Shakespeare's Birthplace

William Shakespeare was born in this house and grew up here with his parents and siblings. He also spent the first five years of his marriage living here with his wife Anne Hathaway. John and Mary Shakespeare were wealthy enough to own the largest house on Henley Street.

John Shakespeare lived and worked in this house for fifty years. When he married Mary Arden she came to live with him and they had a total of eight children, William was the third to be born. In 1568 John became the Mayor of Stratford, which was the highest elective office in the town. On Sunday, dressed in his fine red robes, he would have been escorted to Holy Trinity church to attend mass. It was because of his father’s status as Mayor that William was privileged enough to have attended the local grammar school to begin his education.

John Shakespeare died in 1601 and as the eldest surviving child, William inherited the house. He leased part of the property and it became an inn called the Maidenhead (and later the Swan and Maidenhead). The inn remained until 1847. When Shakespeare died he left the house to his eldest daughter Susanna, and when she died she left it to her only child, Elizabeth.

Although she married twice Elizabeth had no children, so when she died the house fell to a descendant of Joan Hart, one of Shakespeare’s sisters. The house was owned by the Hart family until the late 18th century, until it went up for sale and was purchased by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1847. We have cared for it ever since.

For the official guidebook of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust visit our online shop.

Please note that online booking is essential to secure your time slot to visit Shakespeare's family homes. We'll be unable to grant you entry without a pre-booked, timed entry ticket. We’re releasing tickets every Friday, with availability up to four weeks in advance. Please note all tickets will be valid for single entry.

 All prices include a voluntary donation

We politely ask that you do not visit if you or any member of your group are showing COVID-19 symptoms. See our website for full Terms of Entry.

Please note that dogs are not admitted into the property, except for guide dogs.