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Visit Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire and the surrounding villages and stay in b and b, hotel or holiday accommodation accommodation provided by BedPosts members.

Stratford-upon-Avon is an old market town, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, has become one of the world's most famous tourist centres. From April to October it attracts thousands of visitors who come here to trace the poet's life from cradle to grave. Stratford is best explored on foot, and the main centres of interest can be seen in a walk taking about two hours. From Shakespeare's birthplace, a half-timbered early 16^th century building in Henley Street, the route runs down Bridge Street to Clopton Bridge, built in the 15^th century by Hugh Clopton, who became Lord Mayor of London and who built New Place in Chapel Street. From the bridge a road on the west bank passes the red-brick Royal Shakespeare Theatre, built in 1932. The theatre gardens run down to the river bank. On the south side, a gate leads back to Southern Lane and to the tree-lined approach to Holy Trinity Church. This beautiful parish church, overlooking the river, is Shakespeare's burial place. His tomb and those of some of his family are marked by simple engraved stones in front of the altar.

Not far from the church is Hall's Croft, the home of Shakespeare's daughter, Susanna, who married Dr John Hall. The house has wonderful Tudor gables and a walled garden. From Hall's Croft, Church Street leads back to the centre of the bustling market town. Many hotels and shops in Stratford-upon-Avon have been renovated in the accepted half-timbered style, with black beams criss-crossing whitewashed walls. Other buildings, including the properties that belong to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, have been carefully restored to their original colour, with the natural tone of the wood offset by a warm, cream-coloured wash.