Trips To Stratford Upon Avon

With the recent adjustments to the English curriculum, taking your GCSE and A Level students to see a Shakespeare performance can massively benefit their study of the chosen texts, Stratford-Upon-Avon, birthplace of Shakespeare, is steeped in culture and history. An ideal compact, location with all key visits within close walking distance, it’s easy to fit so much in to a short space of time.

Itinerary

Tour Day 1

Morning
Morning departure for arrival in Stratford around mid-day
Afternoon
Shakespeare Theatre workshop
Evening
Watch a Royal Shakespeare Company performance

Tour Day 2

Morning
Take a backstage tour at the RSC followed by a walking tour of Shakespeare’s Houses
Afternoon
Depart Stratford for your return journey

Curricular Links

A WST tour to Stratford-Upon-Avon can support the study of elements of the following exam board specifications:

AQA

 

GCSE

English Literature

Paper 2: section A

 

AS and A Level

AS and A-level English Literature A

Paper 1: Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry

 

AS and A-level English Literature B

Paper 1: Literary genres: drama

 

A-level English Language and Literature

3.2.4 Dramatic encounters

 

Edexcel

 

GCSE

English Literature

Component 1: Shakespeare and Post-1914 Literature

 

IGCSE

Component 1: Poetry and Modern Prose

Component 2 & 3: Modern Drama and Literary Heritage Texts

 

A Level

Component 1: Drama

 

OCR

 

GCSE

Exploring poetry and Shakespeare

 

AS and A Level

English Language & Literature

Section B – Plays: dramatic and

stylistic analysis

 

English Literature

Component 1 Drama and poetry pre-1900

 

 

WJEC

 

GCSE

Component 1 Shakespeare and poetry

 

AS and A Level

English Language & Literature

Component 1: Comparative analysis & creative writing

 

English Literature

Component 1: Poetry

Component 2: Drama

 

 

 

 

Study Visits

RSC 2023 Season

Hamnet:  1 April - 17 June

Cymbeline: 22 April - 27 May 

Macbeth: From March - dates TBC

As You Like It: From March - dates TBC

Shakespeare Theatre Workshops

These workshops are run by Stratford YHA so the benefit is that you can have your workshop where you are staying. Professionals run the workshops based around key Shakespeare themes and can focus on a particular play you’re studying.  This is a great introduction to Shakespeare. 

RSC Workshop

The RSC provides workshops which explore the creative choices behind the current RSC Shakespeare productions or any Shakespeare play of your choice. 

Behind The Scenes Theatre Tour

Take a tour of the public and private spaces of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and learn about the origins of the RSC and the theatre making process.  

Shakespeare’s Houses

Your students can visit key locations in Stratford that formed of Shakespeare’s life. There are 3 central houses:

  • Shakespeare’s birthplace – A perfect introduction to William Shakespeare’s work, life and times.
  • Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Gardens – The childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife.
  • New Place – The site of Shakespeare’s final home in Stratford on Avon. 

If you have more time you can also visit Mary Arden’s Farm, where his mother grew up and Hall’s Croft, the home of Shakespeare’s sister.

Guided Walking Tour Of Stratford

Take a guided walk around the historic streets of Stratford upon Avon.  Explore Stratford, its history, attractions and fascinating relationship with William Shakespeare. 

Falstaffs Experience

This museum offers your students the chance to find out more about how the Tudors lived. 

Warwick Castle

Located approx. 30 minutes drive from Stratford Warwick Castle offers is a great experience allowing your students to find out more about great battles, ancient myths, heroic knights and pampered princesses.   

Cultural Visits

Carpe Diem Workshops

These workshops are run by Stratford YHA so the benefit is that you can have your workshop where you are staying. Professionals run the workshops based around key Shakespeare themes and can focus on a particular play you’re studying.  This is a great introduction to Shakespeare.

RSC Workshop

The RSC provides workshops which explore the creative choices behind the current RSC Shakespeare productions or any Shakespeare play of your choice. 

Behind The Scenes Theatre Tour

Take a tour of the public and private spaces of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and learn about the origins of the RSC and the theatre making process. 

Shakespeare’s Houses

Your students can visit key locations in Stratford that formed of Shakespeare’s life. There are 3 central houses:

  • Shakespeare’s birthplace – A perfect introduction to William Shakespeare’s work, life and times.
  • Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Gardens – The childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife.
  • Nash’s House and New Place – The site of Shakespeare’s final home in Stratford on Avon. 

If you have more time you can also visit Mary Arden’s Farm, where his mother grew up and Hall’s Croft, the home of Shakespeare’s sister.

Guided Walking Tour Of Stratford

Take a guided walk around the historic streets of Stratford upon Avon.  Explore Stratford, its history, attractions and fascinating relationship with William Shakespeare. 

Falstaffs Experience

This museum offers your students the chance to find out more about how the Tudors lived. 

Warwick Castle

Located approx. 30 minutes drive from Stratford Warwick Castle offers is a great experience allowing your students to find out more about great battles, ancient myths, heroic knights and pampered princesses.   

The MAD Museum

Based in the centre of Stratford upon Avon, the museum (MAD stands for Mechanical Art and Design) displays interactive pieces of mechanical art, in particular; kinetic art and automata - think of the machines and gizmos used in Wallace and Gromit, Scrapheap Challenge and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Nearly everything is interactive which means kids can really get stuck in. They’re encouraged to press buttons and release their inner inventor. 

Like the guy in the A Team said: I love it when a plan comes together! Thanks for your unpressured approach. Here's to next year!
Blackpool Sixth Form College