This is the city where Shakespeare was born, lived, and died, so it’s no surprise that weekend breaks Stratford upon Avon focus heavily on the life and times of The Bard. Take in a play for the Royal Shakespeare Company, find his grave in the Holy Trinity Church and visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage before having tea in one of the city’s Shakespearean-themed tea rooms.
Top 5 things to see: 48 hours in Weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon
There are also plenty of attractions and activities in Stratford-upon-Avon that don’t mention The Bard. These activities range from shopping on quaint Main Street to exhibiting in contemporary museums or enjoying a relaxing boat rides on the River Avon.
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Shakespeare’s Birthplace Museum
Here, costumed guides add character to your tour of this wood-framed home where Shakespeare was born and raised. The house is now a museum with many rare artifacts related to his life.
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Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
A visit to this charming 500-year-old cottage complete with original furniture helps bring to life the story of the man behind the plays. This is where William called Anne, and it is very likely that he wrote some sonnets in the Romantic Gardens.
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Stratford-upon-Avon Canal Basin
Centrally located to the city and its attractions, the Canal Basin is a lovely place to relax on a sunny day. You can rent paddle boats by the hour, each named after a Shakespearean character, or take a short boat trip along the Avon River.
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MAD Museum
This Museum of Mechanical Art and Design is filled with bizarre and bizarre installations and inventions from artists from all over the world. Look out for flying mechanical birds and intricate marble shapes.
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Butterfly Farm Stratford-upon-Avon
This is the perfect escape when it rains at the weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the UK’s biggest butterfly attraction with hundreds of species enjoying the exotic plants and waterfalls.
Tips to find your dream wedding halls near Stratford-upon-Avon
1. Talk to your wedding planner
Your wedding planner will be an invaluable resource throughout the planning process, especially as you get through wedding hall ideas ahead of time. As professionals, they will understand that the non-negotiable things have to be on the lookout, such as finding the perfect Malibu wedding venue. They will also be able to help you see how your wedding style can come to life in a potential space.
2. Finalize the budget and general location
Your wedding budget and the location where you want to tie the knot will greatly influence the wedding hall you ultimately choose. Understanding what you can afford and where to focus your search will ensure that the process of choosing a wedding hall is as smooth as possible.
3. Understand Your Vibe and Aesthetic
Without understanding your dream wedding style and aesthetic, you won’t be able to find a venue that matches your plans. If you’re hoping for a super glamorous wedding with lots of acrylic and mirror details, a rustic farmhouse might not be the way to go. Conversely, a classic hotel banquet hall or a contemporary art museum would not be appropriate if you and your partner love the outdoors and want your guests to dine under the stars.
4. Understand the types of places available and what’s included
Some wedding venues near Stratford Upon Avon are all-inclusive – they are a venue for a celebration and reception, plus they provide rentals, food, and audio-visual materials. However, some venues are completely free, offering only a blank slate where you will need to bring your various rentals and details (many outdoor venues and beach wedding halls sometimes fall into this category).
5. Know your guest list
Without a clear understanding of the number of your guests, you will not be able to choose a wedding hall suitable for the number of your guests. Imagine booking a small, intimate space, only to find out later that your guests will be close to 300 people. In order to save yourself from falling into these kinds of issues, it is important that you settle on the number of guests you plan to invite before making a final decision on your wedding hall.
6. Consider the guest experience
From the moment they arrive until they leave at the end of the night, what will the guest experience be like? From temperature concerns and ample stairs to easy-to-find bathrooms, think about the things that will make being a guest at your wedding a comfortable and seamless experience.
7. A tour of potential places
Site visits, ideally with your wedding planner together, are always a good idea. If you book a site for an invisible wedding, you may be surprised later that you would have known about it had you simply booked a site visit.
8. Make sure it has backup options
While this is an absolutely must-do for the outdoors, it’s also a good idea to learn how many different options and layouts are available indoors as well. Inevitably, there will be something here or there that isn’t planned, so having a place with ample B, C, and D options is definitely a plus.
9. Consider Parking and Accommodation Options
Many hotel places have freight elevators that make loading convenient but may also only allow a few hours for your vendors to set everything up. On the flip side, getting to more rural places may be more difficult, but if it’s a remote area, they may be willing to allow more load time.
Additionally, ask about breakdowns and whether an after-hours fee will be charged if your vendors haven’t wrapped everything up by a certain time. In the end, knowledge is power and you want to think about every detail before signing on the dotted line.
