I decided to take a day trip to Stratford and Warwick seeing as the weather was so nice. Stratford is the home of William Shakespear and most things there are organised around it, its not a very big place but quite scenic and FULL of tourists, luckily i woke up early and got around before the toursit groups got out! Hence why the pictures seem quite empty of street life.





There are lots of house boats and pleasure craft in the small harbour





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Looking from the harbour up to the main town





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There are loads of cafe, bars and restaurants adn in the evening they were all very busy! I loved the look of the little lane with warehouses behind which gave an insight to the towns more recent history





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Inside a cafe, love how the wood holds up the structure, ironic how these buildings could be seen as eco fiendly now!





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Part of the main high street, lots of curio shops as well of some big brand shopping names





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The architecture the towns famous for





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You cant visit britain and not go to a cafe for afternoon tea of triangular sandwiches (with the crust cut off), scones and clotted cream (must be clotted or its not british!) and then little cakes fancies, mmmmm! Best place ive had this is on Bath though.





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Garrick inn, oldest pub in stratford and dates from 1500's





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Harvard building, where the university of Harvard in the US was formed





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Lovely hotel on the right, i had dessert here after a bad meal somewhere else and it was fab





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Lovely weather, its not always raining in the UK lol, when it isnt there is nowhere i'd rather be!





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Lovely old church





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Exclusive apartments, obviously occupied by older people due to the proliferation of cat ornaments and other nick naks!





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Would love to have windows like these, so much work and craftmenship in them





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Victorian town houses





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The church where Shakespear is burried, undergoing a refurbishment





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Shakespears grave, aparently hes burried really deep so he cant be stolen!





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Typical parish church interior





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The church arcross the river, there was a real 'task master' making the rowers go quicker! Watch out 2012 lol





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The royal shakespear company theater undergoing a rebuild, the origional building burnt in a fire (you can still see parts of it) and the 60's replacement was inadequate





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The old bridge, lucky we stopped or we would have missed.......





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.......these! I love this time of year





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Riverside mill converted into a bar/restaurant





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The river





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Shakespears statue along with some of his charaters





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Where shakespear was born, has all traditional set up inside





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Warwick castle, quite expensive to get in yet there was an event on which kept everyone entertained throughout the whole day.





As we arrived in the car park we had quite a bit of a walk to the main gate, along the way the 'rat catcher' was scarring the kids (making them laugh more like!) with his stuffed toy rats. Upon entering through the main gate and travelling down a small path we had our first view of the castle





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Outside there was an archer getting very close to hitting a helmet (you can just see it on the far bank)





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The main gateway





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Upon entering we climbed the walls to get a view of the layout





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Looking over to the gatehouse and town of Warwick





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Looking towards the formal gardens and falconry area





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Town church





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First event was the lowering of the portcullis (which of course caused a tailback), not sure exactly what happened but there was alot of shouting of "you cannot pass" "open the gate" etc.





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Looking over the main gate





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The castle green and apartments, the other side is a big drop down to the river





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Close up of the green the other side





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Quite a large tower with two stairwells





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Views through the main gate





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We stayed on the battlements until the next event, and saw these people being greeted for the dungeon experiance, was all a bit Disney but fun





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next event was a set for the otheres where some knights were fighting for the hand of a princess (again very Disney but the actors were well trained and the fighting quite realistic).





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View from another tower into Warwick





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View over the river and aparmtents





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The next event was the launch of the worlds biggest trebuchet, was nice to have a sit down in the grass and watch the peacocks wandering around the people





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Castle walls





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The rat cathcer keeping everyone entertained with an awful poem while waiting for the falconry





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I'm not a big fan of falconry but it was impressive with all the birds flying up the valley and then over the crowd to land on the trainers arm (better than draggin them out of a box!)





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Quite large crowds





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Heading over to the joust, this is a pretty little boat house





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Over the bridge





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The joust





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Back to see the state rooms





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Stop off to climb another tower





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The boat house again





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apartments





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Entrance hall





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Into Warwick, we didnt see much of the town as we were just looking for food





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Town hall i think





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We found a little cafe serving traditional food, anyone who has read Enid Blyton would love the ginger beer and home made lemonade as well as the sandwhiches! The bells of the church were ringing and this was the view from my table, lovely day!





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