Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town with more than 800 years of history, containing not only many buildings that had survived and would have been familiar to Shakespeare, but also a thriving community offering a wide variety of leisure, accommodation and shopping experiences. No visit to Stratford would not be complete without finding out more about the English poet and playwright that makes it famous. At Shakespeare’s Birthplace you can visit the place the world’s most famous playwright was born and grew up and you can discover more about his early years. Hear tales of Shakespeare’s family life, enjoy live theatre on demand and get up close to rare artefacts from the Trust’s world class collections as you discover how the extraordinary William Shakespeare continues to shape our lives today.