Fodor's Expert Review Charlecote Park
A celebrated house in the village of Hampton Lucy just outside Stratford, Charlecote Park is a Prodigy house, built in 1558 by Sir Thomas Lucy to impress Queen Elizabeth I (the house is even shaped like the letter "E" in her honor). Shakespeare knew the house—he was supposedly even caught poaching deer here. Overlooking the River Avon, the redbrick manor is striking and sprawling. It was renovated in neo-Elizabethan style by the Lucy family, represented here by numerous portraits, during the mid-19th century. A carved ebony bed is one of many spectacular pieces of furniture. The Tudor gatehouse is unchanged since Shakespeare's day, and a collection of carriages, a Victorian kitchen, and a small brewery occupy the outbuildings. Indulge in a game of croquet near the quirky, thatched, Victorian-era summer hut, or explore the deer park landscaped by Capability Brown. Interesting themed tours and walks take place in summer—call in advance to find out what's on offer. The house is five... READ MORE
A celebrated house in the village of Hampton Lucy just outside Stratford, Charlecote Park is a Prodigy house, built in 1558 by Sir Thomas Lucy to impress Queen Elizabeth I (the house is even shaped like the letter "E" in her honor). Shakespeare knew the house—he was supposedly even caught poaching deer here. Overlooking the River Avon, the redbrick manor is striking and sprawling. It was renovated in neo-Elizabethan style by the Lucy family, represented here by numerous portraits, during the mid-19th century. A carved ebony bed is one of many spectacular pieces of furniture. The Tudor gatehouse is unchanged since Shakespeare's day, and a collection of carriages, a Victorian kitchen, and a small brewery occupy the outbuildings. Indulge in a game of croquet near the quirky, thatched, Victorian-era summer hut, or explore the deer park landscaped by Capability Brown. Interesting themed tours and walks take place in summer—call in advance to find out what's on offer. The house is five miles northeast of Stratford; by car it is reached via the B4086 or it costs around £15 in a taxi from Stratford-upon-Avon.
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