Shakespeare's Birthplace

Museum Stratford upon Avon, England, United Kingdom

What to expect

Shakespeare's Birthplace is a restored 16th-century half-timbered house where William Shakespeare was born and spent his childhood years. The house is relatively simple but was considered substantial for the late 16th century. It features a parlour, hall, cross passage, and rooms that were used by John Shakespeare, William's father, for his glove-making and wool-dealing business. The house also includes a separate single-bay house, now known as Joan Hart's Cottage, which was later built onto the north-west end of the house. Visitors can explore the house and get up close to objects from the Trust's world-class collections to discover how Shakespeare's family life and childhood home influenced his work. The house is a great place to visit with family and learn about the life of the world's greatest storyteller

Plan your family visit to the Shakespeare's Birthplace with these blog insights 👇

Stratford-upon-Avon with Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We wandered into each room and met costumed guides who explained what his day-to-day life was like

Highlights: We still laugh when we think back to being told that to own a pair of gloves in Shakespeare’s time was like having the latest iPhone! ✨

A weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon in the footsteps of Shakespeare

This family's experience:

Activities: We started our trip by visiting Shakespeare's birthplace, a historic house where the famous playwright was born in 1564. The house is well-preserved and contains furniture from the era. We learned about Shakespeare's childhood and saw his presumed cradle. Guides provided insightful anecdotes

Highlights: The children loved seeing the house where Shakespeare was born and learning about his early life. They especially enjoyed trying on gloves, as Shakespeare's father was a glover ✨