Getting There
The journey from London to Stratford-upon-Avon takes about 2 1/4 hours, and a round-trip ticket costs £28 to £69 ($53-$131) depending on the train. For schedules and information, call tel. 0845/748-4950, or go to www.nationalrail.co.uk. The train station at Stratford is on Alcester Road.
Four National Express buses a day leave from London's Victoria Station, with a trip time of 3 1/4 hours. A single-day round-trip ticket costs £17 ($31). For schedules and information, call tel. 0870/580-8080 (www.nationalexpress.co.uk).
If you're driving from London, take the M40 toward Oxford and continue to Stratford-upon-Avon on the A34.
Visitor Information
The Tourist Information Centre, Bridgefoot, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6GW (tel. 0870/160-7930; www.shakespeare-country.co.uk), provides any details you may wish to know about the Shakespeare houses and properties, and will assist in booking rooms. Call and ask for a copy of their free Shakespeare Country Holiday guide. They also operate a Thomas Cook currency-exchange office (tel. 01789/269750). It's open from April to October, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5:30pm and Sunday from 10:30am to 4:30pm; from November to March, Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
To contact Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which administrates many of the attractions, call the Shakespeare Centre (tel. 01789/204016; www.shakespeare.org.uk).
