Alcester is a charming market town with Roman roots. It’s surrounded by ancient woodland and set at the junction of the Alne and Arrow Rivers. Tour a grand English Tudor manor set in beautiful gardens and visit the timber-framed farmhouse where William Shakespeare was born.
Things to do in Alcester
Stroll around the flower-filled gardens of Coughton Court, a magnificent Tudor country house operated by the National Trust. The heritage-listed property is steeped in history and was used to plan the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605. An impressive gatehouse complete with hexagon-shaped turrets dominates the fortified façade. Other parts of the house adopt the elaborate Strawberry Hill Gothic style popularised in the 1700s.
Visit Mary Arden's Farm in the nearby village of Wilmcote. Iconic English playwright William Shakespeare was born in the humble, timber-framed farmhouse in the 1500s. It’s beautifully restored and furnished with Tudor antiques and Shakespearean memorabilia.
Learn about the town’s ancient past at the Roman Alcester Heritage Centre. The museum covers key events like the arrival of the Romans in AD 43 and the decline of the Roman Empire. View artefacts from nearby archaeological sites, including coins, jewellery, pottery, maps and more.
Venture into the Heart of England Forest and discover a wonderland of mature woodland and rolling countryside. Waymarked trails wind through the forest and take you past stands of enormous oak trees. The forest includes a pocket of woodland known as the Forest of Arden, which is featured in the famous Shakespearean play, “As You Like It”. You’ll find more scenic trails in River Arrow Nature Reserve.
Getting around Alcester
Alcester is compact and easy to get around on foot. The town is in Warwickshire, a 15-minute drive from Stratford-on-Avon and 45 minutes from Birmingham. Redditch Train Station is a 20-minute drive away. Birmingham Airport is a 45-minute drive away.