SHAKESPEARE’S home town is among the top 20 experiences in the UK according to influential travel guide The Lonely Planet.
Stratford swanned in at number 15, slotted between Borough Market in London and the Scilly Isles.
The travel guide recently published its ‘Ultimate United Kingdom Travel List’ which comprises and ranks 500 experiences from the Tate Modern to Hull’s pier toilets.
Stratford’s entry reads: “The proud and pleasant home of the greatest-ever writer in the English language, this Warwickshire market town cashes in on the drama.
“The Royal Shakespeare Company operates three theatres – the Royal Shakespeare, the Swan and the Other Place – where acclaimed plays from the prince of playwrights and his contemporaries are performed.”
Bagging top spot was Edinburgh’s iconic Fringe Festival which boasts the world’s largest platform for arts and entertainment.
At number two was London’s British Museum, followed by the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
Other entries included Hadrian’s Wall, Windermere in Cumbria, and the heart of London’s cultural scene the South Bank.
But it was not just landmarks and cultural hubs which appeared on the list – with the traditional Sunday pub roast wafting in at number six.
CEO of tourist body Shakespeare’s England Helen Peters was delighted with the recognition.
She said: “Stratford-upon-Avon continues to be an attractive tourist destination for both the domestic and international markets, so we were delighted that this was recognised in the top 20 out of over 500 other destinations, which is a real achievement.
“This recognition shows how hard the attractions, hotels and restaurants in the town work to continue bringing tourists to the area and following a busy summer period it’s clear that Stratford continues to be an attractive destination for visitors.
“The physical attractions of a destination are important, but the experience a traveller has in terms of welcome and customer service is also key and clearly Stratford and its businesses do that extremely well.”
