Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare's town. The riverside, the canal basin, the old streets and the church where he is buried are free, even if the birthplace charges.
FREE
The lowdown
Stratford trades almost entirely on one man, but you do not have to pay the Shakespeare premium to enjoy it. The riverside walks along the Avon, the pretty canal basin where the narrowboats gather and the timber-framed streets are all free to wander.
Holy Trinity church, where Shakespeare is buried, asks only a small donation, and the gardens and the theatre frontage by the river make a lovely free afternoon. The birthplace and the family houses charge, but the town around them is yours for nothing.
Getting there from London
The river, the streets and Holy Trinity church are free. The Shakespeare birthplace houses are the ticketed bit.
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