Bard’s home has many stories to tell
Sometimes it’s fun to point at the map and just go for it. I love travelling overseas but there’s a lot of fun to be had in our own backyard, with the delights of the UK pulling in tourists aplenty from all over the world.
Recently my good lady and I decided to venture to the lovely town of Stratford-upon-Avon – birthplace of one William Shakespeare and treasure trove of Warwickshire.
I’d never been before, and was keen to explore the oft-heard-of delights of this medieval market town. My partner – an English teacher by trade – was all for visiting the home town of the man responsible for exam season heartache the world over, so we packed our bags and headed for a weekend away.
Ahead of us was a lovely stay at The Arden Hotel, an elegant 45-bedroom boutique hotel right in the heart of the town and directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre. Complete with a private car park and within walking distance of every landmark of note, it was the perfect place from which to explore Stratford and immerse ourselves in everything the town had to offer.
Our check-in was smooth, and the room a delight. Each of the suites and rooms at The Arden were quaintly named for different types of tree, and ours – Cypress – was both charming and lovely.
A deluxe room with an ample amount of space, a luxurious en-suite bathroom and a king-size bed, it was stylishly decorated and extremely comfortable.
Following a drink and a light snack at the hotel brasserie, we headed out and immediately over the road to the RSC theatre.
We hadn’t booked to see the evening’s performance, though were keen to pay the theatre a visit and experience the legendary atmosphere of the RSC’s Stratford location. It did not disappoint. There was a wonderful buzz in the air and a real sense of theatrical magic that radiated from every wall. We were in the home town of the world’s greatest playwright, and in a building famous for bringing his greatest creations to life – it was hard not to feel the enchantment of Shakespeare’s legacy.
While at the RSC theatre we visited ‘The Play’s The Thing’, an exhibition devoted to 100 years of theatre-making in Stratford-upon-Avon. This was a wonderful chance to see behind the scenes of the world of the RSC, learn about the artistry of costume-making and get to grips with the props. We were even able to see an incredible original edition of Shakespeare’s First Folio – the 1623 published collection of The Bard’s tragedies, histories and comedies, and needless to say, one of the most influential books in human history.
It was a lovely opportunity to explore the culture and history of the RSC, and gain an appreciation of the effort and passion involved in bringing Shakespeare’s work to the masses.
After our trip to the theatre we decided to explore the town a little before heading back to The Arden for dinner. Stratford-upon-Avon had exactly the kind of charm and understated charisma I love about medieval English towns. So rich in history and mystery that they have nothing at all to prove to the rest of world, places like Stratford always make me grin and be proud to be British. Every building around Stratford’s beautiful streets had its own story to tell, and combined they created a town oozing in character and historical intrigue.
A visit to The Garrick Inn – reputedly Stratford’s oldest pub – gave us a chance to relax, taste the wonderful local beer, and enjoy the spirit of this enchanting town at its best. As I leaned on the well-loved bar, a bearded middle-aged gentleman near to me quietly rose from his stool and began reciting verse from a small book. He did this with such quietly confident gusto that the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. As I looked around, a subtle throng had tuned in to his recitation, and the medieval bar had come alive with curiosity and imagination. I smiled at my partner and she smiled back; this was historic and theatrical England – this was Stratford-upon-Avon.
Our dinner back at the Arden was divine, and I was particularly impressed with my beautifully cooked main course of Bovey Castle venison that had followed a wonderful starter of grilled squid and chorizo salad.
The Arden’s restaurant – The Waterside Brasserie – had a wonderful ambiance as well as a first-class menu, and I was also impressed at the thoughtfulness of those dishes most suitable for people about to enjoy an evening theatre performance.
The next morning we rose early, and after an exceptional breakfast, went to explore some more of Stratford. In homage to our equal love of the English language, and not wanting to let the opportunity pass us by, we paid a visit to Shakespeare’s Birthplace – the house where The Bard grew up, that has been in the care of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust since 1847.
To see it was amazing, and ducking through tight doorways he would have touched while walking the ground he would have walked definitely gave us an excited chill.
Shakespeare’s Birthplace was wonderful, yet we were also keen to explore the non-Shakespearean delights of Stratford, and with this we headed to the much-recommended MAD Museum.
One of the most wonderfully quirky attractions I’ve ever visited, the MAD Museum was home to a variety of brilliantly imaginative machines and gizmos created as forms of interactive, kinetic art. MAD – short for Mechanical Art and Design – was the perfect acronym for this place, and I loved every minute of it.
The MAD Museum housed a countless number of button-activated sculptures, marble-runs and automata, each one begging to be enjoyed by every grinning visitor. It was a marked departure from Shakespeare, but was just as evocative of magic and imagination, and as such was a perfect fit for Stratford. This was a place built for the little lad who still lives inside my heart and brain, and he very much enjoyed being let out.
In general, our visit to Stratford-upon-Avon was wonderful from start to finish. With the magic of its literary heritage being palpable, yet attractions such as the MAD Museum proving that there is more to Stratford than Shakespeare, the town offers enjoyment for everyone, along with culture, history and imagination in spades.
Our stay at The Arden Hotel sealed the deal on a fantastic weekend, with its staff delivering nothing but excellent service and care from start to finish.
For me, Stratford-upon-Avon ticked every important box for a UK mini-break, and I greatly look forward to returning soon.
Visit www.theardenhotelstratford.com for more information.
