Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon
Take a ‘taylor made’ tour with me to experience the Elizabethan world of Stratford-upon-Avon, where Britain’s greatest poet, William Shakespeare, grew up. Here, in the late 16th century he learned the folklore and lived amongst the country characters that populate many of his plays.
Visit his world-famous birthplace on Henley Street, the grammar school where he was educated until the age of 14 (and still a working school), and the medieval Guildhall where his father was an alderman. A short drive takes us to the picturesque thatch of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, where Shakespeare courted his bride-to-be.
Just outside the town we find Mary Arden’s farm, the birthplace of Shakespeare’s mother, now restored as a Tudor farm, complete with geese, pigs, and farmhands in Tudor costume. A highlight of any Stratford tour is a stroll to Holy Trinity church in its idyllic setting by the beautiful river Avon, to see the Shakespeare tombs and ponder the mysteries of his life and times.
Elegant Bath
For a refined excursion perhaps a day out in Bath, host to elegant Georgian terraces, the beautiful medieval Abbey, and the famous Pump Rooms where well-heeled visitors flocked to bathe in (and even drink!) the warm spring waters. Amongst the visitors in the early 19th century was Jane Austen, who found inspiration for novels such as ‘Persuasion’ at the high society dances and dinners of her era. The city, whose creamy coloured houses fold into the western hills of the Cotswolds, has been popular since Roman times, and shows no sign of going out of fashion!
“Edward was a great tour guide who answered even the most obscure questions…”
– Jane W., Australia
Stylish Cheltenham
Another fascinating place is Cheltenham, the spa town known for its promenade of fashionable shops and restaurants since the late 18th century. A guided tour here will reveal the stories of distinguished locals such as the polar explorer Edward Wilson, and Gustav Holst, composer of ‘The Planets’. Cheltenham’s Regency streets play host to many cultural and sporting events, from jazz and literary festivals to horseracing fans flocking to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Not to mention the famous Boys and Girls’ schools, and the formal parks where Georgian socialites would gather for ‘the season’.
Ancient Stonehenge and Avebury
Amongst the most impressive, and certainly the oldest, historic sites in the region are the great stone circles and burial mounds of the Stonehenge and Avebury landscape in Wiltshire. A new enthusiasm of mine is to guide visitors around these ancient monuments and unlock the meanings behind the great megaliths – some of them as old as the Pyramids of Egypt. The stark silhouette of Stonehenge is a striking contrast to the far less well-known, but in fact larger, stone circle at nearby Avebury, today almost hidden amongst the trees and cottages of a secluded village!
Please contact me using the button below to discuss booking and pricing, and I can begin building your ‘taylor made’ tour.
