William Shakespeare is one of the most well known writers in history. The approximately 37 plays and over 150 poems he wrote during his lifetime have made him a household name around the world. He is a man who’s life and work is often the subject of intrigue and this interest extends to the places he called home and the family that shaped him. Every year thousands of visitors travel to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit the homes associated with him . One of the most beautiful of these places is Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the family home of Shakespeare’s wife.
The Marriage of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway
William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582. William was only 18 year olds old, while Anne, 26 years of age, was pregnant with their first child. After the marriage, the couple moved in to the Shakespeare family home on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon, where Anne would give birth to their three children. As with many aspects of Shakespeare’s life, his relationship with Anne remains somewhat of a mystery. This is partly due to the fact that, while they lived together in the early years, Shakespeare primarily lived in London between the years of 1590 and 1613. During this time Anne remained living in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The History of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon
While we don’t know a whole lot about Anne and her relationship with Shakespeare, the Anne Hathaway Cottage provides an interesting insight into her family’s life. The cottage was built in 1463 and many parts of the original building have survived. The Hathaway family lived in the cottage for 13 generations and worked for many years as successful sheep farmers. Anne herself was born in the cottage in 1556 and it is believed that Shakespeare would have visited her here during the early days of their courtship.
The Hathaway family continued to live in the cottage until the 1800s, at which point they had to sell off parts of the land due to financial hardship. The cottage was purchased by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892, with the last remaining Hathaway resident occupying the cottage until 1911.
A Historic Tourist Attraction
Similar to Shakespeare’s Birthplace, records of tourists visiting the cottage date back as early as the 1740s. The Shakespeare Jubilee, held in 1769 in Stratford-upon-Avon to celebrate the jubilee of the birth of the writer, peaked the interest of visitors to the town. People became keen to visit sites associated with Shakespeare, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. However it was in the late 1800s that the cottage became an even more popular tourist attraction and this is due to its second most famous resident.
One of the highlights of my visit to Anne Hathaway’s cottage was learning about Mary Baker, one of the last Hathaway residents to inhabit the cottage. When the cottage was acquired by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892, Mary and her family were paid £75 per year to look after the cottage and continue to tell the stories of their ancestors. Mary took an immense amount of pride in her role and was the ultimate host to her visitors. She was known as as a chatty woman who offered her visitors tea while she told tales of the courtship between William and Anne, often embellishing parts of the story. She hosted a number of interesting guests in the house including U.S. presidents as well as famous writers of the time such as Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. Mary passed away in 1899, but today the cottage displays photos from her time inside. By all accounts, she was a real character who helped shape the cottage into the tourist attraction it is today.
Visiting Anne Hathaway’s Cottage Today
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is located just outside of central Stratford-upon-Avon in the former small village of Shottery. While there are many picturesque buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon, the cottage really stands out as a stunning piece of Tudor architecture.
The cottage is surrounded by a beautiful garden that has been inspired by Shakespeare’s plays. There are many wonderful photo opportunities inside the garden so I highly recommend going on a sunny day!
Inside the cottage you’ll be able to explore the Hathaway home. On the main floor you can visit the original medieval kitchen, which consists of the same stones that were originally laid when the cottage was built. In the original parlour, you can also view the ‘Courting Settle’, where Mary Baker claimed that William and Anne sat during his visits. Upstairs you can also visit the bedchambers which house a number of interesting items such as the ‘Hathaway Bed‘, which was constructed sometime between 1580 and 1650. When I visited there were also quite a few interactive parts of the house which were great for both children and adults.
Tips for Visiting Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
How do I get to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage?
The cottage is located outside of the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon, in the former small village of Shottery. Driving to the cottage from the centre takes only five minutes and on a nice day, walking to the cottage takes about 25 minutes. If you’re planning to visit more than one Shakespeare attraction I also recommend purchasing a ticket for the City Sightseeing hop on hop off bus. You can purchase either a 24 or 48 hour ticket that allows you to hop on and off at all of the main Shakespeare sites.
How much does it cost to visit?
Visiting Anne Hathaway’s Cottage costs about £15 for an adult ticket, however if time allows I also recommend purchasing the Shakespeare’s Story ticket which allows you to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Shakespeare’s New Place for around £26.50. To learn more about tickets and pricing, you can visit the Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust website.
How long is needed to visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage?
I would recommend leaving yourself 30 minutes to 1 hour to visit the cottage. This is plenty of time to wander through the house and get some great photos in the garden.
What other Shakespeare-related sites are there nearby?
As the writer’s hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon has plenty of existing sites associated with Shakespeare. For example, you can visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace, where he lived with his family during his childhood and young adult life. You can also visit Hall’s Croft, a beautiful Tudor home once inhabited by Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband Dr. John Hall.
What else is there to do in Stratford-upon-Avon?
Stratford-upon-Avon is a bustling town with plenty of things for history-lovers to do. After taking in the Shakespeare sites, fans of the bard can take in a show performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Near the theatre, you can also stop for a drink at the famous Dirty Duck pub, popular amongst a number of well-known Shakespearian actors. If you’re travelling with children they might enjoy the living history museum Tudor World, where they can learn all about what is was like to live in Tudor England. For a full list of recommendations, see 10 Historical Things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon.
This article’s information was last updated in July 2022.