Shakespeare's New Place — Attraction in Stratford-on-Avon

Shakespeare's New Place was William Shakespeare's family home in Stratford-upon-Avon from 1597 until his death in 1616. He purchased this large and prestigious property when he was 33, a testament to his growing wealth and success.

Originally built in the 1480s by Hugh Clopton, New Place was the largest house in the borough, boasting ten hearths, suggesting 20 to 30 rooms, and the only one with a courtyard. Archaeological digs have revealed that Shakespeare himself likely rebuilt the frontage and added a long gallery.

Tragically, the original house was entirely demolished in 1759 by a later owner, Reverend Francis Gastrell, in a dispute over local poor rates. Thus, the physical structure of Shakespeare's final home no longer stands.

Today, Shakespeare's New Place is a heritage site managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Visitors can explore the grounds, which have been re-imagined to commemorate the importance of the site. The contemporary landscape reveals the footprint of Shakespeare's lost house, outlined in engraved bronze inlaid in the stone paving. The site gives an impression of the scale of New Place and its relationship to neighboring buildings like King Edward VI School and the Guild Chapel, which Shakespeare would have known.

The beautiful gardens are a key feature, including a restored Tudor knot garden and the Great Garden, the largest surviving part of Shakespeare's estate. These gardens are filled with plants, sculptures, and artworks inspired by Shakespeare's life and works, evoking a sense of family life and hinting at the major plays he wrote during his 19 years there.

A new permanent exhibition within the meticulously restored Nash's House (which belonged to Shakespeare's granddaughter Elizabeth and her husband Thomas Nash, and is adjacent to New Place) further brings to life the story of Shakespeare's personal life as a father, husband, and citizen of Stratford-upon-Avon. It offers a fresh perspective on the...

A place I can go to all the time.

As you get off the National Express coach from Victoria Coach station in London, you notice how historic the surroundings are, with vaste expanse of land across your view.

The buildings seem to have been kept the same as during the 16th century.

There are frequent guided tours around Stratford and to Shakespeare's house (top left in photo) which was considered the largest house at the time.

I had to study ALL of Shakespeare's works (plays and poetry) at University but I knew few of the plays already so it made life a lot easier.

On the guided tour bus you are taken around the countryside with its breathtaking landscape and that special solitude you find when walking in the woods and forests.

The guide gave a detailed background account of Shakespeare's life and works including personal moments of going back and forth to Anne Hathaway's home (bottom centre) and to his parents leading to some funny moments.

It's a picturesque town with so many good tea rooms you find it difficult to know where to lunch.

The journey London to Stratford is affordable by coach and the journey is about 2 hours but it...

For any Shakespeare fan, this is the place you will want to visit, even more than his birthplace or Anne Hathaways cottage. Why? It houses an original "First Folio" of Shakespeares work, and this year marks the 400th anniversary of its publication (just to give you an idea, a first folio sells for about 7.5 million). In addition to that, the site is that of his family home, holds his signet ring, and has a lot of other interesting exhibition pieces. The gardens are pretty and hold some impressive mulberry trees.

There is a paper embosser on the first floor of the exhibition which is a larger version of Shakespeares signet ring, we had purchased some books earlier in the day which we were able to emboss, including a children's version of 12 Shakespeare stories. We don't have children yet, but this felt like such a nice story we can tell them one day.

We had purchased the story package ticket for £25 per person, this allowed us into, the birthplace, new place and Anne Hathaways Cottage. It is also valid for a year so we can return without having...