Stratford Racecourse Touring Park

It's less than a mile from Stratford Racecourse Touring Park to the cottage of one fairly famous Miss Hathaway, and a 20-minute meander on a direct path along the greenway and the Avon bank to reach the shops, pubs, restaurants and Shakespearean sights of Stratford.

Stratford-upon-Avon is of course the place for Shakespearean scholars the world over. Spend a couple of days around the main Shakespeare attractions in town – Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare's Grave, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Hall's Croft, Mary Arden's Farm, Nash's House and New Place – and then catch a show at either/both of the RSC's theatres, the Royal Shakespeare and the Swan. The charity Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust keeps books, manuscripts and other interesting Shakespeare items in its Shakespeare and local collections.

Also in Stratford, try to take a flutter at Butterfly World, Europe’s biggest butterfly collection, and check out nightly ghost tours at independent museum Tudor World. Those who fancy undramatic countryside walks can tackle part of the 146-mile Shakespeare's Way from Stratford to London's Globe Theatre via Oxford, the Cotswolds, Blenheim Park, the Grand Union Canal Walk and the Thames Path.

More flutters can be had at the year-round meets of Warwick Racecourse less than ten miles from Stratford, and take time too to see the topping castles in the region: Warwick Castle, filled with family fun and events all year round, and Kenilworth Castle, described by an eminent historian as 'the finest surviving example of a semi-royal palace of the later middle ages'.

More history? Try National Trust houses like Charlecote Park, the award-winning blacksmith’s workshop Chedham’s Yard, or getting envious among the vintage cars and motorbikes of Gaydon's Heritage Motor Centre.

More horses? Get to Redwings Horse Sanctuary at Oxhill 10 miles south of Stratford to see over 90 horsey inhabitants on a free walk and talk tour.