years ago to light up the castle. Explore the 60 acres of landscaped grounds and gardens, which include the beautiful Peacock Garden and Conservatory, the Victorian Rose Garden and Pageant Field. Throughout the year there is a fantastic programme of events including birds of prey, jousting and the world's largest trebuchet in action. Prices vary throughout the year.
A superb National Trust property near Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. One of England’s great gardens, Hidcote was designed and created in the Arts & Crafts style by the horticulturalist, Major Lawrence Johnston. It is arranged as a series of outdoor rooms, each with a different character and separated by walls and hedges of many different species. The garden is famous for its rare shrubs and trees, outstanding herbaceous borders and unusual plant species from all over the world. The varied styles of the outdoor rooms peak at different times of year, making an interesting visit at any time. The garden is nestled in the Cotswolds with stunning panoramas across the Vale of Evesham.
Founded in 1154 by a group of Cistercian monks, Stoneleigh Abbey reflects a rich mix of more than 800 years of history. The estate was the home of the Leigh family from 1561 until the late twentieth century. Many famous people have connections with the Abbey: Charles I was entertained here when the gates of Coventry were closed against him, Jane Austen stayed at the Abbey and uses descriptions of its grand interiors and gardens in two of her novels, and in 1858 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed at Stoneleigh. The work of famous architects and artisans is displayed in Stoneleigh’s architecture and rooms. The mediaeval Gatehouse was built in 1346 and is one of a few in Britain which are still standing and complete. In 1720 Francis Smith of Warwick began work on the Great West Wing which is considered to be the masterpiece of this famous and prolific architect. The State Rooms of the West Wing boast some of the finest freehand three dimensional plasterwork to be seen anywhere. The Riding School (now the Banqueting Hall) and Stables, designed by C S Smith, is a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture. The Abbey sits in 690 acres of parkland and gardens with the River Avon flowing through. Great landscape architects such as Repton and Nessfield have influenced the design and form of the land and created a beautiful backdrop for leisure and sport. In December 1996 the ownership of Stoneleigh Abbey passed to a charitable trust that, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage and the European Regional Development Fund, have in partnership with Warwick District Council repaired and restored the buildings of the Abbey.
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