Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon

Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon (must see)

Anne Hathaway's Cottage is a farmhouse with twelve rooms situated in the village of Shottery, Warwickshire. It was the childhood home of Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare, located approximately 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) west of Stratford-upon-Avon. The property boasts spacious interiors and multiple bedrooms, now surrounded by expansive gardens.

Constructed before the 15th century, the oldest section of the house contrasts with the 17th-century additions. Originally known as Hewlands Farm during Shakespeare's time, the property encompassed over 90 acres (36 hectares) of land, making the term "cottage" somewhat of a misnomer due to its considerable size. Like many homes from that era, it features numerous chimneys to evenly distribute heat throughout the premises in winter, with the largest chimney designated for cooking. The visible timber framing reflects the traditional Tudor architectural style prevalent in vernacular constructions of the period.

Following Hathaway's father's passing, ownership of the cottage transferred to her brother Bartholomew, remaining in the Hathaway family until financial difficulties compelled its sale in 1846. Despite this, the family continued to reside there as tenants until the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust acquired the property in 1892. The Trust undertook the removal of subsequent modifications and extensions. In 1969, a fire severely damaged the cottage, prompting its restoration by the Trust. Today, it operates as a museum open to the public.

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Anne Hathaway's Cottage on Map

Sight Name: Anne Hathaway's Cottage
Sight Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, England (See walking tours in Stratford-upon-Avon)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Stratford-upon-Avon, England

Create Your Own Walk in Stratford-upon-Avon

Create Your Own Walk in Stratford-upon-Avon

Creating your own self-guided walk in Stratford-upon-Avon is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Stratford-upon-Avon Introduction Walking Tour

Stratford-upon-Avon Introduction Walking Tour

"Strat" is an Old English term derived from the Latin "Stratum", the word for street. A "ford" is a section of a stream where a crossing may be made. "Avon" is Celtic for river. Put them all together with links like a sausage and you have Stratford-upon-Avon. The ford actually exists. It is now marked by Clopton Bridge.

Primal Stratford was established by...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Historical Tudor Houses Walking Tour

Historical Tudor Houses Walking Tour

The first thing that strikes one walking across the medieval center of Stratford-Upon-Avon is the abundance of timber-framed Tudor houses. Their most notable feature, often combined with an overhanging upper story, is an exposed wooden framework; the rest is typically filled with brick, plaster or wattle-and-daub.

Many of these buildings have been kept in their original state, notably the...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
William Shakespeare Walking Tour

William Shakespeare Walking Tour

The picturesque town of Stratford-upon-Avon is steeped in the history of William Shakespeare. Indeed, Shakespeare's hometown is where he was born and also where he passed away on the same day (23 April) 52 years later.

Many period locations in town, related to his and his family's life, are preserved as Britain's national heritage and visited by millions of people every year in a...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles