Shakespeare Fans: 6 Unmissable Things To Do in England

We take you to the unmissable places around England that shaped the world-renowned poet, playwright, and actor. A not-to-be-missed list for every Shakespeare fan.

1. Shakespeare’s Birthplace

The restored 16th-century half-timbered house situated on Henley Street, is believed to be the birthplace of William Shakespeare and is now a museum.

Pay a visit to the restored Tudor mansion in Stratford-upon-Avon where the Bard of Avon was born, and lived until after he was married.

A hands-on insight into Shakespeare’s early life, this landmark building is also a shrine to his career.

Be sure to check out the ‘Friends and Family’ display, which focuses on his nearest and dearest and the relationships he shared with friends, neighbours, drinking companions and colleagues.

Address: The Shakespeare Centre, Henley St, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6QW

2. Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall

Shakespeare's home town — The gorgeous wooden buildings on Church street in Shakespeare’s home town.

Going back to where it all began, Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall in Stratford-upon-Avon underwent a £1.8 million restoration project in 2016 and has been opened to the public since.

This is the school that Shakespeare attended as a boy from about 1571 to 1578, the place where he would have first experienced theatre, which now features a recreated classroom from his academic years.

Built between 1418 –1420, the Guildhall has been described by historian Michael Wood as ‘one of Britain’s most atmospheric buildings’.

Address: Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6HB

3. Shakespeare Walking Tours

Shakespeare's grave — William Shakespeare is buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Take your time exploring Shakespeare’s hometown in Stratford-upon-Avon by taking your own self-guided tour. GPSmyCity is a downloadable app that turns your mobile or tablet into a personal tour guide. You will be able to follow the built-in GPS navigation to guide you along the tour to the most popular Shakespeare attractions. The Stratford-Upon-Avon Shakespeare Tour takes in seven attractions over a distance of 1.1 km and lasts for about one hour (but of course you can take as little or as much time as you like). The app also works offline, so you don’t need to worry about data while travelling abroad.

Download the app: GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities from iTunes App Store or Google Play

4. New Place

Visit the New Place in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s home for the last 19 years of his life, which has become a significant heritage landmark.

Shakespeare wrote 26 of his best-loved plays as owner of New Place, which made it all the more devastating when the building was demolished in 1759 by the then owner, who was ticked off by visiting Shakespeare enthusiasts.

The re-imagined New Place will showcase how Shakespeare lived at the height of his career, as a family man, a homeowner and a successful entrepreneur.

Address: Shakespeare’s New Place, 22 Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6EP

5. Shakespeare’s Globe

No fan’s visit is complete without a visit to Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, overlooking the River Thames in London’s South Bank.

The Globe Theatre London — A sympathetic and accurate reconstruction of Shakespeare’s theatre.

Housing a modern reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan playhouse, the Globe Theatre, here you can see one of the classics performed like theatre-goers did in Shakespeare’s day, standing in the rowdy ‘yard’ in front of the stage.

You can also tour backstage or visit the popular exhibition about Shakespeare’s life and how it intertwined with London.

Address: Shakespeare’s Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT

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6. Bard-style biking

Anne Hathaway's cottage — You can visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Cycling-tour expert The Carter Company, offers a ten-night Shakespeare’s Way tour, following a route that the great playwright regularly took himself.

Beginning at Shakespeare’s Globe, where most of his plays were first performed, the itinerary meanders along the River Thames, pedalling through beautiful English countryside of the Cotswolds, passing Hampton Court, Windsor, Oxford (where Shakespeare often rested on this journeys between London and his hometown), Blenheim Palace to Stratford-upon-Avon in the Midlands.

Covering a leisurely 17 – 35 kilometres a day, it’s a gentle ride and it includes accommodation at country hotels and quaint inns along the way.

More information: Starts Fridays from London and finishes Stratford on Avon.

Are you planning a trip to London? Here is our guide to everything you need to know about London before you go.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Shakespeare fans: 6 unmissable things to do in England