Re-kindle the love in Shakespeare’s England
Woo your loved one in romantic Stratford-upon-Avon in Shakespeare’s England this autumn. Relax by the river, recite a romantic sonnet and indulge yourself in a romantic break away. Discover where the writer of Romeo and Juliet lived, worked and married his own sweet heart Anne Hathaway. Idle away an hour or two on the River Avon or even travel in your own private gondola. At night see how Shakespeare plays should really be performed, by the best in the world, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Soak up the ambience, atmosphere and fairytale romance of this historic market town and cosy up in one of the many pubs and hotels with warming log fires in classically English surroundings. In the heart of Shakespeare’s England, Stratford-upon-Avon is a romantic retreat for lovers and poets alike.
Visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the most romantic of all the Shakespeare houses and where the young William Shakespeare courted his future bride. With beautiful blooms, peaceful orchards and a woodland walk, the stunning cottage gardens offer the perfect place to declare love or even propose!
Kenilworth Castle is the setting of one of history's most enduring love stories, that of Queen Elizabeth I and Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester who has claimed his place in history as the only man to win her heart. Explore the fairytale setting of the ruins, stroll around the re-created Elizabethan Garden as Elizabeth would have done 400 years ago and visit the newly opened Leicester Building to woo your loved one Elizabethan style.
Cozy up close together and enjoy a spectacular night of dazzling fireworks, an amazing light show and bonfire at Ragley on Friday 31 October. The gates open at 5pm with fairground rides, food stalls, licensed bar and live music. The bonfire is lit at 6pm and the fireworks start at 7:30pm.
Take in the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival autumn season together and catch two of the biggest stars of the small screen. On Friday 24 October, chat show host Graham Norton will be at The Courtyard Theatre talking about his memoir The Life and Loves of a He Devil. Actress and star of the hit show Miranda, Patricia Hodge will be talking about her prolific career at Stratford Artshouse on Thursday 30 October.
Join the Ranger and Park Walk Guides for a romantic tour of Charlecote Park on 2 November as part of the National Trust Walking Festival. This is the only opportunity each year to go into the deer sanctuary and look across the river into 'Camp Ground'.
Enjoy a romantic day out at the ‘Apple Day & Country Fair’ at Hill Close Gardens on Sunday 19 October. Over 60 varieties of heritage apples grow in the different gardens and many will be on display in the glasshouse. Taste some of the varieties as well as purchase some of the more unusual ones. There will be a range of craft stalls and local food producers, alongside bees, tree and plant sales, competitions and children’s activities. Plus see many different varieties of Chrysanthemum at a special weekend on 25 & 26 October.
Listen to a talk about the history of the country house and Ettington Park with John Goodall, the architectural editor of Country Life on Friday 10 October. Find out about the history of the building, its collection of narrative sculpture and the personalities behind its creation. John will explore the architectural context of the house and the style of life it was originally designed to accommodate. Behind the impressive mid-Victorian Gothic exterior of the house is the history of the Shirley family, one of Warwickshire’s oldest families. The cost is £55 per person including canapé’s and 3-course dinner.
Enjoy autumn harvest days in the National Trust gardens and parks. Wander around and see over 70 fruit trees in the orchard at Packwood House including apples, pears, plums and quinces. Courgettes, marrows, blackberries and pumpkins are also ready to be picked. The vegetable patch and orchard at Coughton Court is the ideal place to walk around together and get some inspiration for starting your own plot at home. At Upton House the kitchen garden will have a glorious array of pumpkins, nearly ready to be picked.
Wanting somewhere romantic to pop the question, then visit the UKs largest butterfly paradise at the Stratford Butterfly Farm. Walk with your loved one through a tropical paradise with hundreds of stunning butterflies flying around. Butterflies practice a courtship routine before mating to discover the suitability of the potential mate, similar to humans!
Dine at the Mallory Court on 31 October as eight chefs from the Eden Hotel collection will go head to head in a culinary war to claim the title for the Battle of Eden. Diners can enjoy a Black tie Champagne & Canapé reception with an 8-course menu and wines. Each dish will be created by a chef from a different hotel. Food and Beverage Director, Simon Haigh, will introduce and explain each course and guests will be asked to vote for their favourite.
Escape the stresses and strains of life by enjoying some of the finest romantic hotels the country has to offer including – the Menzies Welcombe Hotel, Mallory Court, Ettington Park or Billesley Manor, each with its own unique type of style and romance… enjoy a massage or a spa treatment together or treat each other to A La Carte dining in their critically acclaimed restaurants. Use these as your base to explore the perfect towns and villages nestled throughout Shakespeare’s England.
For more information, visit shakespeares-england.co.uk/romantic-breaks.
