Day 4 - Stratford-Upon-Avon, Master Shakespeare's Birthplace

~Stratford~

The weather today was slightly warmer compared to the previous day. For the first time, we went straight for breakfast without our luggage as we were staying at the Stratford Travelodge for two nights. Breakfast at the Travelodge cafe was a simple buffet-style breakfast of toast, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon and baked beans. There were also cereal and yoghurt.

After breakfast, we got onto the coach and headed straight for the birthplace of the world-renowned William Shakespeare. Before we visited his home, we attended a short lecture by Dr. Nick Walton to “brush up on our Shakespeare”. We learnt a couple of new information about the Bard, for example, that he wrote 37 plays and his birthday, which was also the day he died, is a huge honorary celebration in Stratford every year. It is marked most significantly with a grand parade down the town’s main street.

Our initial plan was to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace after the lecture, but as we did not want to “squeeze” with the big group of French students who were about to enter, we were thus given some time to wander around Henly Street first. We did some shopping, many of us enthralled by the various unique and interesting Shakespeare souvenirs. After a delicious lunch of Cornish Pasty, we visited Shakespeare’s home (also a museum), where we were greeted with actors dressed in costumes of that era and treated to a short skit of Henry V in Shakespeare’s own garden. Most of us took in huge breaths in Shakespeare's Birth Room, in hope for great results for Literature!

Filled with new knowledge on the inspirational Shakespeare, we then travelled down to Warwick Castle. There, we conquered the daunting 500-steps leading to the look-out tower. Even Vanessa, who was afraid of heights, went up! After taking in the views from the tower, we visited the Castle’s lavish rooms and even saw fossils on the floor, which the guides claimed were the oldest thing in Warwick Castle. We also watched a show on falconry.

Later, we headed to the Courtyard Theatre after dinner and watched the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Romeo and Juliet, our first play in England! The set was amazing, and their use of fire and lighting was wonderful. Some of us did not really like the portrayal of certain characters (Angela, our guide, too insists that Juliet was meant to be beautiful but…) Most of us were really tired though, after a long day of activities.


Reporters of Day 4 of UK Trip:

Vanessa Mok, Ng Yiling and Cheryl Lim