Warwickshire
Art, History & Archaeology Sites & Museums
Warwickshire’s great claim to fame derives from its most famous son – William Shakespeare. The Bard was born at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 and today the Warwickshire town retains several buildings associated with Shakespeare and his family. The county’s heritage stretches far beyond the early modern period, however, with Warwickshire’s prehistory including the King Stone, a monolith that forms part of the Rollright Stones complex located on the border with Oxfordshire. The Romans left behind the ruins of a fort at Lunt, which has now been partially reconstructed. Reminders of the Middle Ages include the castles at Warwick and Kenilworth, as well as the moated manor house at Baddesley Clinton. The Battle of Edgehill, one of the earliest clashes in the English Civil War, took place in Warwickshire in 1642. More peaceful times saw the Warwickshire countryside become home to luxury residences like the 18th-century Compton Verney.
Archaeology & History Sites in Warwickshire
Anne Hathaway's Cottage
Located in the village of Shottery, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage was the childhood home of William Shakespeare’s eponymous wife. Parts of the house, which has a timber-framed structure, are medieval in origin, although it underwent expansion in the 17th century. The Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust assumed ownership of the house in the 1890s, at which point it was still inhabited by relatives of Hathaway herself. An attractive garden now surrounds the property, in which visitors can enjoy a number of sculptures inspired by Shakespeare’s plays.
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Shakespeare needs no introduction. The famous playwright was born at this half-timbered, 16th-century house in 1564, remaining here throughout his early life, including for the first five years of his marriage to Anne Hathaway. He later inherited the property on his father’s death and leased it to an inn. The Shakespeare Trust bought the house in the 19th century and established it as the Shakespeare’s Birthplace heritage attraction. It is now one of five properties open in Stratford-upon-Avon that are associated with the life and times of the Bard.
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Some attractions listed on this page are managed by English Heritage or the National Trust. Besides supporting their work, joining these organisations offers you many benefits. Read about the benefits of joining English Heritage and/or the National Trust. Non-residents of England can benefit from a Pass for Overseas Visitors.
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