Christmas in Shakespeare Country

Posted by Mike Gerrard Oct 8, 2006

Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon is on every UK visitor's must-see list of England attractions, but the area around makes it worth much more than a quick day-trip. South Warwickshire also encompasses historic Warwick and Kenilworth, with their wonderful castles, and Royal Leamington Spa, one of England's lovely spa towns.

Shakespeare Country is worth visiting any time of year, but with traditional English winter celebrations and entertainment, consider a visit anytime from November through to the New Year. Royal Leamington Spa is the first to switch on its Christmas lights, on November 19th, when there will also be a funfair and street entertainment. Stratford follows on November 23, with Kenilworth switching its lights on the next day, and finally Warwick making everywhere all-lit-up with its Victorian Christmas lights on November 30.

There's more than just Christmas lights to add to the fun of a visit, though. There's late-night Christmas shopping too, and special craft fairs giving the chance to buy some unique local gifts for the family and friends back home. There are continental markets too, ice-rinks and of course visits from Santa himself.

Shakespeare's Stratford has to pull out all the stops, and it does so with a special production of Merry Wives The Musical, which stars Dame Judi Dench and runs from 2 December 2006 to 10 February 2007. It's part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's year-long Complete Works Festival, during which all of the Bard's works are being performed. Also playing in December will be Pericles and, of course, The Winter's Tale.

Stratford's other Shakespearean attractions are also adding to the winter cheer. The Shakespeare Houses will have festive refreshments and seasonal music, and the Shakespearience has a pantomime performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. Warwick Castle is making it a medieval Christmas, with a chance to see what Christmas was like in years gone by, and its Christmas Tree in the Great Hall will be decorated with 2000 lights. There's also an open-air ice rink, and a 60-yard long 3-lane ice slide, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. Kenilworth Castle has a reindeer trail, and a carol concert on 16 December. So you only have one thing to decide: to be or not to be in Shakespeare Country this winter.

For more information visit the Shakespeare Country website

And don't forget the Stratford Butterfly Farm! Read my recent blog here.