Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-Upon-Avon. (Shutterstock)

Stratford-upon-Avon, England is located in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside on the banks of the river Avon. Dramatically tied to the life of William Shakespeare, the town is steeped in history, and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the United Kingdom.

William Shakespeare was born there in 1564 in a house in Henley Street. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, whose family owned a farm just west of town.

As we know, Shakespeare later fled to London where he became a playwright, actor and manager of Theatres. Shakespeare was also a shrewd businessman, amassing quite a fortune in his time. He returned to Stratford to spend his later years and died at the age of 52. He now lies in a special grave at Holy Trinity Church.

Visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon can explore the houses in the region connected with William Shakespeare and his family. They offer insight into the times in which the famous poet was born, lived and died.

Visit the house where Shakespeare was born and grew up. His boyhood home on Henley Street features 1570s furnishings and contains an exhibition illustrating his life. It houses Tudor artifacts and books, and is home to First Folio editions of his plays.

You can meet your favourite Shakespearean characters and watch as they bring some of his best-loved scenes to life as you stroll through the house and gardens.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is the girlhood home of Shakespeare's wife, which remained in the Hathaway family for generations. The house still contains many pieces of family furniture. The term 'cottage' hardly does justice to the home, which, by the standards of the day, was a substantial residence of a well-to-do yeoman farmer.

Nash’s House was owned by Shakespeare’s granddaughter Elizabeth, and adjoins the site of New Place, where the Shakespeare story ends in 1616.

Home to the complete works of Shakespeare, the museum tells the remarkable story of one of the most influential and best loved writers of our time.

Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town with more than 800 years of history and offers visitors a taste of Olde England. As you wander these historic streets, the black and white Tudor-style frontages and the old shop signs give you a real sense of what the town might have looked like in Shakespeare's time.

Julia Bryan handles communications and public relations for DeNure Tours in Lindsay, Ont.