Harlaxton Day 17: Stratford-Upon-Avon

To kick off our third and final week abroad, we visited Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon. We departed at 8 a.m. and rode for an hour and a half until we arrived at Warwick Castle. Warwick Castle is a medieval castle that was constructed in 1068 which has now been transformed into an astonishing attraction. After we entered, our group took on the challenge of the corn maze. After reaching all of the checkpoints, we swiftly discovered the exit and completed the maze. We then proceeded to trek to the top of the fortress where we were greeted with an amazing view overlooking the grounds of the castle. It was here that we watched as the large trebuchet launched a rock across the open field. Afterward, we partook in an excursion to explore the conservatory and castle. We gandered at the medieval architecture, pleasing flowers, and elegant peacocks.

After lunch, we were on our way to Stratford-upon-Avon where we stopped at Anne Hathaway’s cottage. We were able to explore the residence where the Hathaway family lived for 13 generations. It was a very unique home because it contained 12 rooms – an extraordinary amount for that time. Next, we voyaged to the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon, the Holy Trinity Church. This place is the home of Shakespeare’s final resting place. After viewing his burial site, we were informed that grave robbers are believed to have stolen his head from the grave! We then traveled to Shakespeare’s birthplace. We explored his home and marveled at the exact bed where he was born. After exiting, we stopped to witness street performers bring Shakespeare’s writing to life. They reenacted scenes from Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet and recited numerous sonnets. We were then granted free time to eat dinner and explore Stratford-upon-Avon. After visiting a local diner and café, we returned to the coach. As the evening concluded, we arrived back at Harlaxton Manor where students began to study for our quiz tomorrow. We then crawled into bed after another adventurous day of exploration in England.

Devin