Anne Hathaway's House
Recently, I was able to visit Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of the Bard (of Avon), William Shakespeare. After nearly 400 years since his death, he remains to words what Stradivarius is to stringed instruments. Most of the town has developed and modernised around the name of Shakespeare. The buildings and roads are often named after him, or his works. The only odd sights are the 5 buildings associated with Shakespeare, including his birthplace, that of his wife Anne Hathaway, his mother's house... They are odd because they are certainly throwbacks to another time amidst the modernisation of the rest of Stratford.
I dislike however the intensive commercialisation and open rape of his legacy. The charges to visit these landmarks are outrageously high, and the tours are disorganised and frankly not worth the costs inflicted upon unsuspecting visitors.
For example, upon reaching the start of the (1/2 hour long) bus tour, you learn it is £9 per person. So far so good. Imagine my horror to learn the tour DOES NOT stop for you to visit the houses or buildings. You have to exit the bus, pay your visit (which takes you all of 5 minutes) then wait another half hour for another bus to come by. Oh, did I mention you have to pay £6.50 to enter EACH of the buildings? And buy any souvenirs.
Much better I think to charge about £15 for the tour, have the buses stop at each destination for 15 minutes and no charge to see inside the cottages. After all, how big are they? Buses can also staggered in half hour increments to provide a constant stream of visitors.
Frankly I was disappointed and unless it were life and death, I would not recommend the trip to anyone.
I dislike however the intensive commercialisation and open rape of his legacy. The charges to visit these landmarks are outrageously high, and the tours are disorganised and frankly not worth the costs inflicted upon unsuspecting visitors.
For example, upon reaching the start of the (1/2 hour long) bus tour, you learn it is £9 per person. So far so good. Imagine my horror to learn the tour DOES NOT stop for you to visit the houses or buildings. You have to exit the bus, pay your visit (which takes you all of 5 minutes) then wait another half hour for another bus to come by. Oh, did I mention you have to pay £6.50 to enter EACH of the buildings? And buy any souvenirs.
Much better I think to charge about £15 for the tour, have the buses stop at each destination for 15 minutes and no charge to see inside the cottages. After all, how big are they? Buses can also staggered in half hour increments to provide a constant stream of visitors.
Frankly I was disappointed and unless it were life and death, I would not recommend the trip to anyone.
