Hotel Indigo, Warwickshire

A Brief Introduction to Tudor Stratford-upon-Avon

Image courtesy of stratford.hotelindigo.com.

Nestled in the heart of Warwickshire, Stratford-Upon-Avon is renowned as the birthplace, home and final resting place of William Shakespeare.

The charming market town, set along the picturesque River Avon, holds a cherished connection to Shakespeare’s life and legacy. Visitors can explore Shakespeare’s birthplace on Henley Street, a well-preserved Tudor building where he is believed to have spent his formative years. Not far away is The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, standing proudly alongside the River Avon; it continues to stage the Bard’s timeless works, thus ensuring that his spirit lives on in a town that shaped his extraordinary literary journey.

Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare now rests, alongside other close family members, is also open to visitors.

In Tudor times, Stratford-upon-Avon was a bustling market town centred around agriculture and trade, where farmers and merchants gathered to exchange goods and produce. Its narrow, winding streets and market squares would have been lively with the sounds of commerce and community life.

Stratford had a mix of grand houses belonging to the wealthy alongside more modest dwellings belonging to the common folk. The Guildhall, a prominent building in the town, served as a centre for civic activities, including meetings and events. John Shakespeare, William Shakespeare’s father, was a prominent figure in the town, engaging in various trades and civic duties. The young Shakespeare likely walked the same cobbled streets that exist today, and the town’s atmosphere and architecture may have influenced his later works.

While the details of daily life in Tudor Stratford-upon-Avon are not fully documented, the town’s historic buildings, from its Tudor-style houses to its church and Guildhall, stand as tangible reminders of its rich heritage. Today, it continues to attract admirers from across the globe who wish to step back in time and immerse themselves in the world of England’s greatest playwright.

Stay at Hotel Indigo

In the heart of this Shakespearean market town is a boutique hotel: the Hotel Indigo. Its rooms showcase the tradition of the sixteenth-century building couched in modern-day luxurious comfort. Each room has fabulously comfy Hypnos beds with luxury Egyptian cotton linen, spa-inspired bathrooms, Nespresso coffee machines, high-speed Wi-Fi and a variety of channels on a 40” flat-screen TV.

Along with Georgian and contemporary rooms, Hotel Indigo has accommodation in the original sixteenth-century building, with views directly across the street to the site of Shakespeare’s ‘New Place’, his residential home in later life. The hotel has an on-site restaurant offering an exceptional dining experience focusing on sustainability, seasonality and locally sourced produce.

Historic Properties Nearby

Delightfully, Stratford-upon-Avon has a whole host of Tudor places to visit nearby. My travel itinerary A Tudor Weekend Away in Stratford-upon-Avon details where to visit, and what not to miss.

Other Tudor places to visit nearby:

The Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick (9 miles)

St Mary’s Church and the Beauchamp Chapel, Warwick (10 miles)

Kenilworth Castle (14 miles)

Baddesley Clinton (16 miles)

Packwood House (17 miles)

Hailes Abbey (22 miles)

Sudeley Castle (24 miles)

Visitor Information

For more details on the accommodation, check out Hotel Indigo’s website.

Contact Details: Email enquiries@stratford.hotelindigo.com or call 0330 102 7244.

Address: Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon, Chapel St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6HA.