Page 217 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

centuries. Today there willow-lined riverbanks Don’t miss a pint with
are plenty of towers, bat- is on foot. the locals at Stratford’s
tlements and wall walks Combination tickets oldest and most atmos-
to explore. A cave in the are available for the three pheric pub, the 1470-built
cliff below the castle is houses associated with Old Thatch Tavern (www.
one of many places where Shakespeare in town – oldthatchtavernstratford.co.uk;
legend says King Arthur Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Greenhill St; h11.30am-11pm
and his knights are nap- Shakespeare’s New Place Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun; W).
ping until the day they’re and Hall’s Croft. If you The Drive » The fastest
needed to save Britain. also visit the childhood route from Stratford-upon-
home of Shakespeare’s
The Drive » Farmland Avon to Manchester is to head
makes up most of this 68-mile wife, Anne Hathaway’s northwest on Birmingham Rd
drive. Head northeast on the Cottage (%01789-204016; and pick up the northbound
A48 along the River Severn www.shakespeare.org.uk; Cot- M42, which becomes the M6.
to Gloucester then continue tage Lane, Shottery; adult/child You’ll see the hilly Peak District
northeast on the A46 to £10.25/6.50; h9am-5pm National Park to your east. It’s
Stratford-upon-Avon. mid-Mar–Oct, closed Nov–mid- a 116-mile journey; this stretch GREAT BRITAIN 15 THE BEST OF BRITAIN
Mar), and his mother’s incurs road tolls totalling £3.
farm, Mary Arden’s Farm
b Stratford-upon- (%01789-204016; www.
Avon shakespeare.org.uk; Station c Manchester
Experiences linked to the Rd, Wilmcote; adult/child A rich blend of history
and culture is on show in
life of Stratford’s fêted £13.25/8.50; h10am-5pm this Northern Power-
son William Shakespeare mid-Mar–Oct, closed Nov–mid- house’s museums, galler-
range from the touristy – Mar), you can buy a com- ies and innovative, mul-
medieval re-creations and bination ticket covering tigenre art centres such
Bard-themed tearooms – all five properties. as HOME (%0161-200 1500;
to the humbling, such
as Shakespeare’s modest
grave in Holy Trinity
Church (%01789-266316; BRITAIN’S BEST FESTIVALS
www.stratford-upon-avon.org; In London, see stunning blooms at the Royal
Old Town; Shakespeare’s grave Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show
adult/child £2/1; h8.30am- (www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea; Royal Hospital Chelsea; admission
6pm Mon-Sat, 12.30-5pm from £23; hMay), military bands and bear-skinned
Sun Apr-Sep, shorter hours grenadiers during the martial pageant Trooping
Oct-Mar). There’s also a the Colour (hJun), or steel drums, dancers and
sublime play by the Royal outrageous costumes at the famous multicultural
Shakespeare Company Caribbean-style street festival, Notting Hill Carnival
(RSC; %box office 01789- (www.thenottinghillcarnival.com; hAug).
403493; www.rsc.org.uk; Wa- Wales’ National Eisteddfod (%08454-090900;
terside; tours adult £6.50-8.50, www.eisteddfod.cymru; hAug) is descended from
child £3-4.50, tower adult/child ancient Bardic tournaments. It’s conducted in Welsh,
£2.50/1.25; htour times vary, but welcomes all entrants and visitors. It moves
tower 10am-6.15pm Sun-Fri about each year, attracting some 150,000 visitors.
10am-12.15pm & 2-6.15pm Sat Edinburgh’s most famous happenings are the
Apr-Sep, 10am-4.30pm Sun-Fri, International Festival (%0131-473 2000; www.eif.co.uk)
10am-12.15pm & 2-4.30pm Sat and Fringe (%0131-226 0026; www.edfringe.com), but
Oct-Mar). August also has an event for anything you care to
One of the best ways name – books, art, theatre, music, comedy, marching
to get a feel for the bands… (www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk).
area’s Tudor streets and
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