Planning a Trip

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 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 £19. For schedules and information, call tel. 0871/781-81-81 (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 April to September Monday to Saturday 9am to 5:30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm, and October to March Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm.

To contact Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which administrates many of the attractions, call the Shakespeare Centre (tel. 01789/204016; www.shakespeare.org.uk).