August bank holiday fun in Shakespeare’s England!
Spend the bank holiday from 25 – 28 August in Shakespeare’s England with a host of special activities and events. Attend a family festival, go on a trivia trail quiz or an evening ghost walk, take a picnic with your dog at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage or enjoy a pub meal with live music. There is plenty to keep the whole family entertained whatever the weather!
Step inside the Big Top and into a fairy-tale world where ancient stories come alive with music, dance and acrobatics at Kenilworth Castle on 25 August. Suitable for ages 6+. Over the Bank Holiday witness an action contest as Knights battle it out for victory armed only with clubs and shields, strength and skill. In this adrenalin-fuelled combat only one team will triumph. Soak up the atmosphere in the medieval encampment as musicians play, while budding knights can test their skills in battle drills.
‘Camper Calling’ returns to Ragley Hall in Warwickshire from 25 – 27 August. This year the Family Festival is headlined by Cast, Reef and The Lightning Seeds. Listen to amazing music, enjoy family entertainment, adventure playgrounds, activities including craft workshops, lake activities and tasty food & drink.
Learn more about Anne’s role at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage from 26 – 28 August before she was swept off her feet by William. Discover how she would have managed the farm and how she helped her father with bookkeeping. Celebrate National Dog Day in the gardens on 26 August. Bring your dog, a picnic and join in the fun with plenty of activities for your furry friends. Bring your dog and enjoy 20% off admission.
Help design a South Asian-inspired performance space based on The Tempest in the gardens of Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Working in collaboration with artists from the Sonia Sabri Company, visitors are invited to create Rangoli-designed waves across the garden using a range of colourful materials, setting the scene for a special performance of The Tempest by the in-house actors on 26 August at 10am, 12pm and 2pm.
Join in one of Trivia Trails 90 minute quiz trails for a mix of historical, observational and fun questions in Stratford-upon-Avon on 26 August (2pm) and 28 August (12noon) and in Warwick on 27 August (2pm). Adults cost £10; Child aged 9-16: £3, Child aged 0-8 is free.
Visit Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall to see an exhibition that features SuperBard, Quilliam Shakespeare and Atmos-peare. These are just some of the artistic creations by students of King Edward VI School of William Shakespeare which features in the Shakespeare Busts exhibition which runs until 3 September. The results really shake up Shakespeare with the students daring colours, interpretations and reference points.
Go on an evening Ghost Walk on 26 August from 7:30pm – 9pm around the ‘haunted’ streets of Stratford with Stratford Town Walk. Discover the ancient buildings, seeping with tales of ghosts, witches, murder and mayhem. The guides are professional entertainers or actors and deliver the ghost walk in their own unique style. Booking is necessary.
Visit the Lord Leycester Hospital in Warwick on 28 August for its Garden open day. The gem of this 500 year old garden is open from 10am – 5pm. Residents of Warwick are admitted free of charge. Normal cost for garden entry is £2. Enjoy cream teas served on the lawn (extra charge).
Over the weekend, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s outdoor theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, ‘The Dell’, will play host to a range of student, community and semi-professional productions. Performances continue until 27 August. The Dell is situated on the banks of the River Avon in Avonbank Gardens. Entrance is free.
War is coming to Warwick Castle until 3 September with a horseback jousting spectacle. Families must pledge allegiance to either the House of York or the House of Lancaster and join a 2,000-strong cheering crowd in the jousting arena as the pummeling of horses’ hooves and the splintering of lances reverberates throughout Wars of the Roses LIVE. The spectacle is included in castle admission at no extra cost
Visit The Howard Arms in Ilmington on 27 August for live music with the talented Matt Bates from 3:30pm – 5:30pm. Visit the pubs Pimms and Fizz Bar at the Ilmington Village and Horticultural Show on the Bank Holiday Monday with plenty to entertain the children and judging of home-made drinks!
Head over to The Bell at Alderminster on 27 August to listen to the amazing Corrine Lucy who will play from 5pm – 7.30pm.
Extend your stay and book into The Arden Hotel or sister hotel, Arden House both in Stratford-upon-Avon. Prices at The Arden Hotel start from £149 B&B and Arden House from £129 B&B. Another option in Stratford is to stay at Hallmark Hotels The Welcombe from £127 B&B. Alternatively stay at The Chesford Grange near Kenilworth with prices from £80 B&B.
For more suggestions and information on accommodation please visit
http://shakespeares-england.co.uk/
James Davis:
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