It only took a few weeks of settling in while abroad to decide I was ready to travel outside of my host city. Sitting only an hour train ride away is the small town of Stratford-Upon-Avon. This town, most well known as the birthplace of Shakespeare, bolsters a wide variety of sight-seeing and history.
This morning I began my journey, walking to my university station and taking a train into the city center. From there I walked through downtown Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city, to my second station. Arriving a few minutes before it departed I had time to enjoy the views of the skyline for the first time from below. After an hour of stopping every three minutes on the train, I had arrived in Stratford-Upon-Avon, grateful for the sun to be out.
From the moment I stepped off the train I could tell that this town and its’ architecture had beautifully stood the test of time. I was in awe of the city center, and after a short walk I had arrived at Shakespeare’s birthplace. It was quite surreal to see a building which had once housed one of the greatest literature minds the world would ever see. After stopping at a gift shop I went down to one of the UK’s most well-known pubs, Wetherspoons. I enjoyed the classic British meal of steak and ale pudding with mash and mushy peas, which are not as bad as they look. I finished my meal and updated my family on my trip, then began the second leg of the exploration.
Down the street from the pub ran the River Avon, on which sat the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. This is a relatively recent establishment dedicated to William himself. The beauty of this site was quickly overshadowed by the Holy Trinity Church downstream rising through the barren winter trees. A quick walk around a graveyard and I had arrived at the church, where Shakespeare was laid to rest more than four centuries ago.
After walking around the church I began my walk to my final destination of the journey, Anne Hathaway’s cottage. Arriving just a few minutes after opening hours, I could only enjoy the home from the outside.
Although my journey was short, and at times stressful as a solo traveller, it was worth it. And my advice for anyone abroad already or looking to, travel like Anthony Bourdain would. Eat with the locals, go solo, and become immersed in the culture.