We have concluded our study abroad trip in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, where he grew up, found his wife, Anne Hathaway, had his children, wrote most of his famous plays, and the place he is buried. We stayed at a very quaint little bed and breakfast where we were served a full English breakfast every morning! Even though we had to move completely into a different bread and breakfast down the road in the middle of our trip, the lodgings were very hospitable and charming.
Stratford-upon-Avon was a quieter town compared to the busy and bustling city of London. It had more local shops that were bigger and less crowded, all with unique food and experiences, including a cat café! We explored the places that Shakespeare lived and Anne Hathaway’s cottage. Everything was very authentic and had tour guides explaining what each room was in the houses and what the appliances there were used for. The walk to Anne Hathaway’s cottage was especially memorable with its overwhelming amount of greenery and fairytale like paths.
By touring Shakespeare’s old village, I got a better understanding of his life and how he grew up. Because Shakespeare is such a legend and powerful historical figure in the theatre community, it was enriching to see his roots and what parts of his livelihood inspired his work that we still study and perform in the theatrical world to this day, all these years later.
We ended our journey to Stratford-upon-Avon with getting matching T-shirts, riding a Ferris wheel, and having a fancy farewell dinner! I thought we had a great ending of the trip here with all the cutest cottages surrounding the town. I had such a great experience through this theatre in London trip and learned so much about theatre, especially on the West End! I truly loved being able to be on this trip and will have so many cherished memories because of it.
Theatre in London U of A 