Stratford-upon-Avon Overview, Facts, Vacation Information of Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

This garden cottage belongs to Anne Hathaway who was the wife of Stratford-Upon-Avon's most notable resident, William Shakespeare.
Michelle Walz

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Stratford-upon-Avon is a historic town on the river Avon in the English county of Warwickshire. It is best known as the hometown of the great English playwright and poet, William Shakespeare. Today, it is a major theater-going destination as the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. As such, it represents one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

For many centuries, the town was little more than a small market town on the road to London—even today, it has only 24,000 permanent residents. The city has gone to great lengths to preserve the buildings that have survived since Shakespeare's time. As a result, the center of town is quaint and attractive, drawing many thousands of tourists each year to its cultural and historical amenities.

Visitors flock to Shakespeare's birthplace on Henley St., restored with 16th-century decor and many authentic items, as well as to the cottage Ann Hathaway lived in until she married the playwright. Equally popular is Holy Trinity Church, site of Shakespeare's tomb and a place of pilgrimage for his admirers.

For the brave-hearted, the Creaky Cauldron has been part of the Stratford skyline in Henley Street for over 460 years. The building is the only remaining section of the famous White Lion Inn, and now houses a magical gift store and museum. Regularly described as one of the most haunted buildings in the country, and visited by paranormal investigators, parapsychology groups and ghost hunters alike, it continues to offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of the supernatural and the unknown.