If you don't think fairytales are real think again. Over the winter break I was lucky enough to travel to London for a theater trip and being a huge Shakespeare fan I was beyond excited to find out we would be taking a day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon— the birthplace of the bard himself. So to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his death, which is on April 23, these are 8 reasons why you should visit this truly magical place.
1. The town looks like it's straight out of a fairytale.
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Everything from the little shops to the old buildings looks adorable and makes its visitors feel like they stepped into the 16th century. It has everything from the Chaucer Head Bookshop where you can buy rare and antiquarian books or Benson's English Gift Shop an award winning, independently owned tea room and gift shop.
2. You can visit the home where Shakespeare was born.
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Obviously the main attraction to this town is Shakespeare's Birthplace. Here Shakespeare was born, raised and spent the first 5 years of his marriage with his wife Ann Hathaway. You can get a tour of the home and also check out the Shakespeare Centre.
3. It's so romantic.
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Even though there's not a lot known about the marriage of William Shakespeare and Ann Hathaway, there's plenty of stories told about the union. Some sources say that they had a "shot-gun" marriage because Ann became pregnant out of wedlock, but the scenery with filled with beautiful gardens and orchids at Ann Hathaway's Cottage make up for a rushed wedding.
4. The Cemetery is gorgeously creepy.
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If you're like me and enjoy the creepier things in life then cemetery at the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon is the place to be. The graves are old, worn down and huge like something out of classic horror flick. When I go back to this town I plan on spending a full day exploring this place.
5. Shakespeare's Grave is magical.
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Shakespeare's grave is located inside the Holy Trinity Church and a curse has been placed upon the grave on whoever moves his bones from their final resting place.
7. The Royal Shakespeare Company is there.
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I was fortunate enough to see Love for Love preformed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and I have to say that it was one of the best performances I've ever seen. They do an amazing job of keeping Shakespeare's legacy alive and a main attraction to the town.
8. The amazing scenic lake view.
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So if your up for an advenature made for literary and Shakespeare lovers alike, this town is the place for you.
