I’ve been a Shakespeare fan for as long as I can remember. In middle school, I took part in a Shakespeare fair and played a role in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an experience I still think about fondly. In high school, I studied Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet, and those intense, poetic stories left their mark on me. To this day, I insist that Victor and I attend a performance at the Globe Theatre in London every summer, rain or shine. So in 2023, it finally felt right to make the pilgrimage to the Bard’s birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon.
Who Was William Shakespeare?
Before we move on to my visit to the lovely town, I want to spend a moment on the man himself. William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, in the heart of England. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but it’s traditionally celebrated on April 23, the same date as his death in 1616. He was the third of eight children in the Shakespeare family, and his father, John, was a glove maker and alderman, while his mother, Mary Arden, came from a well-established local family.
Shakespeare likely attended the local grammar school, where he would have studied Latin, rhetoric, and classical literature. It was an education that would deeply influence his writing. In 1582, at just 18 years old, he married Anne Hathaway, a woman eight years his senior. Together, they had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith.
In the late 1580s or early 1590s, Shakespeare moved to London and began building his career as an actor and playwright. Over the next two decades, he wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and two long narrative poems. His work covered an extraordinary range, from tragedies like King Lear and Othello and comedies like Much Ado About Nothing, to histories like Henry V. He revolutionised storytelling, delved deep into the human condition, and left an indelible mark on the English language. Common phrases like “break the ice,” “wild-goose chase,” and “all that glitters is not gold” all come from his works.
By the early 1600s, Shakespeare had gained wealth and status and began spending more time back in Stratford, purchasing a grand home known as New Place. He died there in 1616 at the age of 52 and is buried at Holy Trinity Church, just a short walk from his birthplace.
More than 400 years after his death, Shakespeare’s influence endures. His plays are performed more than any other writer’s, and his characters and themes continue to resonate around the world.
A Sweet Start on Henley Street
We arrived in Stratford just after 10am, and our first stop was for pastries. MOR Bakery came highly recommended, and it did not disappoint. Since it was April and Easter season, they had a hot cross bun-inspired cruffin on the menu. It was a flaky, spiced delight filled with soft sweetness. We also shared one of their beautifully glazed doughnuts. Both were devoured quickly and without regret.
With coffee in hand, we made our way up Henley Street, one of the town’s most iconic and historic thoroughfares. The cobbled road was already buzzing with visitors, many clearly there for the same reason we were. Not far up the street, we came across a statue of Shakespeare, surrounded by shops selling books, keepsakes, and Stratford-themed gifts. It was charming and a little surreal to see Shakespeare’s face everywhere, from mugs and magnets to bakery signs and street banners.
Despite the tourist touches, the town still feels like a place with history in its bones. The mix of timbered buildings, flower boxes, and the sense of quiet pride in its literary heritage gave it a special atmosphere, one that made us slow down and take everything in.
Walking Through Shakespeare’s World
Just steps away from Henley Street was Shakespeare’s Birthplace, a beautifully preserved, half-timbered house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564. The home belonged to his father, John Shakespeare, a glove maker and prominent local figure who also served on the town council. William lived here during his formative years before eventually moving to London to begin his remarkable literary career.
Today, the house is a museum filled with period furnishings, handwritten documents, and exhibits that trace Shakespeare’s early life, his family, and his rise as a playwright. Walking through the rooms, I felt like I was stepping back in time. It was easy to imagine young William running up the narrow stairs or listening to his father work in the glove-making shop. The creaking floorboards and leaded-glass windows made it all feel tangible and real.
There’s a small garden out back where costumed actors sometimes perform scenes from the plays. Seeing a brief performance outdoors, just steps from where Shakespeare once played as a child, was a powerful moment. The experience made it clear how grounded Shakespeare’s extraordinary imagination was in the very real, very ordinary world of this Warwickshire market town.
Shakespeare’s New Place
After exploring his birthplace, we visited Shakespeare’s New Place, the site of the house he purchased in 1597 and lived in for the last 19 years of his life. By that time, he had already written many of his most famous works. Although the house was demolished in the 18th century, the foundations remain, and the site has been turned into an imaginative garden with sculptures, quotes, and installations inspired by his plays.
Standing where Shakespeare once walked as a wealthy landowner, returned home after his years in London, was a moment of reflection. The garden felt peaceful and thought-provoking, like a living tribute to his creative legacy.
By the River and Into the Countryside
After exploring New Place, we began walking toward the River Avon. The town is compact and easy to navigate, and with the sun finally breaking through the clouds, the walk felt especially peaceful. Along the way, we passed the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, its striking red-brick tower rising above the riverbank. Even from the outside, the theatre has an energy about it, a sense of purpose and reverence for performance. One day, I’d love to come back and see a play there.
We continued walking along the water until we reached Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, nestled at the edge of town. This was the childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne, and it is every bit the storybook cottage you’d hope for. Thatched roof, low ceilings, climbing roses, and a garden full of spring flowers. Inside, the house has been preserved with original and reproduction furnishings, and there are helpful guides to explain what life would have looked like for a farming family in the late 1500s.
The house itself is charming, but the gardens were the highlight for me. There’s a softness and a sense of calm here that feels timeless. It was easy to imagine young William walking the path to visit Anne, long before either of them could have known the impact their lives would have on history.
A Riverside Stroll and Farewell
After leaving the cottage, we made our way back toward the town centre, this time walking along the banks of the Avon. We passed Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare was both baptised and buried. We paused for a few moments in the churchyard, quietly acknowledging the full circle of his life, from his humble birth on Henley Street to his final resting place just a short walk away.
We ended the walk at Bancroft Gardens, where the Gower Memorial stands. This bronze statue of Shakespeare is surrounded by smaller figures representing some of his most iconic characters. It felt like the perfect final stop, a visual reminder of the vast and lasting world he created. And it all began in this one small town.
What’s your favourite Shakespeare play, and would you ever visit Stratford-upon-Avon?
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