Shakespeare Private Day Trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon

Once we arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon we will head straight to Shakespeare’s birthplace and explore the house where Shakespeare was born. Learn all about the rise and fall of William’s father John, the onetime High Bailiff (or Mayor) of Stratford-upon-Avon, and how he was able to court one of the most eligible young ladies of the area Mary Arden. We will also discover how John’s trade as a glover might hold the key to the Shakespeare authorship debate.

While Shakespeare’s plays were intended to be seen and not read, no tour to Stratford-upon-Avon is complete without a trip to a bookshop, and Stratford is littered with them! This is your chance to pick up a copy of one of Shakespeare’s plays, a book of his sonnets, or if you are feeling bold the complete works of Shakespeare, which are available in a number of editions.

At the Shakespeare Bookshop, you will learn how Shakespeare became such an important cultural icon, how the first folio (collection of his plays) was published. Discover why some theatre directors create their own editions of Shakespeare’s plays, which are only available to the actors they work with, in order to help the actors better understand Shakespeare’s language.

Thanks to John Shakespeare’s status within the community of Stratford, Willaim Shakespeare was able to attend the local grammar school (which is still a school today!) between the ages of 7 and 14. It was whilst at this school that Shakespeare would have learned Latin, rhetoric, writing and philosophy.

The education he received at the school, in the very room which we will visit, was instrumental in making William Shakespeare the man and writer that we all adore. The Schoolroom gives us the opportunity to discuss what a Tudor education was like in the room where the greatest writer of all time learned to read and write. Was it here that Shakespeare learned to love performing and saw his first play? Find out by booking this tour!

The Royal Shakespeare Company (also known as the RCS) is one of the UK’s leading theatrical companies and specialise in productions of the works of William Shakespeare. Founded in 1875, and granted its royal charter in 1925 by King George V, the RSC performs Shakespeare across the globe.

Enjoy a drink in one of the cafes/bars and explore some of the free exhibits and exhibitions on display. Hear about some of the most notable RCS productions throughout the company’s history and learn the difficulties faced by actors taking on some of Shakespeare’s most recognisable roles. If there are no performances in the theatre on the day of your visit, you can purchase a ticket to visit the RSC’s Tower where panoramic views of Stratford will impress even the most ardent Shakespeare critic.