Comment Editor Lauren Penzer gives us her guide to Stratford-upon-Avon, praising the town’s historical architecture and literary offerings
Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most beautiful towns in the world. Though I am heavily biased, being an English Literature student with an affinity for Shakespearean studies, I like to think my appreciation for the town remains true. And for any literary lover, someone with a love of the arts and theatre, or someone simply looking for a nice day trip, Stratford is the place to be. So let’s take a little tour around this quaint market-town, just southeast of Birmingham.
And for any literary lover, someone with a love of the arts and theatre, or someone simply looking for a nice day trip, Stratford is the place to be
First off, The Shakespeare Institute is the best place to visit for a University of Birmingham student. They are very welcoming to any student – literary studies or not – so long as they have a love and passion for Shakespeare. They also hold regular events and seminars which students can attend, and have an amazingly extensive library full of literary works by Shakespeare, his contemporaries, and his critics through the years. The site also has some beautiful architecture and gardens for you to explore; the institute building was previously the home of writer Marie Corelli who was heavily invested in the conservation of Shakespeare’s heritage in Stratford. Mason Croft, the building in question, was eventually acquired by the University years after her death, granting ‘Corelli’s wish that the house remain a resource for distinguished figures in literature and the arts’.
Next stop is an adorable little bookshop right down the street from The Shakespeare Institute. Chaucer Head Bookshop, dusty and narrow though it may be, houses a beautiful collection of second-hand books, as well as some exciting new prints. My favourite section of this shop is towards the back, where the shelves are lined with beautiful, vintage copies of classic novels and poetry collections. It’s a lovely little hole-in-the-wall shop, hidden amongst the gorgeous architecture of the cobblestone streets.
Chaucer Head Bookshop, dusty and narrow though it may be, houses a beautiful collection of second-hand books, as well as some exciting new prints
The next stop on our tour is one of my favourite Shakespeare monuments in the town: The Jester Statue. As a lover of Shakespeare’s comedies, seeing this funny little guy always makes me smile. The statue was commissioned to honour Shakespeare, inscribed with the following phrase: ‘as a token of his esteem for the town in which he was born, lives and works and which has given him so much friendship, good fortune and pleasure’. The Jester Statue is in homage to Shakespeare’s As you like it, and houses a hilariously Shakespearean pun, with the clown in that play being named Jester Touchstone.
Since it cannot go without mentioning, I’d love to pay tribute to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Being a lovely and welcoming place, the Royal Shakespeare Company has collaborated with the University of Birmingham and their students for decades. My most recent trip there involved looking through the archives of prized costumes and props from plays that the Company has put on over the years, as well as looking through some of the amazing artwork and props that the archives house. It’s honestly one of my favourite places in the world, putting on amazing and inventive adaptations of Shakespeare’s works. And the gift shop is definitely worth a visit, if nothing else. I have some amazing socks with Shakespeare’s face on them, as well as an adorable little copy of Shakespeare’s Plays. There are very affordable ticket options for students, and Stratford-upon-Avon is only a short train away, so I would highly recommend seeing a play if you have the time!
Being a lovely and welcoming place, the Royal Shakespeare Company has collaborated with the University of Birmingham and their students for decades
Last, but certainly not least, a dedication to one of my favourite pubs in Stratford-upon-Avon (if you don’t count the Wetherspoons with the fancy red plates). The Dirty Duck is a lovely pub down from the Swan Theatre. While the menu is nothing particularly exciting, the pub has a beautiful outdoor seating area with a perfect view of the river. After a long day exploring Stratford-upon-Avon, it’s the perfect place to relax and look through all your goodies!
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