Little hamlets and villages are scattered all around this lovely part of the English countryside…read more You can drive down narrow lanes and somehow keep coming back to where you started from or get completely lost and end up picking blackberries from roadside bushes, and bluebells in the verdant woods which some say are part of the great forest of Arden stretching all the way down in a swathe from Nottingham - perhaps you might get surprised by Robin Hood and his merry men! Be sure to pack a picnic hamper with your favourite foods so you can stop in some idyllic setting to enjoy the peace and quiet and beauty that this part of the world offers to those who are willing to explore and let their imaginations run wild. After all, this is Tolkien country where the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were written, where JRR Tolkien himself lived and was inspired to write. Shakespeare spent the latter part of his life in London but much of his inspiration came from his early days in middle England. His mother, Mary Arden, had a little cottage in Wilmcote just 3 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon so the bard may have created many of his writings while walking the leafy lanes. Nowadays Pear Tree Cottage set in 3 acres of gardens is a lovely place to stay in the heart of Wilmcote. This once B&B, now offers 2 lovely furnished flats for stays of any period. The owners, Philip and his charming lady, Janice,take care of you and your needs in a most caring way, and you will arrive to find the kitchen stocked with cafetiere coffee, hovis bread, good english butter, fresh milk and other groceries. You can sit in the extensive garden and enjoy twilight glasses of wine and chat to your heart's content. Just down the road a bit, is the post office cum grocery where shelves are stocked with chocolate, biscuits, wine, bread, fresh meats delivered daily and all the wonderful country foods and fruit your heart can imagine. It is only a 3minute walk to the local station where you can hop on train for a 5 minute run to Stratford any time of day or night. You can actually walk along the barge paths straight into Stratford upon Avon to shop and eat and see live Shakespeare at its best. Nearby Birmingham is a must for serious shoppers. In this the second largest city in the UK, besides a tempting array of restaurants, museums and art galleries, you can certainly 'shop till you drop!' It is a most convenient place to travel to as there is an international airport and fast trains from London will get you there easily. It is all there for you to enjoy and as I have ended my ramblings many times before, "you just have to DO IT".

I don't recommend this place if you are a tourist. The staff is very short tempered and makes sure…read moreyou wait a very long time for service if you don't have the right accent. Surprising, since it's across the street from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, you'd think they'd want the business but they charge an additional 10% if you are going to a show. Overall not a great experience.

This place is amazing. We have been staying at airB&B while traveling Uk. The cost difference is…read moreminimal. The rooms were extremely great value. The manager/owner is amazing. In the morning they take your breakfast order and make you breakfast from scratch which is included in the price. There are only 7 rooms in the hotel so very intimate setting

Smallish but extremely convenient accommodation, with every possible amenity provided. I really…read morecannot think of any way that anything could have been added or improved to have made the experience any better. Just a short walk from the train station and from the town centre. On a main bus route (#26) and a taxi from the riverside was only £3 50p. The Morris couple who own and run it bend over backward to accommodate your every need. Breakfast is completely waited, including coffee, tea and juice, so you don't have to get up to serve yourself, and every breakfast item is provided--home cooked, not microwaved (including porridge, my favorite). Even her homemade jam! In rooms, liquid soap at the sink and bath gel in shower provided. Hair dryer, coffee/tea maker, flat screen TV. Only two floors, so no dragging suitcases up 3 or 4 floors, and Mr. Morris will help you with your luggage (not disappear, as in most places). I'm totally sold on this place--this couple really knocks it out of the ballpark!

As an American female in her early 30's traveling alone, I found a home away from home here at the…read moreAmbleside Guest House. It can always be daunting when you're on your own, especially as a female, but Peter, the owner of the inn, was so kind, caring, and attentive. He made me feel welcomed and safe, helped me to navigate where to go and what to do, and made the best English breakfast I have ever had! I will never stay anywhere else in Stratford Upon Avon and I will absolutely be returning! The accommodations were clean, quaint and very comfortable. There is free parking in the back and breakfast is included in the price of the room. I stayed in a small single room with a view of the park across the street that had a bed, bureau and sink/vanity as well as access to my own bathroom down the hall. The price was perfect and as a traveler on a budget, I greatly appreciated that Peter did not over charge for the room (like I felt other inns advertising in town). The dining area, located in the front of the house, overlooking the street and the park, is picturesque. Peter requested a detailed breakfast order, accompanied by an individually scheduled time for the morning. He even personally walked me through the options as I had never had a proper English breakfast. He then prepared it brilliantly and it was fresh and ready upon my coming down to eat. The community that stayed here was also incredibly pleasant and charming. The few people I spoke with over breakfast offered wonderful, friendly conversation. I didn't feel isolated, judged or lonely which can happen in a foreign place when traveling by yourself. Everyone seemed to know and love Peter, and many seemed to travel to town regularly, choosing to stay there. He really has created a community that feels like friends and family. And I felt immediately welcomed with open arms. Finally, Peter's knowledge of the town and his recommendations of where to eat and what to do are absolutely fantastic. He knows all the best places to explore, on and off the beaten path. His reasoning behind his suggestions were always very genuine and smart. It made for a lot of saved time, great food and wonderful experiences. He is also quick to refer you to a friend at a local pub or restaurant to chat with and get to know, and they all hold him in high regard. It made me feel almost like a local. I hadn't planned to visit Stratford Upon Avon originally, and I walked into the Ambleside Guest House on a whim. I am so glad I did, it really made my whole trip. I ended up staying two extra nights because I loved it so much! If you go, I hope it becomes a home away from home for you, like it did for me. Thank you again Peter!

This was a lovely little place. Our room was beautiful, clean, full of light, and comfortable. The…read morestaff were friendly and went out of their way to help when we turned up three hours early (we were just planning to leave our bags, but the room was ready!) Short walk from the train station and equally short walk from all the goodness of Stratford, this place really couldn't have been better. Super affordable! Great breakfast! Well. It could have had a fun Shakespeare-based name like so many of the neighbors, but I suppose all the good ones are already taken. Oh, and the shower was a bit small. But really, everything else was super lovely. Highly recommended.

The house is lovely and the rooms have a sweet, "decorated by a loving grandmum" feel, which fits…read morethe adorably motherly owner. She, the manager and the maid were all very accommodating and kindly, always earnestly pleased to go the extra mile for the comfort of the guests. Conjoined to the Hollies Guesthouse next door, they handled our university group of 22 (plus some other guests) with a little wiggling, and they handled dietary restrictions on breakfast with grace and eagerness to make us all comfortable. My only complaints are these: the slightly cramped quarters for large groups and the fact that each room has only one dedicated key (both of which are symptomatic of b&b's in general), plus the steep walks up to the third floor room I lived in, and the alarming rate at which the shower ran out of hot water (again, likely only a problem with large groups). Oh, and the free wi-fi was hard for my iPhone to reach from the third floor, but my companions had no problem with their computers. It was only a short, pretty walk to the main street of Stratford, and every room is apportioned with a color, cable tv, free wifi access, and tea/coffee, cups, sugar and electric kettle (although I recommend either bringing your own tea bags or waiting for the excellent breakfast tea, rather than drinking the instant in the rooms). The teacups and towels are changed daily when the beds are made. All in all, a lovely place to stay and a friendly home-away-from-home.

This is the perfect B&B. I can't think of anything that wasn't excellent…read more The owners are kind and gracious and have created a lovely establishment. Sometimes guest houses are either extremely cluttered or filled with cheap Ikea furniture, but this house is well furnished and up-to-date. I particularly liked the breakfast room with antiques and green walls...so British! Location is perfect, just a 5 minute walk to the train station or to the center of town. Our room was very spacious and well appointed. The windows are double pane so it stayed nice and warm. Water pressure and heat was excellent. Breakfast was delicious. The portions were so large I could barely finish everything. There's of course a full English, but also some other options like omelets and cereals. Don't miss the homemade jams! They also offer a packed lunch for £7 which I highly recommend. I don't know where they got that ham for the sandwich, but it was some of the best I've had in ages. The lunch came with sandwich, quiche, crisps, cake, and water - all in an insulated bag. For my fellow Americans, you may see some reviews or house rules mention that the Emsley doesn't allow "all male or all female" parties. In Britain, that refers to bachelor/bachelorette parties. It doesn't refer to same-sex couples, which are gladly welcomed at the Emsely. I thought I'd point that out because that terminology might be confusing to some travelers.

This was the first bed & breakfast I've ever stayed in and it spoiled me for any others, I think!…read moreThe people who run it were so kind & helpful! The room was really nice & they even gave us homemade cookies to go with our tea & coffee in our room! The decor was beautiful! We had afternoon tea when we got there & it was delicious! They gave us tips for where to go in the city and how to get there. I would highly recommend everyone to stay there!

I Had a fantastic stay at the Hunter's moon . Very lovely and caring family with a lot of passion…read morefor detail ! The breakfast was perfect so was the room ! The House welcomes you with a lovely herbal smell and gives you the feel of wellness right from the start . Hope to stay there soon again