When I was at Univesity I had spent three years living close to Stratford-Upon-Avon but had never really explored it. So, it was about time to put that right. We planned a full-day looking around this small town in Warwickshire slap bang in the middle of England.
Stratford is most famous, at least for visitors, as the home of William Shakespeare. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust oversees five properties associated with the playwright, including his birthplace, a garden and a museum at Shakespeare’s New Place.
One of the places we want to visit was Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Anne Hathaway married William Shakespeare in 1582. She is believed to have been born in 1556 in the cottage which was owned by her parents – she lived there until she married Shakespeare. The quaint cottage is located in the small village of Shottery, a mile or so from the centre of Stratford.
You can get to the cottage through the streets of Stratford and country paths, drive yourself or catch the hop-on-hop-off bus.
As well as the cottage, there are beautiful gardens to explore.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage was originally a farmhouse. It was built in 1463 and comprised only three rooms, two of which survive – the kitchen and the parlour. The first Hathaway to live in the cottage was Anne’s grandfather John Hathaway, who was a tenant sheep farmer. Anne, later Shakespeare’s wife, was born in the cottage in 1556.
When the site was a farm it was known as ‘Hewlands’ and the Hathaway family were successful sheep farmers. The garden was a farmyard with some livestock and space for growing herbs and vegetables.
Anne’s father died in 1581 and Anne’s brother Bartholomew inherited the tenancy of the 90-acre farm and he later bought the freehold. He then added an extension, increasing the size of the cottage and inserted new chimneys and an upper floor at the same time. This work was completed before Bartholomew’s death in 1624.
By the late 19th century, the family’s fortunes had declined. Some property including land and other houses were mortgaged, and eventually sold. In 1838 the cottage itself was sold, but the Hathaway family continued to live in the cottage as tenants.
One of the last Hathaways to live in the cottage was Mary Baker. When the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust purchased the cottage in 1892, Mary and her family were paid the large wage of £75 per year. Their duties were to share family stories and to care for the cottage, both of which we continue to do today. Her son William Baker occupied part of the cottage until he left in 1911.
Planning your visit to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage & Gardens can be reached via a pleasant 1.3 mile walk from the town centre which takes approximately 30 minutes.
Address
Cottage Lane, Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 9HH
Trains from London Marylebone with Chiltern Railways (chilternrailways.co.uk) take two hours, less if you change at Leamington Spa. It’s 40 minutes from Birmingham Moor Street/Snow Hill with London Midland (londonmidland.com).
National Express Coaches (nationalexpress.com) connect with cities such as London, Coventry and Bristol, but while cheaper, journeys are longer.
Transport links are not great so driving, sadly, could be the easiest way to arrive. But there are coach links and a railway station and you could always walk or cycle the 146-mile Shakespeare’s Way (shakespearesway.org) from Shakespeare’s Globe in London.
| Website: | https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/anne-hathaways-cottage/ |
| Telephone: | T:+44 1789 204016 |
| Hours: | Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is open every day from 9am to 5pm (April to October) |
| Fees: | See website for latest entry fees |
Best time to visit Stratford-Upon-Avon
April 23: Shakespeare’s birth and death day, week of the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk and early in the RSC’s Summer Season, when the town is stuffed with actors, the river looks gorgeous and everyone is fresh after winter.
Other things to do in Stratford-Upon-Avon
1. Shakespeare’s Birthplace
The birthplace of William Shakespeare is a modest tudor house in the centre of Stratford-Upon-Avon. William Shakespeare was born in this house and grew up here with his parents and siblings. He also spent the first five years of his marriage living here with his wife Anne Hathaway.
2. Shakespeare’s New Place
Shakespeare’s New Place was his family home from 1597 until he died in the house in 1616. The house was demolished in 1759, and a registered garden has been designed on the site where New Place once stood to commemorate the importance of the site and allow visitors to make their own personal connection with Shakespeare.
3. Mary Arden’s Farm
Mary Arden’s Farm is located in Wilmcote, which is situated to the north-west of the River Avon and was traditionally known as ‘The Forest of Arden’. By William Shakespeare’s time it had long ceased to be a forest but comprised both enclosed and open farmland, with patches of woodland and common wasteland. Mary Arden’s House was lived in with little modification until 1968. It was purchased by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in the same year.
4. Royal Shakespeare Theatre
The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened on our site next to the River Avon in 1879, after local brewer, Charles Flower donated the land and launched a campaign to build a theatre in the town of Shakespeare’s birth.
After the original theatre was destroyed by fire, the New Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened its doors on an adjacent site in 1932, designed by Elisabeth Scott.
The Royal Shakespeare Company was founded in 1961 by Peter Hall, based in Stratford-upon-Avon and the theatre was renamed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Where to stay
1. Youth Hostel Alveston
Although it is referred to by the Youth Hostel Association as the ‘Stratford-Upon-Avon’ hostel, it is actually in the village of Alveston, which is about 5 miles outside of Stratford. So, getting in and out of town will mean you will need a car, or alternatively take public transport or a taxi!
This is low-cost accommodation and also works for backpackers! We actually had a private ensuite room – which was tiny but comfortable – with a set of bunk beds. The property is beautiful with lovely grounds. There is an onsite restaurant or you can self-cater.
2. Shakespeare’s View Bed & Breakfast
Shakespeare’s View is a 5-star bed and breakfast in Stratford-upon-Avon, surrounded by pretty grounds and a fruit orchard. Each bright room has free WiFi and views of the surrounding countryside.
Guests can sample a locally sourced breakfast whilst admiring commanding views over the Avon Valley. Shakespeare’s View boasts a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking its one acre of garden and orchards.
The pretty village of Snitterfield is a 5-minute walk away and includes a pub, local shop and golf course.
Free parking is available, with Stratford’s centre and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre just a 10-minute drive away.
3. Midsummer House
Set in Stratford-upon-Avon in the Warwickshire region, with Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company nearby, Midsummer House offers accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.
The bed and breakfast offers a à la carte or Full English/Irish breakfast.
Where to eat
Plantarium Cafe
Being a tourist hub there are plenty of places to eat in and around Stratford. Of course, these cater for the masses, but if you are like us, vegan, the options are more limited. We did discover a small cafe in the centre of Stratford, the Plantarium, that is completely vegan. So, no need to think! It is a quaint place and the food was amazing – we recommend it highly.
