Stratford-upon-Avon and the West Midlands: walking in Shakespeare’s shadow
Stratford-upon-Avon remains at the heart of Shakespeare’s story. At Shakespeare Distillery, visitors can craft gin or rum at Judith’s – the former home of Shakespeare’s daughter – blending spirits in rooms where the playwright’s family once lived. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s rooftop restaurant offers seasonal menus with sweeping views over the Avon, a fitting prelude to performances in the 2026 RSC season. For those seeking a deeper connection to the famous playwright, the Becoming Shakespeare walking tour traces his journey from family home to theatre fame. For an atmospheric base while following Shakespeare’s trail, the THE PIG-on the farm (opening in 2026; date to be confirmed) will provide boutique accommodation within a mid-16th-century listed stone manor house set in 53 acres of Warwickshire countryside. Its field-to-fork kitchen will draw directly from the estate’s own gardens, with fresh produce set to shape daily menus.
London: where the curtain first rose
London is brimming with theatrical history. Shakespeare’s Globe – a faithful reconstruction of the original playhouse – continues to stage his works under the open sky, just as audiences experienced them centuries ago. Hamnet filmed scenes here, capturing the energy of Elizabethan performance. Today, the Globe’s vibrant programme spans everything from comedies, tragedies and family productions to thematic talks, short courses and guided tours. A short walk away, on the other side of the River Thames, the story continues. Due to open in 2026, The Museum of Shakespeare in Shoreditch will occupy the site of the original Curtain Playhouse, offering a high-tech, immersive journey through the playwright’s world. Visitors can expect interactive exhibits and digital storytelling that brings 16th-century London back to life.
Herefordshire: Tudor landscapes reimagined
While Stratford-upon-Avon is Shakespeare’s birthplace and London celebrates his stage career, Herefordshire provided Hamnet with many of its original Tudor settings. The village of Weobley, around 14 miles (23 km) from Hereford, doubled as Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon on screen, with its black-and-white timber houses and medieval church capturing the look of a place untouched by time. The free, downloadable Through Tudor Landscapes walking tour guides visitors through Weobley and the wider countryside around Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Leominster, revealing filming locations alongside Shakespeare-related places of interest. The route takes in The Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford – thought to be one of the oldest hotels in Britain – and the Oldfield Forge in Garway, where visitors can try their hand at the artisan craft of metalwork through bookable knife, sword or wand-making experiences.
Just outside the village of Brilley, in west Herefordshire, Cwmmau Farmhouse is a striking black-and-white timber-framed 17th-century manor house which took a starring role as Agnes’ childhood home and bedroom. Now used as self-catering accommodation managed by the National Trust, this five-bedroom time-capsule gives visitors the rare chance to step directly into Shakespeare’s time. One of Hamnet’s sequences centres on falconry, with Agnes’ connection to the natural world rendered through a bird of prey. Visitors can re-live the cinematic moment with Wye Valley Falconry, who offer private bookable one- to three-hour sessions for hands-on encounters with hawks, falcons and owls in the Herefordshire countryside.
