Day Fourteen 25th July 2010 - Stratford / Warwick Castle

Our journey today takes us the furthest north on our trip.  The home town of William Shakespeare is our destination.  Stratford upon Avon was where the great writer was born and died.  In Henley Street the Shakespeare family lived in a house that today is the first part of our visit.  At the Birthplace we get to see a very good audio visual show before entering the house itself. There are some helpful guides located throughout the house and it is fascinating to see how an Elizabethan family lived. 

Warwick is a fine example of a medieval castle and there are plenty of reminders  of its past in the various displays that are located in the grounds.

The castle shows off its varied history in the 15th, 18th and 19th centuries.  The Earls of Warwick were very influential in certain periods of history. Richard Neville, The 'Kingmaker', is celebrated in a great display based on preparations for the battle of Barnet in 1471. Later on there is a recreation of an 1898 weekend party held by the Earl of Warwick.  In the grounds falconers show off their birds of prey and down in the water meadows a full jousting competition takes place.   There is plenty to do at Warwick and all the group seem to have enjoyed themselves.  Warwick is a true castle and you get a good idea of how life was lived in different periods of history at the castle.