Stratford's annual Poetry Festival is held at the Shakespeare Centre and Shakespeare Institute. Both venues host poetry evenings with RSC actors and poets reading the works of William Shakespeare and other famous British poets.
Available :
Jul - Aug 2013 (annual)
Step into the house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and gain a fascinating insight into life as it was when the Bard was a child. The half-timbered house is Stratford's most-visited tourist spot.
Available :
Daily
Few places have as famous a son as Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare (aka "the Bard"). Together with museums dedicated at his birthplace and his wife's house, this delightful Cotswold town is home to the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Available :
Daily
Since its first appearance in 1874, Stratford-upon-Avon has held a summer regatta for over 120 years. This annual sporting event sees rowers take to the river while spectators enjoy picnics, barbeques and a fun day out.
Available :
Jun 2013 (annual)
Stratford-upon-Avon's Literary Festival is a vibrant celebration of the written word. With a multitude of literary events, from lectures and poetry readings - to quizzes and creative writing workshops, this is a festival that punches above its weight.
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Apr 2013 (annual)
Discover Shakespeare's world through guided walks around his hometown Stratford-upon-Avon. On the Stratford Town Walk you'll get to see timber-framed buildings and stop off at the Shakespeare Houses, Grammar School, Royal Shakespeare Theatres and Holy Trinity Church.
Available :
Daily
Discover stories of murder and mayhem on the Stratford Town Ghost Walk guided by The Man in Black. Visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon learn about the Royal Shakespeare Theatre ghost, the 17th-century haunted teahouse and the witch that lived in a slum.
Available :
Mon, Thu, and Fri only
Stratford-upon-Avon's Christmas Festival fills the town with festive markets and decorative lights considered to be some of the best in the UK. With the entire town bedecked in illuminations, it's one of the most atmospheric times to visit Shakespeare's birthplace.
Available :
Nov 2013 (annual)
Stratford-upon-Avon hosts three days of classical music at the Spring Sounds International Music Festival. Featuring the compositions of Mozart, Schumann, Mendelssohn and more, the festival brings cherished classics and new commissions to the Warwickshire town.
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May 2013 (annual)
Every year, the Stratford-upon-Avon Rotary Club organises the Shakespeare Marathon and Half Marathon. Despite its name, visitors to the quaint Warwickshire town find it offers a nice change of pace for those suffering from Shakespeare fatigue.
Available :
Apr 2013 (annual)
Funfair rides and food stalls crowd Stratford-upon-Avon's streets at the annual Mop Fair. This traditional medieval street festival sees the pretty town host a vibrant two-day party with hog roasts, fun charity events and more.
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Oct 2013 (annual)
Tradition holds that the 23 April is William Shakespeare's birthday, three days prior to the date recorded in the church records for his baptism. Every year in Stratford-upon-Avon, thousands of people celebrate the occasion with a whole host of events.
Available :
Apr 2013 (annual)
Every October, Stratford-upon-Avon venues are filled with chamber music, early music, jazz bands and orchestral concerts for the Stratford on Avon Music Festival. There are also concerts in nearby venues including the the Guild Chapel and the Shakespeare's Birthday Trust.
Available :
Oct 2013 (annual)
Anyone wishing for a special experience of Shakespeare's plays and the environment that inspired him can take a short break in his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Each year, the two Living Shakespeare courses include visits to Royal Shakespeare Company productions.
Available :
Jul 2013 (various dates)
Whether a seasoned racegoer, or a newcomer to the sport, a day at Stratford Races provides fun for all the family. As the first race of the season, the course's Irish Day is a welcome return to form for racegoers throughout the region.
Available :
Mar 2013; not Wed (annual)
Retaining its country setting in Wilmcote, this timbered Tudor farmhouse is the childhood home of Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, before she married John Shakespeare. It is also home to the Shakespeare Countryside Museum and the adjacent Glebe Farm, where there are displays of farm implements and daily demonstrations by Heart of England falconry.
Available :
Daily
In recognition of an important time in the farming year, Mary Arden's House & The Shakespeare Countryside Museum present traditional country crafts, activities and entertainment during Apple Day. These include cider making, apple juicing, hog roasts and archery demonstrations.
Available :
Oct 2013 (annual)
Global Gathering brings GodsKitchen's unique brand of midsummer madness to Long Marston Airfield. Their take on the festival format brings a new dimension to the club calendar, hijacking every aspect of dance music and combining it with some spectacular entertainment.
Available :
Jul 2013 (annual)
Among Europe's biggest biker rock festivals, the Bulldog Bash takes place at the Shakespeare County Raceway on Long Marston Airfield. There are displays by professional drag racers and supertuned bikes, and bikers stage their own races down the strip.
Available :
Aug 2013 (annual)
Compton Verney is an art gallery situated in a Grade I-listed 18th-century Robert Adam mansion near Warwick, with 120 acres of stunning Capability Brown-designed gardens. It houses six permanent collections and has a regular programme of temporary exhibitions.
Available :
Mar - Dec 2013; not Mon (annual)
Set in the heart of the countryside just outside Warwick, Hatton Country World is a haven for those that want to avoid the crowds in the city centre and get back to nature. Visitors can enjoy a unique Victorian shopping experience in rural surroundings, walk the nature trail to the locks forming part of the historic Grand Union Canal, or experience a fun family day out at the farm.
Available :
Daily
Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick was created as a home for the charitable Guild of the Holy Trinity and St George. Take afternoon tea in the tearoom then visit the delightful Master's Garden and the Museum of the Queen's Own Hussars.
Available :
Daily
Warwick Castle more than lives up to its billing as Britain's Greatest Medieval Experience. Bursting to the towers with tales of treachery, torture, passion and power, the castle is brought to life by costumed guides and colourful characters telling spellbinding stories.
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Daily
A trebuchet is a medieval siege machine, capable of throwing huge projectiles over castle walls. At Warwick Castle, visitors can see one in action twice a day, by the river against the South Front.
Available :
Mar - Apr 2013 (annual)
Warwick's St Nicholas Park has plenty of attractions. Rowing on the lake in the shadow of the magnificent castle, strolling by the river or relaxing in the shade of a willow tree are perfect ways to spend a summer's day.
Available :
Daily
Warwick Folk Festival attracts an impressive line-up of singers, bands, street performers and Morris dancers to the leafy grounds of Warwick School. Always well attended, it's one of the most popular folk events in the country.
Available :
Jul 2013 (annual)
Ragley Hall hosts the Midlands History Festival. With re-enactment battles and living history camps, falconry displays, a historic market and much, much more, it offers all comers a fun family-friendly day out.
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Aug 2013 (annual)
The Warwickshire and West Midland Game and Country Fair is held in the beautiful grounds of Ragley Hall. It features gundog events, falconry displays, archery, clay pigeon shooting, side-saddle riding and many other exhibitions and displays as well as stalls.
Available :
Aug 2012 (annual)
Since 1409, Warwickshire's majestic Coughton Court has been the home of the Throckmorton family. With close connections to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, the house holds a special place in English history, and stands in 25 acres of splendid grounds.
Available :
Mar - Nov 2013; not Mon or Tue (annual)
A stone's throw away from Warwick Castle, Warwick International School of Riding is situated in the heart of Shakespeare country and offers some of the most impressive horse riding in England. Avid riders can trot or canter through many miles of unspoilt country lanes and peaceful leafy bridleways, or gallop across expanses of open grassland and through ancient oak woods.
Available :
Daily
The Heritage Motor Centre was originally built to house the collection held by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust. The collection on display charts the development of the British motor industry from 1896 to the exciting innovations of the present day.
Available :
Daily
Started by local barrister Captain Robert Dover in 1612, the Cotswold Olimpicks at Dover's Hill, Chipping Campden attract thousands of visitors each year. Among the events to take place at this unorthodox Olympic-themed event are tug-of-war, obstacle races and shin kicking.
Available :
Jun 2013 (annual)
Every year, the beautiful Cotswold town of Chipping Campden celebrates the season with a series of strange and time-honoured sports, and some even stranger costumes...
Available :
Jun 2013 (annual)
Kiftsgate Court's gardens are often overlooked on account of their famous neighbour (Hidcote Manor) across the road. But the formality of Hidcote is beautifully offset by Kiftsgate's steep terracing, unusual planting and breathtaking beauty.
Available :
Apr - Sep 2013; not Thu or Fri (annual)
Located at the heart of the University of Warwick in Coventry, the Arts Centre is the largest in the Midlands and hosts an eclectic variety of performances embracing music, drama, dance, comedy, literature, films and visual art. Presenting a wide range of acts and productions throughout the year, the centre houses a concert hall, two theatres, a cinema, a gallery, restaurants and bars.
Available :
Daily
The Lunt Roman Fort was once inhabited by the Roman Army and now provides a fascinating snapshot of Roman military life.
Available :
Daily; not Mon or Tue
Chastleton House, situated in the heart of the Cotswolds, was built between 1607 and 1612. Remarkably, the house has remained essentially unchanged for nearly 400 years, suffering minimal intrusion from the 21st century.
Available :
Mar - Nov 2013; Wed, Thu, Fri, and Sat only (annual)
Coventry Transport Museum displays the largest collection of British road transport in the world and is designated as a collection of national importance. The city was the birthplace of Britain's cycle and car industries and visitors can see hundreds of cars, cycles and motorcycles.
Available :
Daily
Previously the Coventry Jazz Festival, the Coventry Rhythm Festival has been expanded to include soul, blues, funk, Latin and other world music. Performances take place at venues throughout the city, including the Belgrade Theatre and St Mary's Hall.
Available :
May 2013 (annual)
Coventry's main art gallery and museum, the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is in the middle of a major redevelopment which is expected to be complete by mid-2008. The cafe, shop and two gallery spaces are still open for business.
Available :
Daily
08457 76 76 76
