To Be, Or Not To Be Traveling To Shakespeare's Stratford-Upon-Avon?

You literature lovers out there will want to add Stratford-upon-Avon to your geek-out England vacay itinerary, if you haven't already. About 95 miles northwest of London, the slice of merry olde England is most well known for being Shakespeare's hometown. Tourists crowd the streets here to be closer to the Bard, but the place still retains its charm with brick pedestrian-only roads lined with little shops and tearooms, and there's the lovely river where everyone hangs.

Arguable the first spots to hit are the five buildings cared for by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, all places with major Shakespearean ties. The main draw is the Bard's birthplace, where he also spent the first five years with his lady love Anne Hathaway (not that Anne Hathaway). His home gives you a good glimpse into 16th-century life and you also can wander through the gardens outside.

Charles Dickens, John Keats, Walter Scott and Thomas Hardy are among the famous scribes who have also dropped by to check out where little Will grew up. If you are writing your dissertation on the Bard, or just can't get enough of those epic tragedies, you may want to stop next door at the Shakespeare Centre Library & Archive, or across the street at the Shakespeare Bookshop (39 Henley St.).

Romeo and Juliet romantics will also want to visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage, where the playwright supposedly wooed his wife-to-be. And of course, to complete the circle, you'll have to go to Nash's House and New Place, where Shakespeare died. Although New Place was later destroyed, the location is now preserved as a garden.

No trip to this town would be complete without a cuppa tea. Take a break at Bensons for a spot of coconut tea and scones with fresh clotted cream and strawberry preserves that are worth every calorie. If you like the drink, visit the nearby Bensons House of Tea, where you can pick up some loose-leaf tea as a souvenir.

Another must is a stroll down the River Avon. The banks of the river are filled with families, couples holding hands, and a boat or two floating by. Naturally, you'll have to end your trip with a play at the Royal Shakespeare Company. When we went earlier this summer, the theater was undergoing renovations, but it didn't detract from a funny performance of As You Like It. Bonus: the actors' accents were real. The Bard would definitely have approved.

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