What to do in Warwickshire

Forever associated with Shakespeare, it’s difficult not to bump in to The Bard when exploring this region!

Start your day just a few miles outside Stratford-upon-Avon, where you can enjoy the lovely CCT church of All Saints', Billesley, which is where Shakespeare is rumoured to have married Anne Hathaway.

All Saints' has a varied history and was fashionably rebuilt in the 17th-century as part of the Billesley estate; you can still see the staff gallery and butler’s boxed seat – as well as enjoy the wonderful wooded approach through an avenue of limes. The key is available from Billesley Manor Hotel, where the Club bar provides refreshments throughout the day – complete with open fire in the winter!

More about All Saints' Church, Billesley

A few minutes' drive will bring you into the centre of Stratford itself – with its recently refurbished Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre – well worth a visit even if you are not seeing a performance.

Nearby is Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare was baptised and buried. This is a ‘working’ parish church so be aware that there are daily services which may affect access for visitors.

Less than 4 miles outside Stratford you can visit Mary Arden’s Farm – one of the Shakespeare properties which provide the chance to see rare 16th-century furnishings and domestic items. The home of Shakespeare’s parents also has daily re-enactments of life on a typical Elizabethan farm as well as regular falconry demonstrations.

If you have the time, a 20 mile drive down the M40 will bring you to Upton House, a National Trust property. Upton House was built as a 1930s millionaire’s weekend home.

There are wonderful gardens to relax in, plenty of art deco features to enjoy and an impressive collection of modern art to view. There is also a very good café with a varied selection of homemade food using local ingredients.

 

Once refuelled you could enjoy 2 more of the Trust’s churches both within a few minutes' drive. All Saints' Church at Chadshunt, with its marvellous Italian windows, overlooks the Civil War Battle site of Edge Hill.

Alternatively – or addtionally – there is the dramatic Victorian church of St John the Baptist at Avon Dassett.

More about All Saints' Church, Chadshunt

More about Church of St John the Baptist, Avon Dassett

 

Useful links

Mary Ardens Farm

Upton House

Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre

Visit Warwickshire tourism website