Our Platinum Shakespeare Tour is centred on Stratford - based on our Silver Stratford Tour - but we then explore some of the beautiful villages and discover the links Shakespeare and his family have across the district.
The Platinum Shakespeare Tour is offered as a half day tour to include an optional lunch break, depending on departure time.
Crucially our minibuses, unlike larger coaches, can access areas served only by narrow roads giving you opportunity to experience the sights other tours cannot reach.
Our Platinum Shakespeare Tour is in a spacious, modern, air-conditioned minibus. We can seat up to seven passengers including wheelchair access for one. Bardtours will pick you up from your hotel or accommodation at a time to suit you.
Our Platinum Shakespeare Tour operates all year round including weekends to suit your schedule.
Please contact us if you have any questions or want to book one of our Shakespeare tours.
These villages boast delightful period cottages all with their own character and quirks. These villages are shaped by their relationship with the River Avon and surrounding farmland.
Welford has one of the tallest Maypoles in the country, Barton seems almost ot be lost in a timewarp and Luddington remains unknown by visitors but is worth a visit as we come to it past Stratford's Racecourse.
"Drunken Bidford" - Shakespeare is reputed to have challenged locals to drinking games here. The village is on Buckle Street, a Roman Road.
The medieval packhorse bridge is only wide enough for one vehicle at a time!
The Platinum Shakespeare Tour passes high above the river valley to the village of Temple Grafton where William Shakespeare is reputed to have married Anne Hathaway.
Aston Cantlow church (pictured right) where Shakespeare's parents were married.
All our Shakespeare tours include a drive through the countryside to Wilmcote and we arrive at Mary Arden's House. This is where Shakespeare's mother lived before she married John Shakespeare. Built from local stone and timber-framed with later brick facings the property is an excellent example of a Tudor farmstead.
Shakespeare's grandfather rented a farm in Snitterfield and although much altered the farm house is still standing. The Church has records of Shakespeare family christenings and burials in 1581 and 1595
Hampton Lucy has a magnificent gothic revival church built by a member of the Lucy family - when he was vicar of the parish.
The church includes “The most magnificent window in stained glass that has been produced in modern times”.
The village has an ancient water mill that still grinds flour.
Charlecote is still the seat of the Lucy family. Now maintained by the National Trust the house and gardens include an extensive deer park. As well as being a beautiful location our Shakespeare tour wouldn't be be complete without the place where legend has it Shakespeare poached deer.
The Stratford part of our Shakespeare Tour includes the most famous building in Stratford and of course where Shakespeare was born.
Right at the heart of Stratford the birthplace is next to the Shakespeare Visitor Centre.
In addition to Shakespeare, Stratford boasts connections with another prolific writer. Marie Corelli lived in a large town house in Stratford. She wrote her novels in her garden gazebo (pictured). Her grave is in Stratford's Cemetery (pictured).
The Grammar School has been teaching Stratford's boys since the early 15th Century. Built in 1417, the upper floor is still used for lessons. It started life as the Gild Hall and keeps its connection to this once powerful organisation with the Gild Chapel. Also pictured are the pretty Almshouses (foreground).
A truly stunning Elizabethan town house with some excellent architectural detail and fine walled gardens. Hall's Croft was owned by Shakespeare's elder daughter Susanna and her husband Dr John Hall, an eminent physician.
Located in Shottery, on the outskirts of Stratford, this picturesque cottage was home to Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife. Originally built in the 15th Century as a farmhouse. it has a typical English cottage garden.
The Platinum Shakespeare Tour is onboard, with an optional stop at a typical English country pub (food and drinks at passenger's cost and choice). The location and duration of the stop will depend on when the tour is scheduled to begin and end. If you have special requirements please discuss these when you book the tour as we always endeavour to accommodate requests.
The tours specified offer the best opportunity to see as much of interest as possible in the available time. Bardtours reserves the right to vary tours without notice to take into account road works and other events out of our control.
A Line Taxis
A quality Stratford taxi service
Airport service for 1-8 passengers available.