Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, this cute little market town in Warwickshire, England. It's about 100 miles northwest of London, sitting right on the River Avon.
The Actual House
Shakespeare's birthplace is still standing! It's this old half-timbered house on Henley Street that's been turned into a museum. Hundreds of thousands of people visit every year to see where the legend was born and grew up.
The house was built in the early 1500s, and Shakespeare's dad John bought it in two parts – 1556 and 1575. He ran his glove-making business from the front while the family lived in the back. Pretty typical setup for the time.
What Was Stratford Like Back Then?
When Shakespeare was born in 1564, Stratford was a busy market town with about 1,500 people. It was known for wool and leather trades, and the River Avon was super important for moving goods around.
Cool Places in Stratford
- Shakespeare's Birthplace – The house on Henley Street where it all began
- Holy Trinity Church – Where Shakespeare was baptized AND buried
- King's New School – Where he probably went to school
- New Place – The big house Shakespeare bought when he got rich (sadly demolished in 1759)
- Anne Hathaway's Cottage – Where his wife grew up, in nearby Shottery
Fun Fact About His Birth
Here's something crazy – just two months after Shakespeare was born, the bubonic plague hit Stratford and killed about 200 people (like one-seventh of the whole town!). Baby William somehow survived. Lucky for us, right?
Stratford Today
Now Stratford-upon-Avon is basically Shakespeare Central. Tourists from all over the world come to see where he lived. The Royal Shakespeare Company has three theaters there and puts on amazing productions of his plays.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust takes care of five historic houses connected to Shakespeare and his family. They do educational programs and preserve everything so future generations can experience a piece of history.