Today was an early morning, and we met downstairs at 7:50 to walk to the train station. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too hard to wake up because I was so excited, we were finally heading to Stratford-upon-Avon, the hometown of Shakespeare. I had been looking forward to this trip all week. Taking the train there was also really special because it was my first time ever riding on a train. Watching the countryside pass by through the windows felt peaceful and almost surreal. Meredith, Cameron, and I passed the time by taking BuzzFeed quizzes to keep ourselves entertained. We started with “Which Harry Potter house are you?” where I got Gryffindor, and then we took a “Which Taylor Swift album are you?” quiz and I got Lover. It was a fun way to start the day and made the journey go by quickly.
Once we arrived in Stratford, we walked through the charming town to meet our tour guide, Tim, at the Shakespeare statue. We already knew Tim from earlier in the week since he had guided us through Oxford and Blenheim Palace, so it felt nice to see a familiar face. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about the area and has a special connection to Shakespeare because he also works in theatre. Unfortunately, the weather decided not to cooperate and it rained for most of the day. Even so, Tim kept us engaged with his storytelling, and the rain honestly added to the cozy, historic atmosphere of the town.
One of the first places we visited was the canal system in Stratford. Tim explained that the name Stratford-upon-Avon comes from the River Avon, since “Avon” literally means river, so the town’s name essentially means Stratford along the river. The canal was filled with swans and their babies, which was such a beautiful sight. I realized I had never seen swans in person before, and they were even more graceful and striking than I expected.
Throughout the tour, we learned so many fascinating facts about Shakespeare. One of my favorite facts was that he was born and died on the same day of the year. Tim also told us about the long-standing myth that Shakespeare didn’t write his own plays. This rumor began because some people believed he wasn’t educated enough to produce such incredible work, especially since he didn’t attend Cambridge like many other playwrights of the time.
Next, we visited the church where Shakespeare was buried. He is actually buried inside the church along with his wife and children. The stained glass windows were absolutely stunning and filled the space with soft, colorful light. We also saw his baptism certificate and his signed will, it was interesting to see his signature in person, it was a reminder that he was a real person not just a figment of history.
We then walked to the school Shakespeare likely attended. Tim explained that we actually don’t know as much about Shakespeare’s life as people might think, and historians have had to make many educated assumptions. Inside the church connected to the school, there was a large painting high on the wall depicting heaven on one side and hell on the other. It was both beautiful and dramatic and felt very fitting for the setting.
After the morning tour, we broke off for lunch. Cameron, Meredith, and I went to Boston Tea Party where I got a quesadilla and a strawberry matcha. Both were delicious and exactly what I needed after the busy morning. We spent some time window shopping around town before meeting back up with the group to tour Shakespeare’s childhood home.
A lot of the house still has its original structure from when Shakespeare lived there, and the interior has been carefully recreated to reflect what historians believe it looked like. One detail that stood out to me was the bed placed in the foyer. We learned this was considered the “best bed” in the house and a symbol of wealth. During that time, many people couldn’t afford beds at all, so having an extra one in the entryway was impressive. Shakespeare’s family gained their wealth from his father’s leather glove-making business. He even had a workshop in the house dedicated to his craft. Tim told us they used urine to cure the leather, which I found fascinating and disgusting at the same time.
The house stayed in the Shakespeare family for years before eventually being auctioned off. The property was purchased after a national fundraising campaign to save it from being dismantled and shipped to America by showman P.T. Barnum. Barnum wanted to uproot the home and add it to his circus in America. I thought it was impressive how people like Charles Dickens and Prince Albert came together to raise money and save Shakespeare’s house.
After the tour, we left Stratford and took the train back to Birmingham. A few of us stopped at the train station for dinner on the way home. Meredith and I got burgers from Shake Shack, and they were so good. After trying so many new foods during this trip, some amazing and some not my favorite, it was comforting to enjoy some classic greasy American food.
It’s hard to believe tomorrow is our last day in Birmingham. The time has gone by so quickly, and I feel incredibly grateful for this experience and everything I’ve learned. I’m really excited to head to London next and continue the adventure.