City Breaks

This final episode in our Stratford-Upon-Avon mini-series revolves around all things theatrical. First, there's a little  history on where in the town Shakespeare found his inspiration, then there are 'visits' to all three Royal Shakespeare venues as well as information on the company's museum of props and costumes. Whether you want to discover Stratford's theatres, see a play or learn more about life behind the scenes, all you need to know is here. Reading Suggestions Know-it-All Shakespeare Edited by Ros Barber and Mark Rylance The Man who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench    Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell Links for this post The Royal Shakespeare Company   The 3 Stratford theatres   RSC information on Shakespeare    RSC Public costume hire   The Play’s the Thing (exhibition)     City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon mini-series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting:  https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions!  You can e mail us at [email protected] And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode.  That would be a big help!   

Stratford-Upon-Avon has many charms – its Tudor ambiance, its riverside setting – but really there’s only one reason why it attracts up to 6 million visitors in a year. Shakespeare.  And this episode is dedicated to places where you can 'find' him there today.  There's a little biographical background, focussing mainly on his Stratford years and a run-through of five of the most significant places in his life which you can still visit today.  As usual, there is much more detail on the podcast.     Reading Suggestions Shakespeare The Biography by Peter Ackroyd Hidden Shakespeare by Nicholas Fogg Shakespeare by Bill Bryson Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Links for this post Shakespeare’s Birthplace    Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guild Hall Anne Hathaway’s Cottage      New Place  Holy Trinity Church      City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions!  You can e mail us at [email protected] And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode.  That would be a big help!   

Ok, so Stratford-upon-Avon is not actually a city, but as a town which punches well above its weight historically and culturally, we’re giving it an honorary place in the City Breaks collection.  This is the introductory episode, with a little geographical and historical context and an idea for a first get-your-bearings walk around Stratford.  It will introduce you to Stratford's Tudor gabled houses, riverside setting, swans and boats and, of course, give a flavour of Stratford as Shakespeare's home town, where he was both born and buried and where he bought the town's second biggest house as a retirement pad.  So, with no more ado and as the great man himself might have said, shall we wend? Reading Suggestions Stratford-upon-Avon Quick Trips by Cynthia Atkins A-Z of Stratford-upon-Avon by Will Atkins Secret Stratford by Nicholas Fogg Shakespeare The Biography by Peter Ackroyd Links for this Episode Visit Stratford-upon-Avon  Guided walks around Stratford  City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Stratford-Upon-Avon series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions!  You can e mail us at [email protected] And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode.  That would be very much appreciated!   

Both Vincennes and St Germain-en-Laye make excellent days out from Paris, or even half days as both can be reached by public transport in less than half an hour.  Each has a magnificent castle to visit, plus a range of other cultural, relaxation and shopping possibilities.  So this episode tells you how to get to each place, following up with what there is to see and do there, plus – bien sûr! – a few of the interesting historical snippets which will inform your visit.   Links for this post Château de Vincennes Vincennes Tourist Office Château de St Germain-en-Laye St Germain-en-Laye Tourist Office Espace Vera Debussy’s Birthplace   City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Paris series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions!  You can e mail us at [email protected] And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode.  That would be a big help!       

This Paris episode covers two of the most beautiful châteaux in the Paris region.  Both are easy to reach on public transport and both have fascinating stories to tell.  We cover how to get there, what you can expect to see and make sure we cover the most interesting tales – François I’s show-off gallery, Napoleon’s refurbishment to impress the Pope and the party-to-end-all-parties which went ended in disaster and ruination.   Reading Suggestion Francis I, The Maker of Modern France by Leonie Frieda    Useful Links Château de Fontainebleau      Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte        City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time! Check our website to find more episodes from our Paris series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk We love to receive your comments and suggestions!  You can e mail us at [email protected] And if you like what you hear, please do post comments or a review wherever you downloaded this episode.  That would be a big help!