Anne Hathaways Cottage

Information on surrounding cities, towns & villages

Shakespeare's Country

An array of towns and villages make up Shakespeare's Country.  All can be found on the doorstep of Balsall Common.  The world famous birth place of William Shakespeare, Stratford-Upon-Avon, historic Warwick, Kenilworth, Royal Leamington Spa and the classic honey coloured cottages nestled amongst the many villages of the Cotswolds.

Stratford-Upon-Avon - approx 18 miles from Balsall Common

Shakespeare's Birthplace

Set in the rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the River, Stratford-Upon-Avon is a town steeped in history.  The world famous playwright William Shakespeare was born, lived and lies buried in Stratford.

The town is clearly dominated by the legacy of its most famous son and can be explored in the five Shakespeare houses in and around the town.  A wealth of black and white timber framed buildings line the streets of Stratford amongst the fine shops, antique centres and restaurants.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre overlooks the picturesque river, where canal boats and river boats gently pass by, for many it is a popular place to take a stroll or simply sit and enjoy the various boating activities.

Warwick - approx 10 miles from Balsall Common

Warwick Castle

This is a town steeped in history.  At the very heart of Warwick lies its famous tourist attraction, one of England's finest medieval castles, Warwick Castle.  This small town is unique with historic timber framed buildings nestling between fine restaurants, shops and tea rooms.  There are many historic gardens in and around Warwick, Museums, Churches and the famous Warwick Race Course.

Kenilworth - approx 5 miles from Balsall Common

A small town famed for its Elizabethan Kenilworth Castle.  The Leicester Gatehouse includes a major exhibition highlighting the connections between Kenilworth and Elizabeth I.  Around the castle and St. Mary's Abbey ruins there are wonderful walks, lovely old houses and picturesque thatched cottages in "Little Virginia", said to be named after the planting of potatoes brought here by Sir Walter Raleigh.  Kenilworth is a delightful town with a good choice of smaller shops and restaurants.

Royal Leamington Spa - approx 10 miles from Balsall Common

A large town which has a good reputation for shopping with smaller independently run boutiques and shops alongside the high street favourites.  It is an elegant town with Georgian and Victorian architecture, tree lined avenues and beautiful gardens.  The Royal Pump Rooms are now a cultural and tourism complex housing the town's Museum, Art Gallery, Library and Tourist Information Centre, alongside the Regency style Assembly Rooms.  The historic Grade II Listed Jephson Gardens and Mill Gardens can be found in the heart of Leamington and are just perfect for a gentle stroll.  Royal Leamington Spa has an excellent choice of restaurants, bistros, cafe's, wine bars and pubs.

The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is an area bounded by Bath, Oxford and Stratford-Upon-Avon, and is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The Cotswolds' towns and villages such as Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Camden, Broadway, Stow-on-the-Wold and Moreton-in-Marsh are famous the world over for their honey coloured stone buildings, thatched cottages, their picture perfect beauty and for being so 'typically English'.

The City of Birmingham - approx 15 miles from Balsall Common

The largest of England's core cities and regarded as the second city of the United Kingdom.  Birmingham's reputation was forged as a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in England, a fact which led to Birmingham being known as the "workshop of the world".  Today Birmingham has developed into a National Commercial Centre, being named as one of the favoured destinations in the UK to locate a business.

Birmingham is home to some of the world's leading conference and event venues, including the International Convention Centre (ICC), The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and The National Indoor Arena (NIA).  Birmingham holds a reputation as one of the world's leading Cities for Conferences, Exhibitions and Events.

Birmingham International Airport (approx 7 miles from Balsall Common) is the UK's sixth largest airport and one of the most accessible airports in Europe.  It is adjacent to Birmingham International Railway Station which links directly to the national rail network with hourly services to Central London, which is only just over an hour away.  Birmingham is extremely well connected to all the major cities via the UK's well structured motorway network.

The Capital City of London - approx 104 miles from Balsall Common

The capital city, London is one of the world's leading business, financial and cultural centres.  Its influence in Politics, Education, Entertainment, Media, Fashion and the Arts contribute to its status as a major global city.

London is a leading tourist destination for domestic and overseas visitors.  The rich history of London boasts four world heritage sites, many world famous landmarks,  the Royal Pageantry and ceremonial events which are a colourful part of London life.  London is also world famous for its Royal Family.  The Sovereign's main residence, Buckingham Palace, is one of the most visited tourist destinations.

London is packed with Arts Galleries, Museums, Theatres, Parks and Gardens, historical buildings, and so much more.

London Heathrow Airport, 20 miles west of Central London, is one of the busiest and sophisticated airports handling more international passengers than any other.  London Gatwick Airport is the second largest airport in the UK, located 28 miles south of London.  Frequent Inter-capital Euro Star services from London St Pancras International, to Paris and Brussels daily, brings Europe to our doorstep.