It is sadly drawing to an end with my current job within Stratford-upon-Avon as in a few weeks time I will be setting off on another adventure with my fiancé to explore Asia. With nostalgia sinking In, I felt it would be fitting to share with you some of my favourite highlights of Stratford.
I am fairly local to the area and since living in the Cotswolds for the past twenty two years, Stratford has often been a place I have frequently visited. I was also very fortunate to spend a lot of social time with friends whilst at secondary school in Chipping Campden here and more lucky to attend Stratford's college. For the past year I have basically been living here as a nanny, caring for three wonderful boys. Therefore I have been able to see parts of the town, that I have not seen before over the years and I have been truly blessed to work in a beautifully cultured environment.
As a lot of you may know Stratford-upon-Avon is a honey pot for tourism and is the home town of the famous English writer Shakespeare. Without sharing the generic usual sights of the town, I would like to take you on a tour of my Stratford.
Halls Croft
Above we have Halls Croft, which was the home of Susanna Shakespeare who was the daughter of William Shakespeare. Here she lived with her husband Dr John hall, who later had a daughter together. The architecture is beautifully constructed and makes you feel like you have gone back to the period to which they once lived. This is one reason why I love this town, for the quaint cottages are a true reflection of British country lifestyle. Unfortunately I did not have the time to go inside the house or gardens but you can see below a sneak peak of the Shakespeare gardens. I sincerely recommend a visit in late spring, early summer as the roses and flowers are breathtaking.
Bancroft & The Royal Shakespeare Company
I am now going to take you to a very popular local hotspot, as well as being popular with tourists;Stratford's Bancroft. Bancroft is situated around the corner from the Royal Shakespeare Company and I have spent many a summers day sat on the grass. It is a beautiful park area, which you can spend hours walking along the canal wathcing the boats going up and down and the graceful swans. I also appreciate this part of the town because opposite the park is one of my favourite pubs - The Dirty Duck.
The Dirty Duck offer traditional English food all year round and have a lovely seating area outside the front, which is ideal for people watching or if you prefer they have a pretty pub garden around the back. My main appreciation for the Dirty Duck is they let you take drinks out onto the Bancroft. This is bliss in the summer when you are with friends, watching the world go by with some Pimms. This is my little piece of heaven.
As you can see below the Royal Shakespeare Company is right around the corner. Please excuse my poor photos, especially the one with the van - unfortunately the working world does not stand still. In all honesty though I did not want to share too much of the theatre, as they have changed the surrounding area a lot. Years ago there was no paving and shiny railings, it used to be paths and vass amounts of grass. In the summer it was always so busy, you could not even see a sign of a blade of grass. There also used to be room for street entertainers but unfortunately with the towns moderation this has disintegrated somewhat. I think it is quite sad as a local, how modern they have made this part of the town and I think it has tampered with some of its culture. I understand the theatre needed work done to preserve the original theatre where Shakespeare famously put on his plays. I remember being a student and campaigning for the green to be kept and for the trees also to be left and not torn out. However it does not look too bad but I did prefer it how it was before, this is just my old fashioned opinion.
The Elizabethan Gardens
Also known as the memorial gardens, I love to visit here if I need some quiet time. It is very tranquil and peaceful and always kept to perfection. You can also find interesting sculptures made by Greg Wyatt which reflects on the Shakesperian plays; Hamlet, Twelfth Night, The Tempest and A Midsummer's Nights Dream to name a few. Each statue supported by a pillar has a message on it, which I think is really sweet. When I visit here, it is almost dream like, sometimes I like to pretend I am in a fantasy world just wafting through, taking in all the stories that we often hear so much of.
Anne Hathaway's Cottage
We now come towards the end of our little journey through my Stratford. I could go on endlessly about the picturesque places here but as I mentioned I wanted to show you the highlights that are not so tainted by the tourism here. We have ended our route with William Shakespeare's wifes house, Anne Hathaway. Again another beautifully crafted cottage, tucked away out of the busy town and nestled in the hamlet called Shottery. The thatched farmhouse contains original items of family furniture including the Hathaway bed. The grounds are breathtaking and I suggest visiting in Spring/Summer when the flowers are in full bloom and you can appreciate the blooms and shrubs. The garden is also decorated with stunning willow creations, which you can see in the background in one of my images. After taking in the history and beautiful culture surrounding you, there is also a cafe a few yards up the road, should you require snacks and refreshments.
So our journey has come to an end, for now at least anyway. I hope you enjoyed some of my favourite spots in the wonderful picture perfect town of Stratford-upon-Avon. I am sure I will miss all of this whilst I am away but it is not forever, I will be back to the Shire.
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