At first glance the small burg of Stratford-upon-Avon wouldn't seem to raise too many eyebrows. Though it boasts some beautiful scenery and some pristine natural wonders, the town is located in an area that is filled to the brim with picturesque beauty. With a population that hovers around a mere thirty thousand, Stratford could almost be forgotten in the grand scheme of things. Fortunately, there is no chance of this happening and this is largely due to the fact that Stratford's biggest claim to fame is the fact that it was the birthplace of who is widely considered the greatest writer in the history of humanity. We're not talking about J.K. Rowling, either. Stratford was the home of none other than William Shakespeare, making it something of a literary Eden.

Millions and millions of visitors come to lay eyes on the birthplace of The Bard each year and so the small population of Stratford is not completely accurate when determining the breadth of the town. Either way, the town is rightly proud of its heritage and theatre acting is easily among the most cherished practices in the town. Countless playhouses and theatre groups have set up in Stratford-upon-Avon even during the days of Shakespeare and such dedication exists even today. The Royal Shakespeare Company currently runs three theatres out of Stratford and they are all major successes, bringing large amounts of income to the town with each stunning performance. There is something to be said for sitting down and watching a brilliant Shakespeare play in the same area in which he was born, clearly.

The very first theatre built in Stratford, however, dates back to 1769 and it was built to mark the celebration of Shakespeare's birthday. Shakespeare was dead by this point but late is better than never and this theatre proudly honored the towns famed resident until some yearly floods made its upkeep nigh on impossible. A visitor to Stratford-upon-Avon today won't be able to see the theatre but it once stood very near where the current Shakespeare Company theatre is today. Several other theatres have been erected since and some still stand while others have been destroyed or have fallen apart due to shoddy construction. This shouldn't be seen as a commentary on the fact that Shakespeare doesn't mean enough to the residents of Stratford to build him a proper and long-lasting theatre, however. On the contrary, Shakespeare's legacy is so infinite and timeless that manmade constructions will never be able to fully replicate his enduring works. Fortunately, there is one location in Stratford that has been kept up very well and it is a widely cherished monument: Shakespeare's home. The house that William once lived in can still be visited and looked at to this day and it is very stringently maintained so that future generations can come to marvel at the site that no doubt shaped the formative years of the greatest writer known to man. Stratford may not be the largest ctown in England, but its legacy is perhaps the longest lasting.

Dialling the UK from Abroad

To dial the telephone and fax numbers shown from outside the UK, dial your international access code (check with your telecoms provider if you do not know what to dial), then 44, then the rest of the number except the zero shown in brackets.

Guest House & Hotel Owners

If you run a hotel, guest house or bed & breakfast and would like to be included in 4Hotels.co.uk's Hotel & Guest House Directory, please e-mail info@4hotels.co.uk.

Other accommodation close to Stratford-upon-Avon: