Travelling back from our night away in Shrewsbury to visit friends we decided to break the journey with a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. I think most people know this is the birthplace of Shakespeare and who didn’t study at least one of his plays at school! Mine was MacBeth and to this day I still don’t understand it, and it put me off Shakespeare for life. However Stratford is well worth a visit as it is steeped in history and culture. It’s amazing that people still live in the 16th century terrace houses.
We stayed in a very nice hotel called Villares which was just a ten minute walk into the town itself. So after a “free” continental breakfast we checked out and left the car there and ventured into town.
The town is extremely picturesque and I was forever stopping to take photos, so it wasn’t exactly an energetic walk.
A Fun Quiz – Who Said What
What do you remember from school?
- Weep not, sweet queen; for trickling tears are vain.
2. Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here
3. Before, I loved thee as a brother, John, But now, I do respect thee as my soul
4. Get thee to a nunnery, go. Farewell.
Answers at the end
After finishing our walk we decided it was too early for lunch here and drove to another lovely place called Bourton-on-the-Water. This is a village in rural Cotswolds, south central England.
As pretty as this village is, it is mostly made up of tearooms and gift shops and the pub wasn’t serving food. We had a wonderful walk exploring around as we went.
Gallery of Bourton-on-the-Water
By this time hunger pains were setting in and we were getting a bit desperate. We didn’t want to end up at a service station as the last resort! So back to the car it was while I made enquiries of the trusty google maps. I plugged a place in and off we went. I did mention though that we may see some sign on the roadside advertising a place off the beaten track.
Well what do you know around ten minutes later we came upon such a sign for “The Feathered Nest” and turned off. The road took us down a very narrow windy lane and around a few corners until there was no more road! This place really was on the edge of beyond. Straight ahead of us there was a 2 star Michelin restaurant. Lunch was not going to be cheap!
Finally after a scrumptious lunch we were on the road again back to Essex. This restaurant was such a great find and really made our mini break away.
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Answers to above quotes
- Falstaff
- Lady Macbeth
- Prince Henry
- Hamlet
Travels with Ali 
Ah I know these places well – Stratford and Bourton, both beautiful and very typically middle England. Macbeth was my study at school too….out out damned spot….
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Haha that gives your age away!
Thanks for your comments ..the locals must get pretty annoyed as they are mostly for tourists now
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I’ve only been to both of these places once, Ali. Stratford was a school trip when I was about 15. I wonder if it’s changed? Smiling…. And Bourton was just an afternoon on a Cotswolds trip. I think it was sunny.
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I think I had been once before too. Probably hasn’t changed much just more spruced up to keep the tourists coming
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🥰💕
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Stratford and Bourton-on-the-Water are real gems. It is amazing that people still live in houses built 400 years ago. I do prefer when these historic houses are residential places or museums rather than shops with awful banners and signs ruining the facades. We saw a lot of that with the old buildings of Stafford.
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There are a lot of those too, although I did think how small these places were and you would constantly have to duck your head
Thanks for your comments 🙂
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What a lovely side trip for you to make on your way back from visiting friends and the sun seemed to be shining to during your Cotswold’s visit. Continue enjoying your stay in the U.K and make the most of it Alison!
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Thanks so much Marion. We are doing as many trips as we are able. We have tentative plans for Lisbon after reading your posts 🙂
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Wonderful! You’re just like me – we should all take as many opportunities to travel as we can. We might even get back to your neck of the woods soon too after yesterday’s announcement!
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Lovely pictures! I”m with you, I’d probably get caught up in trying to take pictures of all those beautiful buildings and I’d forget to walk 🙂
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Thanks for reading Meg! Always a stop start walk in these villages 🙂
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The only quote I know was the Lady Macbeth one. Surprise, surprise – I did it at school too! We got taken to see the film in which Francesca Annis played Lady M, and in one scene she appeared stark naked. I think the teacher had some regrets at that point.
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Haha so funny Anabel, we also saw the film and I still didn’t understand it. Trying to work out that strange way of talking
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Wow Alison, great stumble for lunch. Love the photos.
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Thanks Lisa 🥰
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Wow such peaceful places. I should remember to go here when the time comes that we are able to.
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I think you would enjoy it Teresa and hope you can visit soon 😫
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Hope so too 👍🏼
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I’ve only been to the UK once and I’m glad we went to Stratford-upon-Avon. It still looks great, I can see. Not a Shakespeare fan myself but it just seemed like one could not miss it. Macbeth is currently one of the O level plays for students here!
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Me neither, although judging by what we saw many people are. I can’t believe that Macbeth is still being taught, poor students!
Thanks for visiting 🙂
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The students in schools that chose more modern plays must be pleased! 😀
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Oh what fun Ali, I loved both Stratford and Bourton, and have great memories of past visits. Don’t you just love finding a great place to eat off the beaten track, and I laughed at the saddles!
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It was a wonderful find, a fluke really but so much better than a service station 🙂
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