Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon is a town in the Borough of Stratford-on-Avon, in the English County of Warwickshire. The town has 23.680 inhabitants.

Stratford is known worldwide as the birthplace and place of death of William Shakespeare. The town dates back to the time of the Anglo-saxons and was already in the middle ages an important market place. The current employment in Stratford is formed by aluminium industry, boat building, the agricultural industry, a brewery and manufacture of steel furniture.

However, the main source of income is tourism. Over 2 million people visit the city annually because of the most famous inhabitant ever.

The city is for the result from a (ford) in a Street (strat) by the river Avon. Along the banks of the river stands the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the theatre of the world famous Royal Shakespeare Company. This company has two smaller buildings in Stratford: the Swan, performed as theaters looked like in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, and The courtyard theatre (formerly The Other Place), a so-called "black box theatre ', where performed with a minimum of technical tools.

Stratford-upon-AvonOther tourist attractions include the birthplace of Shakespeare, Hall's Croft (where his daughter Susanna lived) and New Place, the place where, Shakespeare owned a House. Then there is the Holy Trinity Church, where the playwright was baptized and is buried. His wife is also buried here. Just outside the city are the home of Anne Hathaway, the former residence of his wife Anne, and Mary Arden's House, the former home of his mother.

In addition to the many buildings that recall Shakespeare, one finds also a Racecourse just outside the Centre. In addition, the Mad museum, with a small but fascinating collection kinetic art.