Today was our first full day without lectures. Instead, we traveled to Stratford-upon-Avon by train and spent the day there. On our way to Stratford, we passed by farmland and saw lots of sheep—it was the most I had ever seen before, and they were all really cute. Once we arrived, we had a few minutes to use the bathroom and grab a beverage if we wanted, at a small coffee shop called Caffé Nero. I got a Strawberry Vanilla Matcha Iced Latte, and it was quite delicious. Upon walking to meet our tour guide we noticed many swans in the surrounding ponds. These were the most swans I have ever seen in one location, and they were so beautiful. This was also the first time I seen a real black swan in person which was really lovely too.

We eventually met with Tim, our tour guide for the morning, who led us around Stratford and guided us through Shakespeare’s hotspots. Tim was a wonderful and very insightful tour guide, and he impressed me with the amount of information he knew. It was also fun to learn that he is an actor who has performed Shakespeare and is clearly dedicated to his craft.

We saw many statues, including one at the Gower Memorial, which depicted Shakespeare and characters representing his four themes: comedy, tragedy, history, and philosophy. We also passed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, visited the Holy Trinity Church (where Shakespeare spent much of his time and where he is buried with his family), and got to see his tomb. The interior of the church and the exterior were both quite lovely in their own ways: the inside was extravagant with various stained glass windows, while the outside featured a graveyard surrounded by stunning tall trees.
After the church, we visited the grammar school where Shakespeare received his only formal education. Then we had a couple of hours for a quick lunch and shopping break. I think this was the best part of the day because we went to the Dirty Duck, a renowned restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon. The food and service were tremendous. I ordered a Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich, and it was to die for. I devoured it in minutes.

Following the meal, we visited a few shops, including charity stores and gift shops. I was able to purchase a few gifts for my parents and a few things for myself. I bought a really cute maroon t-shirt that says “Shakespeare – Stratford-upon-Avon,” with what I believe is Stratford’s crest. However, my favorite purchase of the day was a London snow globe that I found to add to my snow globe collection, which I started as a way to remember all the places I visit.

Finally, after meeting back with the full group and Tim, we visited Shakespeare’s birthplace and toured his childhood home, followed by the home he stayed in after marrying Anne Hathaway. At the end of the house tour, we were met by an actor named James, who performed a reenactment of scenes from some of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Henry V, and Sonnet 18.

Today I learned that Stratford is a truly lovely town, full of beauty and fascinating history. As I write this on the train back to Birmingham, I hope to one day visit Stratford-upon-Avon again, possibly to see a Shakespearean play at their theater, which would be very fun.

Above image: My roommate Bella and I in front of the many swans of Stratford.