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This Wednesday we had an early start at 8 a.m. We were off to Warwick Castle (pronounced ‘warick’) and then to Stratford-Upon-Avon. The drive to the castle is almost an hour and a half. If you don’t have a car, trains and chartered tours from London are also available. Stratford is often combined to visit with the castle because they are only about eight miles apart.
From February-October, the castle is 17.85 pounds for adults (www.warwick-castle.co.uk/), which is probably the most expensive castle entry I’ve seen. They have special cheaper Christmas prices and if you book online, you can get a discounted price.
The castle dates back 1,100 years. I entered through the front stone gatehouse and saw the castle was in a circular shape with the outside in the middle. I thought it was a unique design for the castle but also effective for defensive purposes. But it made it difficult for photos because you couldn’t capture the castle all in one shot. I first explore the damp, dark dungeon that had nasty torture chambers.
After I left the dungeon, I explore the Kingmaker. It is an exhibit of wax figures of castle life in the 1400s. It was kind of hokey but it depicted the castle life well. Then I walked through the chapel, state apartments and the Great Hall. The hall was beautiful with armor and antlers all over the walls. And as usual the state apartments impressed with their extravagance.
I had one of the BLC teachers take my picture with part of the castle and then headed to the other side of the castle. I first explored Ghost Tower that is of course haunted. There wasn’t much to see, but it was definitely spooky.
Then, I climbed the mound. It was a neat feature of the castle because of the views of Warwick and the castle grounds. Also the architecture of it is neat with two stone-walls (resembling stairs) ascending up a mound to meet at a tower at the top.
I left the inside of the castle for a moment to see the pretty river, which is by the Mill and Engine House. I got back inside the castle, walked some steps and made my way up Guy’s Tower for an even better view of the city. The sun was bothersome but I managed to get some good photos.
Then I walked up Caesar’s Tower for a few other views, but Guy’s Tower was my favorite. After Caesar’s view, I went to an exhibit I missed earlier: A Royal Weekend Party 1898. It is a wax figure representation of what Victorian society was like in the 1800s.
I walked back to the river by the mill to get some more shots. Then I bought some chocolate in the gift shop and decided to hurry and get lunch before the bus left. The castle didn’t have much, so I quickly wandered into town and bought a great tuna melt. I later ate it ‘illegally’ on the bus. And then I ate my chocolate—delicious. I only wish we had had more time to visit the town.
The bus made the quick 10-20 minute drive to Stratford-Upon-Avon. Avon means river, so the town of Stratford is by a river. Stratford is usually known as the birthplace of Shakespeare. I’ll admit, I was unimpressed with the Shakespeare sights, but I really enjoyed the town.
From London, the train does go to Stratford but if you don’t have a car and want to visit Warwick too, I would recommend taking a bus tour from London. Here is an example of one such tour: www.evanevanstours.co.uk/warwick-stratford-oxford.htm
We first stopped at Anne Hathaway’s cottage (houses.shakespeare.org.uk/anne-hathaways-cottage.html). It’s six pounds for adults and five for students. Hathaway was Shakespeare’s wife and the house is where Hathaway grew up. Some of the home was built in the 1400s and the rest of it was built in 1697. It was neat to see but there were too many of us in the rooms, which were small. It almost got redundant at a point, room after room. The outside was my favorite part with the beautiful thatched roof and gardens.
Then the bus dropped us off in the center of town and we saw Shakespeare’s birthplace (houses.shakespeare.org.uk/shakespeares-birthplace.html). It was similar to Hathaway’s cottage except even less interesting and less cozy. The outside of the home was beautiful but you just see room after room. And it was just boring and hokey to me—the birth of Shakespeare.
I quickly left the birthplace to explore the town. I took photos of Town Hall and the Harvard House, where the founder of the school lived (houses.shakespeare.org.uk/harvard-house.html). Shakespeare’s presence was even evident on the outside of the Old Bank with a Shakespeare mosaic above the door.
Then I walked by Nash’s House and the site of New Place (houses.shakespeare.org.uk/nashs-house.html). Shakespeare lived at the home and he died there 1616. The New Palace was a private garden attached to the house. I didn’t pay to get in but I looked through the gates to get a few photos. It was a beautiful garden with lots of colorful flowers and different shaped bushes.
By the river, there are two theaters to keep Shakespeare’s tradition alive: The Courtyard Theatre, (www.rsc.org.uk/WhatsOn/2956.aspx) and Swan Theatre (www.rsc.org.uk/WhatsOn/369.aspx). Both are part of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Then I got some shots of the river and walked by Hall’s Croft (http://houses.shakespeare.org.uk). The croft was the home of home of Susanna, Shakespeare’s daughter, and her husband Dr. Hall.
Then I made my way to Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried (www.stratford-upon-avon.org/). The grounds are beautiful with trees and graves. When I visited, there was no admission fee. Shakespeare’s burial site is nothing special, but it was my favorite Shakespeare activity in the town. It’s amazing to think that one of the most famous playwrights is buried right by your feet, and that you have come full circle to see his birthplace and where he now rests. The church is pretty too with its stained glass windows.
I watched a Samantha Brown show about Stratford and she went to a pub called the Dirty Duck (www.dirty-duck.co.uk/). What a great name. When you see the other side of the sign, it says the Black Swan. I happened to walk by it with my roommates so we decided to hang out there. It sits right by the river and while my friends chatted inside, I enjoyed the decent weather in the outside seating area by River Avon. I called my dad to tell him where I was, and he thought that he and my mom went there long before I was born. It was a great way to cap off the day.
I wanted something sweet before I boarded the bus so I stopped in the Little Sweet Shop at 33 Henley St. It came recommended by our Blue Badge guide. IT wasn’t amazing but I needed some candy (I think I had non perils) for the bus ride home.
