Perhaps for many of us the word Shakespeare sends a chill down our spine, long drawn out English lessons at school, discussing words you knew you would never use in real life. Or perhaps you thrived on it........

Either way, a trip to the home town of William Shakespeare is an enjoyable experience. The town still possesses some of the atmosphere that the writer would have lived in himself. There are five wonderfully preserved Shakespeare houses to see including his place of birth and Anne Hathaway's childhood home. Each is an exhibition that gives an insight to the life and times of the writer and the town of his time. Of course the Royal Shakespeare Company have their home here and between April 2006 and April 2007 they are staging The Complete Works - a festival dedicated to the entire works of the great man himself.

But Stratford is not just about Shakespeare. Its a town set in beautiful countryside in the heart of England. The towns Butterfly Farm houses a stunning collection and is an exhibition that all of the family will enjoy. Or what about the Teddy Bear Museum? Popular with children and grown ups, it's home to many famous bears and is housed in a building that once belonged to Henry VIII. Why not take an open top bus tour of the town, which departs from outside the Tourist Information Centre?

Just a few miles west of Stratford is Ragley Hall. The family home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Hertford, there is a warm, appealing feel to this splendid house. Designed in 1680 by Robert Hooke, the house is a beautiful exhibition of artwork and architecture. The Hall has ten gardens and each is a delight to wander through. Working with the natural ecosystems they are a splendid example of horticulture.

The town has a fine range of specialist shops and antique centres and good places to eat. So why not start planning a trip today and soak up some good old English heritage in Shakespeares country......