School trips to Stratford-Upon-Avon

Why visit Stratford-Upon-Avon?

Birthplace of the Bard

Of course, most people who come to Stratford-Upon-Avon do so because they want to learn more about William Shakespeare, England’s greatest playwright. But did you know that the town didn’t become the tourist attraction it is today until around 150 years after Shakespeare’s death?

In 1769, David Garrick, himself a talented playwright and actor, organised a major Shakespeare jubilee over three days. This sparked an influx of tourists to the Bard’s hometown that continues to this day.

You will, of course, be able to explore Shakespeare’s Birthplace, to find out more about his life. And you can even enjoy a tour led by the Bard himself along Stratford’s Historic Spine, where Shakespeare will show your students the many historic buildings that would have been known to the famous playwright.

Spectacular Tudor mansions

Stratford-Upon-Avon also offers the perfect base from which to explore some of the finest Tudor mansions in the country, including Kenilworth Castle and Kirby Hall – ideal for any groups studying Elizabethan England, the Golden Age and the Reformation.

Kenilworth Castle has been called a ‘renaissance palace’ thanks to the work carried out by Robert, Earl of Leicester, in his attempts to impress and marry Queen Elizabeth I. The queen did visit the castle several times on her tours around the country, culminating in a much-celebrated visit in 1575 to see the fully revamped castle.

She stayed for 19 days, the longest visit to such a property during her tours, and she and her entourage were lavishly entertained by Leicester. Although the visit was deemed a huge success, it did not convince the queen to marry him.

Kenilworth Castle is now a ruin, but still offers students a fantastic opportunity to explore medieval and Elizabethan architecture. And the garden has also been restored to closer resemble how it would have looked during the Elizabethan period.

Kirby Hall is considered one of the great Elizabethan houses. It is, in fact, an early example of an Elizabethan prodigy house – a house that is large and showy, often built by courtiers and the wealthiest families.