Stratford Upon Avon

No_Future

Hiya,

I'm hoping to go to Stratford for a couple of days with my bf for our anniversary/Valentine's Day. Has anyone got any tips on pleasant and cheap things to do, see, nice B&Bs, places to eat, discounted travel etc


Thanks very much!

zigmonkey

http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk

This site seems to have a good overview of the town...

If you want something beside the traditional shakespeare attractions, try the Falstaffs Experience both by day and by night...

http://www.falstaffsexperience.co.uk/index2.htm

Warwick Castle is a short drive from Stratford and as it is owned by the Tussauds group, there should be many two for one offers lurking around these forums.

Either way, have a great time!

Edinburghlass_2

We ate at Cox's Yard as recommended in this thread and it was very good, then had a trip on the river and an ice cream. Lovely day, I really liked Stratford

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=217243

offbeatgirl

There's a nice circular walk along the river which takes about an hour, hour and a half and is very pleasant on a sunny day:
http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/static_1122.htm
You could always pack a picnic?

It's also possible to pick up some pretty cheap tickets for plays at the three theatres, from about £5 to £8:
http://www.rsc.org.uk/whatson/calendar.aspx?Location=Stratford-upon-Avon

jaymac_2

There's a Wetherspoons pub for reasonably prices meals, coffee etc. It's near the river somewhere.

rawy

We went to Stratford at new year, had a good time.

We stopped at the Travellodge at Alcester (10 mins driven from Stratford) for £15 a night. Rooms were clean etc..

If you do stop near Alcester there is a great indian restraunt called the cardamon in Alcester. Food was very nice & reasonable priced.

We went to falstaffs & thought it was a right con, £5 to get in & it was full or rubbish. We prefered the Teddy Bear museum.

We ate at a few places including the Red Lion Brewers Fayre next to the river. Food was nice & I'm sure there's loads of 2 for 1 offers about. - If not look up leisure vouchers and ask for a booklet.

Warwick Castle was great, we were there when the ice rink & slide was there, very busy. Do try & find a 2 for 1 as its about £15 each to get in otherwise.

Rawy

Mutton_Geoff

Warwick Castle is one of my favourite UK tourist things. Don't forget you can use your Nectar Points (adults 2,500 kids 1,500) or £4 worth of Tesco Clubcard points to get in.

nej

I'm looking to go there in March with my wife for a couple of nights.

Does anyone have any hotel recommendations? We're looking to spend up to about £70 for the room per night. Not worried about breakfast as we'd rather catch up on a little sleep away from the kids!

Justie

Stratford is a lovely little town and if the weather's good then walks by the river are gorgeous. The farmers market is very good (1st and 3rd Satrudays I think plus some Thursdays).

I wouldn't do the Falstaffs thing nor the out and out tourist stuff as I think it's over priced but it depends a bit what you want to do. The theatre is however worth every penny. The Swan is divine and if you can get tickets up in the gallery it's cheap and you get a good view from anywhere (although if you're on the narrow end facing the stage it's better) - and don't worry about being on the second row you actually have more room than being at the front - if it's fully booked it's still worth going on the night as there are often returns or standing places available. The new Courtyard theatre is also supposed to be good but I haven't been yet so can't vouch for where the good seats are.

Sheep Street has lots of good places to eat but Lambs is always booked way in advance. The Coconut Lagoon is fantastic for Indian food (not your typical curry house either but Goan cuisine) and the pre-theatre menus are always good value. I personally think Cox's Yard is a bit too touristy but you can get good live music on there sometimes.

If you like horse racing then there's racing at both Warwick and Stratford.

Warwick Castle is fab but expensive - you can sometimes get deals though so have a look through credit cards/ Sainsburys vouchers etc.

Leamington Spa is good for shopping.

http://www.comptonverney.org.uk/?page=home regulary gets in the top 5 exhibitions outside London list but it doesn't open again until March. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-uptonhouse/ is also nice but again doesn't open till March - if the weather's good though the Castel Inn at Edgehill has fabulous views and good, cheap, traditional pub food.