From Cradle to Grave - The Complete Shakespeare Experience

This itinerary is perfect for the true Shakespeare enthusiasts out there. If you just can’t get enough of the Bard and are eager to learn more about the man himself, this tour will immerse you in the life and work of the most celebrated playwright of all time.

One of Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s incredibly knowledgeable and infectiously passionate experts will guide us around the Stratford sites. They will be able to answer all of your questions and provide further insights into the life of William Shakespeare.

Tour highlights may include:

Guided tours of Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's sites
Exclusive tour of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Visit to Kenilworth Castle

What's included...

Day 1 - Where it all started...

Our very first port of call upon arrival in Stratford-upon-Avon will be Shakespeare’s Birthplace. This fantastic attraction sets the scene with a brilliant exhibition demonstrating just how significant and wide-reaching has been the influence of this extraordinary poet. We will walk through the house where Shakespeare grew up and even stand in the room in which he was born. It is even possible to arrange a private archive display with a specialist, allowing you to see rarely-displayed objects from the trust’s collection. Next, we’ll continue along the timeline of the young Shakespeare’s early life in Stratford and visit his former schoolroom. Still part of the Guildhall School today, this is where Shakespeare would have received his education and his first introduction to many of the stories which would go on to influence his work. For example, it is in this schoolroom that Shakespeare was taught Latin and Greek and introduced to authors such as Plutarch and Ovid whose works were a great source of inspiration to him in later years. Now it’s time to check into our hotel and unwind before dinner in the evening. During our time in Stratford we will be staying at the Arden Hotel. This stunning boutique hotel is in a fantastic location just a stone’s throw from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and with beautiful views of the River Avon.

Day 2 - Shakespeare the man...

Today we will leave behind Shakespeare’s boyhood and explore his later years. First, we will visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife and the place where he wooed and courted her. Heading back into the centre of Stratford our next destination is New Place, the site of Shakespeare’s family home and the only house he ever bought. He lived here with his family for almost twenty years before his death in 1616 and it is believed that he wrote many of his later plays here. As well as a brilliant exhibition containing some wonderful items related to Shakespeare’s life and times, New Place also has a beautiful garden looking down towards the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, which is full of fascinating sculptures inspired by Shakespeare and his work. After lunch we will take a stroll along the river and through the lovely Swan Park to visit the Holy Trinity church, the final resting place of Shakespeare and his wife, Anne. Holy Trinity is a beautiful church where Shakespeare would have worshipped as a boy and man. We will end the day by dining in one of Stratford’s finest restaurants on the historic Sheep Street.

Day 3 - Inspiration and Legacy

This morning we will take a short drive out of Stratford to visit the enchanting ruins of Kenilworth Castle. Kenilworth was given to the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley by Queen Elizabeth I and he transformed it into a grand Tudor palace. Dudley was famously a favourite of the Queen and their ill-fated, unfulfilled romance has been the source of much speculation throughout the years. In 1574 the Queen, along with her several hundred-strong entourage, visited Dudley at Kenilworth for the last time. Dudley put on a lavish display of festivities which is said to have inspired certain scenes in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This afternoon, we will be given an exclusive tour of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. In the evening, the finale of your Shakespeare experience in Stratford will be to see a show in this iconic venue preceded by dinner in the RST’s rooftop restaurant.