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Stratford upon Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon
Royal Shakespeare Theatre 2011.jpg
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre from the Bancroft Gardens
Stratford-upon-Avon is located in Warwickshire
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon shown within Warwickshire
Population 27,445 (2011)
OS grid reference SP1955
Civil parish
  • Stratford-upon-Avon
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Stratford-upon-Avon
Postcode district CV37
Dialling code 01789
Police Warwickshire
Fire Warwickshire
Ambulance West Midlands
EU Parliament West Midlands
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Warwickshire
52°11′24″N 1°42′36″W / 52.19°N 1.710°W / 52.19; -1.710Coordinates: 52°11′24″N 1°42′36″W / 52.19°N 1.710°W / 52.19; -1.710

Stratford-upon-Avon (/ˌstrætfərd əˌpɒn ˈvən/) is a market town and civil parish in Warwickshire, England, on the River Avon, 101 miles (163 km) north west of London, 22 miles (35 km) south east of Birmingham, and 8 miles (13 km) south west of Warwick. The estimated population in 2007 was 25,505, increasing to 27,445 at the 2011 Census.

Stratford was originally inhabited by Anglo-Saxons and remained a village before lord of the manor, John of Coutances, set out plans to develop it into a town in 1196. In that same year, Stratford was granted a charter from King Richard I to hold a weekly market in the town, giving it its status as a market town. As a result, Stratford experienced an increase in trade and commerce as well as urban expansion.

The town is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace of English playwright and poet William Shakespeare, and receives approximately 2.5 million visitors a year. The Royal Shakespeare Company resides in Stratford's Royal Shakespeare Theatre.


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