Stratford Manor A Tranquil Retreat

Advantages: Clean, friendly, child friendly, pets allowed, lovely environment
Disadvantages: Can get very busy with slow service and not all staff are very friendly

...Earlier this year we decided that it was time for a much needed break and what better place to spend it than in Shakespeare Countryside, Stratford Upon Avon? Having lived in Coventry which is in the West Midlands I am familiar with Stratford Upon Avon and how beautiful it is. The scenery there is lush and it is definitely Shakespeare Countryside. As well as being a local tourist attraction Stratford Upon Avon is also a quite part of the Country. After purchasing overnight accommodation from Lastminute.com I was set for my journey. There were many short breaks to choose from, but I fancied Stratford Manor the most. Now all I needed to do was ask my parents if they would baby sit. They finally agreed after much persuasion and a few bribes. After all they love their Granddaughter even if she can be a bit of a handful at times. Setting...

Mickie26 16.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Stratford Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon

Butterfly Heaven in Stratford

Advantages: A unique experience
Disadvantages: Slightly expensive

...Visitors to Stratford could be forgiven for thinking that the town should be renamed Shakespeare-upon-Avon. Old Will seems to pop up everywhere. So, how refreshing it is to spend time at this lovely butterfly farm, just a short walk from the town centre. I have visited twice and found it utterly fascinating. In fact, I've never been anywhere else like it. It really feels as if I've stepped into a different world. The butterfly farm is fairly compact but there is plenty to see. This is a place where butterflies fly freely around your head as you wander through the different areas. And let me make it clear I am not talking about the average cabbage white which might take up residence in your garden. These are huge tropical butterflies with amazing shimmery colours. This is a unique opportunity to see such a variety of exotic...

JoannaPiano 11.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of Stratford Upon Avon Butterfly Farm

Stratford Victoria

Advantages: Good positioning, great staff, lovely place to stay.
Disadvantages: No food after 10pm

...As a special treat my husband took me to Stratford for the weekend to watch a play at the Courtyard Theatre, and we were lucky enough to stay at the Stratford Victoria Hotel. This is a four-star hotel with excellent facilities and very polite, friendly and efficient staff. Our double room was extremely comfortable and well stocked with hair-dryer, power points, wifi, flat-screen tv, kettle, fridge and air-conditioning (handy as we were there for the hottest weekend of the year!) The bed was exceptionally comfortable, the bathroom was very nicely decorated and the shower was wonderful - a nice hot power-shower. All areas of the hotel are nicely decorated, the gardens are lovely and the breakfast provided in the restaurant was varied, well-cooked and delicious. The only disappointment is that there was no availability of food...

NickyRowbottom 30.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Stratford Victoria, Stratford-upon-Avon

Is this Stratford I see before me

Advantages: Beautiful scenery, lovely river, teddy bears, history
Disadvantages: Can be quite tiring

...Stratford upon Avon is in the Heart of England, south west of Birmingham and easily reached from the M6 motorway. Now what is it that makes Stratford upon Avon so famous? Wasn’t that where that chap lived who wrote all those plays and poems? What was his name, now? I know - Will Shakespeare! Seriously though William Shakespeare is obviously the most famous tourist attraction here in Stratford. There is more to the town, but I’ll get the Shakespeare stuff out of the way first shall I? His birthplace is a 16th century half timbered house where he was born in 1564. It was originally split into two parts, a workshop and a living area, and was also part of a terrace. The building was restored in 1857 to its appearance as recorded in a drawing dating from 1769. Since 1847 when it came under the stewardship...

SusanLesley 02.07.2001 · Read review
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Review of Stratford-upon-Avon (England)

Dining Out in Stratford-upon-Avonn

Advantages: Lots to see and do. Good restaurants,History. Culture
Disadvantages: Touristy, Gets crowded, Can be pricey

...Everyone knows that Stratford-upon-Avon is a much visitied tourist town on account of the fact that it was the birthplace of the great bard William Shakespeare.It is also replete with fine buildings and is home to the famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The place is also bleessed with a very wide range of eateries including English,French,Italian,Indian,Chinese, Greek and Thai restaurants among others. With such a wide choice you can dine and wine well in Stratford. For classy Indian food the Baltiwallah in Greenhill Street has a good reptation whilst good Italian food is on the menu at Marco Trattoria in Warwick Road. Should you fancy some fiery but tasty Thai foood then the place to head for is Thai Kingdom restaurant also in the warwick road. Other good eateries in town include Fatty Arbuckles in Chapel Street, No 6 in Union Street...

ashford 24.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Stratford-upon-Avon (England)

A Touch of Olde World Charm

Advantages: A lovely quaint cottage
Disadvantages: You need to pick your times to visit,

...Alcester Road, where you would turn left to get to it, or you could go right off Evesham Place and the B439 Evesham Road. Address for you Sat Nav is Ann Hathaway?s Cottage Cottage Lane Shottery Stratford upon Avon CV37 9HH ~~Opening times for 2009~~ November to March ? it is open 1000hrs to 1600hrs daily. April to May and Sept to October it is open between 0930hrs and 1700hrs ? with Sunday being 1000hrs to 1700hrs June to August ? Monday to Saturday is 0900hrs to 1700hrs and Sunday is 0930hrs to 1700hrs Closed for a week in December between 23rd and 26th inclusive. ~~Prices for 2009~~ Adult - £6.50 Children (ages 5-16yrs) - £3.50 Family Ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) - £16.00 Concession -£5.50 A multi ticket for all five houses is Adult - £17.00 Children - £10.00 Family - £44.50 Concession...

arnoldhenryrufus 16.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ann Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford Upon Avon

A Room with a Loo

Advantages: Close to the town, good cooked breakfast, all ensuite, comforable beds and ample tea/coffee
Disadvantages: noise levels at times at the front of the hotel only.

...~~Emsley Guest House~~ After deciding not to go away with the caravan, we made up our minds to have at least two nights away somewhere. So we chose to visit Stratford upon Avon, I searched the internet and looked at some hotels, but they were a little more than we wished to spend for this outing, so we opted to for a more reasonably priced alternative and started looking at Guest Houses and B & B establishments. I tried late deals but nothing appealed and to me it didn?t seem that much cheaper; I then came across Emsley Guest House and thought it looked lovely on the photos; I also liked the fact it had its own website and a phone number supplied so I could ask questions as I do have some needs that will have to be considered when it comes to my mobility. I rang up the hotel to find that they were fully booked...

arnoldhenryrufus 02.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Emsley Guest House, Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford Theme Park!

Advantages: Some interesting things for Shakespeare fans
Disadvantages: It's not real England!

...I've TRIED to like Stratford. I've sat by the River Avon on a nice sunny day eating a picnic. I've been on a boat trip down the river, visited Shakespeare's birthplace, viewed all the Tudor buildings, infact done all the touristy things that you are supposed to do. But I don't like it! But maybe that's the reason...there'a a whole host of tourist attractions , but you never get the feeling you are visiting a living, breathing town. It's all so artificial, like a giant theme park.. Yet 20 minutes away in the Cotswolds there are proper, living villages which I find far more attractive Go to Stratford when it's sunny, and the town is gridlocked. Go when it's raining and there's not that much to do. Cafe's, restaurants and shops all overcharge. I'm sorry, I think Stratford is an example of over-commercialism....

geebee 09.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Stratford-upon-Avon (England)

To sleep... perchance to dream...

Advantages: Location, quality, food
Disadvantages: Price

...The first thing to say about the Shakespeare is that it's no longer a MacDonald - the hotel has been sold to the Mercure group, part of Accor. Although I couldn't give a toss about the brand on the letterhead, I overheard several guests commenting on the fact it was no longer a MacDonald hotel, so I guess it's important to some people. If you're one of them, be advised. Stratford-upon-Avon. One of my favourite places in the world. I've hung out with actors, been to the theatre more times than I can remember, messed about on the river and explored quite a few of the many bars and restaurants. One thing I haven't done often, though, is stay over. So when I booked tickets to both parts of Henry IV last month, I decided I'd do things properly. The Shakespeare Hotel is exactly what you'd expect of a hotel in Stratford. It's old...

Olly_Plimsoll 01.10.2007 (04.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of Macdonald Shakespeare Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon

A great conference venue but not ideal as a hotel

Advantages: Good rooms, well organised conference facilities
Disadvantages: If you aren't there for a conference, you could feel very 'left out'.

...I'm a member of an industry association that holds a two day meeting every year in spring and we move the venue around between different hotels, typically in the Midlands. Last year we were in Rugby at the Dunchurch Park which had excellent conference rooms but dreadful accommodation. This year, the organisers found a new place for us to use - Ettington Chase near Stratford upon Avon. I travelled down from the North West on the day of the conference and my sat nav had no problems finding the hotel. When I pulled off the road into the car park I found a very beautiful old building that looked like a Victorian vicarage but was completely swamped by the size of the new wing. As so often happens, the website shows lots of pictures of the old building and not so many of the rather characterless red-brick block that provides most...

koshkha 25.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ettington Chase Hotel and Conference Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon