"Shopping-for-tourists...." a Stratford-upon-Avon Travel Page by leics

I've lived 40 minutes drive from Stratford for 20+ years, and only ever passed through it briefly: there's nothing there which has drawn me. We know Stratford is always full of visitors and tour groups, its shops largely aimed at that market, its history somewhat liimited (sorry, but 'tis true) and, in truth, there are more interesting places for me to visit.

But an afternoon's boredom led me to go for a proper visit, trying to look through a tourists' eyes and thus create a VT page or two.

I tried to do as I would when exploring abroad: no tour guide, no guidebook or streetmap (actually, I usually do have both of those) and a general wandering-wherever state of mind to take me around. I got so into the role that at times I actually looked the wrong way whilst crossing the street!

So, impressions:

lots of visitors, yes, but fewer than I expected (dollar exchange rate?)...

lots and lots of 'twee' shops for brands, teddies, 'olde Englishe' stuff...

over-priced charity (thrift) shops, presumably largely aimed at the visitor market.....

lots of places to eat and drink but hardly any with tables outside: a local by-law, perhaps?

a pretty place, with hanging baskets and floral displays: a town which knows it must cater for those who bring in such a massive chunk of its income.......

more 'Tudor' black-and-white buildings than I was expecting to see. Presumably many have been saved because of heir (often extremely tenuous) links with Shakespeare (whever he actually was)...

nice to see some of the black-and-white buildings now restored to their correct colours (cream and natural wood): black-and-white is a Victorian invention....

some fascinating bits in the two churches I visited which will, I suspect, be entirely missed by the vast majority of visitors (see travelogues and tips).

So .....not quite the afternoon I was expecting, really. I shan't go back in a hurry, unless to show a visitor around, but I'm glad I made the effort to visit.

A summary:

1. Go to Stratford if you really have a burning desire to see the birthplace of the man who is supposed to have written Shakespeare's plays. If you aren't bothered about that it's certainly not what I would call a 'must-see' place.

2. Don't expect to be stunned by anything.

3. Do expect to be mildly interested.

4. Do expect the place to be aimed at catering for what it thinks you (and others like you) want when you visit.

5. Do expect to see other tour groups........if the guide is speaking your language you can subtly tag along for a bit!

6. Do expect prices for everything to reflect the tourist trade: drinks, food, parking, souvenirs. Don't waste time searching for bargains.

7. Don't miss visiting inside the Guild Chapel and Holy Trinity Church, and look carefully whilst you're there.