A ‘Shakespearience’ in England and Italy

You will land in London to start your unforgettable journey through time and poetry. Your tour guide will meet you at the airport and depart with you by bus to your hotel. There, your guide will familiarize you with London and many of its most iconic attractions. Today you have the freedom to travel anywhere within the city on foot. Catch a ride on an infamous double-decker bus, relax and wait for those awestruck moments as you pass landmarks such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, and Westminster Abbey. 

You’ll start the day in London as you prepare to travel to the location of Shakespeare’s historic Globe Theater. Your guide will give you an extensive tour of the theater showing all the hidden corners of the place where Shakespeare found his voice. You’ll learn about the inner workings of a 16th-century play, and a bit of history about the Globe itself, including its tragic burning and reconstruction. 

After your tour, you will have the freedom to roam for lunch and will meet back with your guide to go back to the hotel. You will pack your things and prepare for a bus ride to Shakespeare’s birthplace that will take up the remainder of the day. 

After your previous overnight stay in Stratford-upon-Avon, you’ll explore not only the birthplace of Shakespeare but also the hometown of his beloved wife and inspiration, Anne Hathaway. Your guide will take you to Shakespeare’s home where you will go on a guided tour around the property and walk in the footsteps of the poetic genius himself. Not far is Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall, where he attended school and discovered his love for the theater. 

Following both tours, you will have a lunch break and a chance to wander the cobblestone streets where Shakespeare spent his days. After lunch, you will board a bus and head to Anne Hathaway’s home where you will walk through the house and the incredible garden at your leisure, taking in the beauty of the English countryside. 

After breakfast at your hotel, you will travel by bus back to London and head to Heathrow Airport in preparation for your flight to the beautiful city of Verona, Italy, where one of Shakespeare’s most well-known tragedies takes place – “Romeo and Juliet.” Travelling will take up most of your day today, but waiting for you after your late-afternoon landing is a traditional Italian dinner.

Start your day in Verona with your guide taking you to an authentic Italian café and bakery. After breakfast, you’ll embark on a visit to Casa di Giulietta, more famously known as Juliet’s house. The site is believed to be the initial inspiration for the romantic tale, and you can even write a letter to Juliet while there. After your tour of Juliet’s house and the iconic balcony that plays such a central role in the famous play, you are free to meander through the streets of Verona for the afternoon. 

With one final to experience everything Shakespeare, you will have a free day to explore this picturesque Italian city. Perhaps visit the Verona Arena, a theater known for its opera performances, or the Osteria Sottocosta, a bustling city square. Catch a cab and drive to the outskirts of the city where you can feast your eyes on the beautiful lakeside villages of Lake Garda. There are countless things to do in this old Italian city! 

You will have an early start to the day as you board a bus to Milan where you will be catching your flight home. As you look back on the week, hopefully, you leave with the yearning to learn more about our world’s literary history.  With London and Verona now scratched off your bucket list, who knows what unforgettable travels are yet to come?