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• Introduction
• A Countryside Getaway in Shakespeare Country
• Hotels in Shakespeare Country
• Special Offers
• How to Unsubscribe

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September is an excellent month for a break in Shakespeare Country - the summer crowds have diminished, but there's still a good chance of fine weather - so in this issue, we'll be looking at what you can see and do in this fascinating part of the country.

Quenton Fyfe
Editor

Shakespeare Country is situated in the Heart of England, with picturesque towns and villages nestling amid the gentle scenery of rolling hills, farmland, rivers and canals. The area boasts some of the most famous gardens, historic buildings, castles and stately homes in England. Whether you plan a quick break, or a longer visit, you will find lots to see and do.

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. Shakespeare's Birthplace in Henley Street, where the bard spent the early years of his life, is full of atmosphere and contains many original features.

There are many places associated with the life of Shakespeare which you can visit:

Halls Croft, the home of Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her husband Dr. John Hall, is a fine half-timbered Tudor house, furnished with a rare collection of contemporary pieces.

Nash's House (now a local history museum), provides an impression of domestic life in Shakespeare's times. This property belonged to Thomas Nash who married Shakespeare's grand daughter in 1626.

Alongside are the foundations of New Place, the house where Shakespeare spent his retirement. The great garden of New Place remains, with its Knott Garden, a haven of peace for a quiet moment.

The Parish Church of Holy Trinity on the banks of the river Avon, is the bard's final resting-place. His gravestone is in the chancel and on the north wall is the monument to Shakespeare, erected a few years after his death.

Take a ride on a 'hop-on-hop-off' bus to visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage (the home of Shakespeare's wife), in the outlying village of Shottery, then go on to Mary Arden's House (now a countryside museum), home of the bard's mother.

As you would expect, a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon also affords many opportunities to experience first-class performances of Shakespeare's works. The town is home to the Royal Shakespeare Company, with some of the finest directors and actors in the country. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Swan and The Other Place all present the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as more modern works.

There is however more to Shakespeare country than the bard:

Harvard House on High Street (now home to the Museum of British Pewter), is the most ornate half-timbered building in the town. It was the home of Katherine Rogers, mother of John Harvard, founder of Harvard University.

The county town of Warwick, less than 9 miles from Stratford, has many buildings of architectural interest such as Lord Leycester Hospital built in the 14th century for the gilds of Warwick.

Within the town itself lies Warwick Castle, home to the Earls of Warwick, and one of the greatest medieval fortresses in England; an attraction not to be missed. Jousting and other events are held throughout the year.

Only 8 miles from Stratford is Ragley Hall, home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Hertford. Built in 1680, Ragley contains beautiful plasterwork and murals. The house is set in 400 acres of Parkland designed by Capability Brown.

We hope this glimpse of Shakespeare Country will tempt you to click on the links included, to find many other nearby attractions and a hotel or holiday cottage for your visit.

If you're quick, you can save money with this offer at the Stratford Moat House: Stays of two nights or more until Sun 7th Sep, cost only £46 per person per night, instead of our normal price of £71 per person per night.

Alternatively, if you'd like a more historical ambience to complement your stay, The Shakespeare hotel has each of its 74 individually decorated rooms named after a Shakespeare character or play. This award winning half-timbered hotel is a major local landmark right in the very heart of historic Stratford. It's great value too - prices start as low as £55 per person per night midweek.

We also have many other excellent hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon at great rates.

If you'd like to pop down to London for some shopping, we've got just the hotel deal for you: The luxurious Berners Hotel is located just off Oxford Street, and now you can stay for only £59.50 per person per night instead of £89 which should allow for some extra shopping!

Or for some serious relaxation, try the Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club near Edinburgh. Developed around a beautiful Georgian mansion, set in 1000 acres of parkland, the Marriott Dalmahoy offers amazing leisure facilities, including two golf courses and driving range, swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam room and much more.

For stays before 30th September we have a special weekend deal if you stay at least three nights: You'll pay as little as £39 per person per night, instead of the usual £65. Can you resist?

That's all for this issue of BritainUpdate from AboutBritain.com - we'll be back in a couple of weeks with more ideas for breaks in Britain, and of course more great special offers too.

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