"Stay the night" Stratford by akikonomu

Most people pop by Stratford as a day trip and leave before night falls. We stayed two nights here and once the crowd cleared out after the museums close, it is a wonderful, quiet place that appears to belong to no one.

There are sufficient sights to occupy you for one day but take a walk around the residential area and get lost. We came across a enclosure with horses and met up with friendly locals that led us out of the quiet precinct.

We visited the Shakespearean sights like his birth house and Anne Hathaways house. Interesting albeit touristy - we didn't enter every sight since we were quite happy to trundle around the streets and get an external view.

Really, the best part of travelling is to visit the residential areas where quirky sights may greet you. For me, it is also one of the best ways to relax - travelling should be an enjoyable experience, not one of rushing around visiting all the "Must-see" sights.

• Pros:Residential areas may be more interesting