Retire to Stratford-Upon-Avon
RETIREMENT LIVING IN STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
Shakespeare’s hometown is rightfully renowned as the birthplace of The Bard, but there’s much more to this charming Tudor market town.
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, is, of course, synonymous with William Shakespeare, but while the writer has left a considerable mark upon the town, you’ll find plenty of other attractions on offer too. This Elizabethan market town is close gorgeous rolling countryside and the beautiful river Avon run through it, as does the historic Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, making it an ideal spot for river cruises, tours and outdoor pursuits.
McCarthy Stone developments near Stratford-Upon-Avon
SURROUNDING AREAS
Famed for the beauty of its rural landscapes and traditional clotted-cream coloured ‘chocolate box’ towns and villages, the edge of The Cotswolds is accessible in around half an hour from Stratford-upon-Avon. From river walks in the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, beautiful Bourton-on-the-Water, to antique shopping in Stow-on-the Wold, or fine dining in Cheltenham, there are plenty of options to explore.
For something completely different visit the UK’s second city, Birmingham, a cultural hub with its historic Jewellery Quarter and iconic Bullring and Grand Central shopping centre, the ‘city of a thousand trades’ offers shopping, nightlife, theatre, museums, history and more.
TRANSPORT AND CONNECTIONS
Unsurprisingly, as a tourist hotpot, Stratford-upon-Avon is extremely well connected. By road it is linked to the rest of the country by the M40 and, if you drive, you can reach London in an hour and 45 minutes or Birmingham in around 40 minutes. Buses and trains are also frequent. A train to London Paddington takes under three hours, and Birmingham just 50 minutes from Statford-Upon-Avon station. The town also has easy access to The Cotswolds, Coventry, Leamington Spa and Oxford, making it an ideal base to explore a variety of World-class attractions in retirement. Birmingham airport is the best bet for international air travel.
COMMUNITY
Despite the influx of tourists, Stratford-upon-Avon has a strong and proud community spirit and plenty for locals to enjoy. There’s a wide range of amenities, eateries and shopping facilities to suit all tastes and festivals including the traditional annual Mop fair in October.
Old Slaughterhouse Arts Centre offers a much loved community art gallery with a small café and space for events. Sports fans will find a home at Stratford Sports Club. Stratford Leisure Centreoffers a swimming pool, gym and classes and Stratford on Avon Golf Club provides a historic and picturesque place to tee off.
SIGHTS
A stroll through the centre takes you past a number of quaint and impressively well-preserved 16th century Tudor houses, and you can find out about Shakespeare’s life and work throughout this lovely town, from Shakespeare's birthplace to his wife Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Gardens. You can also visit Shakespeare’s grave at the beautiful Holy Trinity Church, and the world famous Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre puts on glorious productions all year around.
But there are an eclectic range of interesting non Shakespearean attractions in and around the town too, including the unique MAD museum - the only Mechanical Art and Design Museum in the UK, where you can experience and interact with mind-boggling machines. At the other end of the scale, there’s the tranquil Butterfly Farm – a tropical paradise filled with stunning butterflies and other fascinating mini-beasts.
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Stratford-upon-Avon is, perhaps confusingly, found in the Stratford on Avon district of Warwickshire in the West Midlands, and as the name suggests it is set on the banks of the River Avon in the heart of England in the UK. It is ideally situated being close to both unrivalled countryside, including The Cotswolds, and vibrant cities like Coventry and Birmingham.
Most people travel to Stratford-upon-Avon to pay homage to Shakespeare. It is home to both his birthplace and his grave, at Holy Trinity Church, and there are a myriad of amazing attractions dedicated to the life of this brilliant playwright and poet, including Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Gardens. It’s also worth visiting the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Theatre to see one of his famous plays brought to life.
There are lots of variables that make this a difficult question to answer, but one simple tip is to multiply the amount you’d like to live on every year (say £24,000) by 25 (in this case the answer is £600,000). That is the amount you’d need to save. However this figure doesn’t consider things like your annual state pension, benefits, tax, or the equity you might hold in your home.
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