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Traffic Stratford upon-Avon

•   Stratford upon-Avon
• Nearby: Stratford On Avon Charlecote Alcester Warwick Shipston On Stour Leamington Spa

Current traffic around Stratford upon-Avon

The following traffic incidents and congestion for Stratford upon-Avon have been reported by Highways England, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales or Transport for London (TfL) in the last two hours:

Traffic in Nearby Villages

• Stratford upon Avon (0mi)
• Bishopton (0.62mi)
• Bridge Town (0.88mi)
• Shottery (0.88mi)
• Lower Clopton (1.24mi)
• Ingon (1.75mi)
• Tiddington (1.86mi)
• Drayton (1.86mi)
• Clifford Chambers (1.86mi)
• Alveston Hill (1.96mi)
• Pathlow (2.24mi)
• Alveston (2.56mi)
• Wilmcote (2.63mi)
• Luddington (2.63mi)
• Snitterfield (2.78mi)
• The Green (2.78mi)
• Billesley (3.16mi)
• Binton (3.16mi)
• Bearley (3.17mi)
• Ailstone (3.17mi)
• Atherstone on Stour (3.17mi)
• Lower Binton (3.34mi)
• Weston on Avon (3.51mi)
• Bearley Cross (3.62mi)

Stratford upon-Avon

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• Travel Ideas

Stratford-upon-Avon: Shakespeare's town

Stratford-upon-Avon

2.5 miles (4kms)

About the walk

This gentle walk along the banks of the River Avon takes you past the weir and Holy Trinity Church, before a stroll through the town to see some of the famous buildings in Shakespeare’s Stratford.

The medieval 14-arched Clopton Bridge forms a splendid gateway to the town. The Town Hall is a fine Palladian building, and Harvard House in the High Street dates from 1596. The latter takes its name from the owner’s daughter, Katherine Rogers, who married Robert Harvard of Southwark in London in 1605. Their son John went on to bequeath Harvard University in the USA, and the university now owns Harvard House. The Falcon Hotel was probably one of Shakespeare’s regular drinking places and opposite is the ancient guildhall and an attractive row of timbered almshouses.

The main attraction

But it is because of William Shakespeare that visitors flock in their millions to Stratford-upon-Avon. Born here, in Henley Street, in 1564, he was baptised in Holy Trinity Church, and attended King Edward VI’s Grammar School in Church Street. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and they had three children: Susannah, Hamnet and Judith. However, a country market town was no place for a playwright and poet, so some time in the mid-1580s he headed for London.

By 1592 William Shakespeare was the talk of the town, counting Queen Elizabeth and her court among his plays’ many admirers. His poetry was first published around this time, and he began to accumulate serious wealth. By 1597 he was able to buy New Place, then one of Stratford’s grandest properties. The early 1600s saw his theatre company gain a royal title (the King’s Men), and the Bard went on to write many of his best-known tragedies, including Othello , King Lear and Macbeth .

Shakespeare began to spend less and less time in the giddy London theatre-world, and more time at home in Stratford. His son Hamnet had died, aged 11, in 1596, but the boy’s sister Susannah had survived and married Dr John Hall in 1607. The couple lived in Hall’s Croft, in the old part of the town, until after her father’s death. Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and was buried at Holy Trinity. You can see his tomb, and that of his wife Anne Hathaway, who died in 1623. It bears the inscription:

'Good friend for Jesus sake forebeare

To dig the dust encloased heare!

Bleste be the man that spares the stones

And curst be he that moves the bones.'

Walk directions

From the car park, walk along the banks of the River Avon opposite the famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Pass the weir, and continue to reach a footbridge over the river, just in front of the A4390 road bridge.

Go right over the footbridge and bear right past the flats that replaced the old watermill, into Mill Lane. Continue up Mill Lane and go through the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, walking around the church to see the river view. Leave the churchyard through the main gate into Old Town and follow the pavement. Just before reaching the turn into Southern Lane, go right into RSC Gardens and walk up to the Brass Rubbing Centre. Continue past the ferry and stroll through the attractive Theatre Gardens by the side of the Avon, exiting into Waterside and passing by the frontage of the old theatre building.

Go left up Chapel Lane. At the top of the lane is the Guild Chapel to Shakespeare's Grammar School, with New Place Gardens to the right.

Go right along Chapel Street, passing The Shakespeare and the Town Hall into High Street. Harvard House is on the left, near the black-and-white Garrick Inn. At the end of High Street, bear left around the traffic island into Henley Street and walk along the pedestrianised area that takes you past Shakespeare's Birthplace and the museum. At the top of Henley Street, bear right and then left into Birmingham Road. Go left up to the traffic lights and cross the road at the pedestrian crossing.

Head right up Clopton Road for 100yds (91m), then descend to the tow path of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal at bridge No. 66. Follow this, going southeast. Cross the canal at bridge No. 68 and continue along the tow path into Bancroft Gardens by the canal basin, where you will see an array of narrowboats and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Cross the old Tram Bridge to return to the car park on the right.

Additional information

Riverside paths and street pavements

Historic streets

On lead along streets

OS Explorer 205 Stratford-upon-Avon & Evesham

Recreation Ground pay-and-display car park

At car park and top of Henley Street

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Also in the area.

About the area

Discover warwickshire.

The sparkle of sunlight on a gentle river as it meanders through beautiful countryside; the reflections of sailing boats on a lake; relaxing with a pint in the garden of an old English pub in a picturesque village; brightly coloured narrow boats making their way through a flight of lock gates; the imposing silhouette of an historic castle. These are the scenes that make Warwickshire a delight. 

There may be few seriously high hills in this fertile plain, but it is an area full of attractive walking in rolling countryside, blessed with a fascinating history and wonderful places and buildings to visit. This is Shakespeare’s county, and the footprint of the famous Bard appears almost everywhere. He was born and brought up around the beautiful Warwickshire town of Stratford-upon-Avon, and many of his plays draw upon his own experiences in the area.

Warwickshire has a history that embraces the Civil War, castles and large country houses are scattered over the county. Warwick Castle is the home of the Earl of Warwick, Kenilworth Castle was a stronghold for lords and kings of England in the 11th and 12th centuries, and so the list goes on.

Nearby stays

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How to Travel From London to Stratford-upon-Avon by Train, Bus, and Car

Stratford-upon-Avon is a charming medieval market town in England's West Midlands, the 16th-century birthplace of iconic playwright William Shakespeare, and one of Britain's most tourist-centric destinations . It is 100 miles (160 kilometers) by road from bustling London , but because it's so small and remote, traveling to it can be a challenge. The easiest and fastest way to get there is by car, but you can also take a train or a bus.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get From London to Stratford-upon-Avon? 

The cheapest way to travel between London and Stratford-upon-Avon is by bus. National Express runs several coach trips a day from London Victoria Coach Station to Stratford-upon-Avon Riverside Bus Station. The most direct route takes two and a half hours and the longest can take up to four hours. Single-trip tickets start around $9, but you can use the National Express' Fare Finder feature to find the best deals. Booking in advance is always recommended.

What Is the Fastest Way to Get From London to Stratford-upon-Avon? 

Stratford-upon-Avon is roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of London by road. The drive can take as little as an hour, 45 minutes or as long as three hours, depending on what time you leave the city (avoid rush hour times at all cost) and which route you take. The fastest, most direct way is via the M40.

Parking in Stratford-upon-Avon can be costly and the traffic wardens are aggressive about giving out tickets, especially during the summer. If you do decide to drive, try to stay at a hotel that offers parking.

How Long Is the Train Ride? 

Chiltern Railways run a limited number of direct trains per day in each direction between  Stratford-upon-Avon Station and  London Marylebone Station . The trip takes between two hours and two and a half hours. Advance round-trip fares vary wildly, ranging from $7 (according to Trianline ) to $100-plus. Tickets for the least popular (very early and mid-evening) tend to be the cheapest. Search National Rail's Cheapest Fare Finder for the best deals.

The train is an especially great option if you plan to travel back to London after a show at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, seeing as they tend to run later (stopping just before midnight) than the bus. The train station is a 15-minute walk from the theatre.

When Is the Best Time to Travel to Stratford-upon-Avon? 

If it's a lively atmosphere you're looking for, travel to Stratford-upon-Avon during the Literary Festival (centered around Shakespeare's birth and death day) in April. The welcome spring weather and festival activities attract many UK locals and tourists alike.

However, the crowds also mean booked-up—i.e. expensive—trains, buses, and hotels. You'll find a better deal and fewer people in Stratford-upon-Avon toward the end of summer and fall.

What’s the Most Scenic Route to Stratford-upon-Avon? 

While the most direct route to Stratford-upon-Avon follows the motorway almost all the way, you can take a slight detour through the rural Cotswolds , a region spread across six counties that puts England's old-world charm on full display. Here is where you'll find cozy coffee and cake shops, heritage cottages, hillside walks, and cobblestone streets. Some of the most popular villages are Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Castle Combe, and Stanton. Be aware, though, that the roads that connect these villages and Stratford-upon-Avon are often extremely narrow and windy.

What Is There to Do in Stratford-upon-Avon? 

Stratford-upon-Avon is best known for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare. It is now home to the Royal Shakespeare Company, which performs at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and adjacent Swan Theatre, both located on the River Avon. Other famous landmarks in Stratford-upon-Avon include Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's cottage, a 500-year-old half-timbered building where the late playwright's wife was born. There's a craft and farmers market that occupies the village every first and third Saturday of the month.

The easiest and fastest way to get there is by car, but you can also take a train or a bus.

It is 100 miles (160 kilometers) by road from London to Stratford-upon-Avon.

As it is only 100 miles and takes about one hour and 45 minutes to get there, this is a doable and fun day trip from London.

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• Stratford-upon-Avon Travel Guide

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: March 8, 2024

Our  Stratford-upon-Avon Travel Guide  includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for this historic English market town. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for anyone planning to visit Stratford-upon-Avon!

The pretty town of Stratford-upon-Avon is located in the heart of England’s Warwickshire countryside. Mention Startford and its most famous former resident will come immediately to mind. William Shakespeare was born, married, lived, died and is buried in the town.

As such Stratford-upon-Avon is a popular destination for literature lovers and history buffs.

The town is home to a plethora of cultural attractions, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, which stages productions at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

Visitors can also explore the charming streets of Stratford-upon-Avon’s historic town centre, which is filled with medieval timbered buildings and winding cobbled streets.

If you’re looking to indulge in some retail therapy, Stratford-upon-Avon has a wide range of independent shops and boutiques selling everything from artisanal crafts and locally made goods to high-street fashion and souvenirs.

The town is also home to a number of excellent restaurants, pubs, and cafes, offering a diverse range of cuisine to suit all tastes and budgets.

But Stratford-upon-Avon isn’t just a great place to visit for a day trip or a weekend getaway . Located on the northern edge of the Cotswolds the town is surrounded by beautiful countryside, making it a perfect base for exploring the region’s many charming villages and stunning natural beauty.

Whether you’re looking to relax and unwind in the peace and quiet of the countryside or experience the rich culture and history of England’s most famous playwright, Stratford-upon-Avon has something for everyone.

If you are planning to visit a number of sights and attractions in Warwickshire consider purchasing the Shakespeare’s England Explorer Pass . Save money on admission prices and choose from a pass that is valid for 1, 2, or 3 days. The pass includes entry to 9 attractions eg Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Kenilworth Castle.

When is the best time of year to visit Stratford-upon-Avon?

What is the best way to explore stratford-upon-avon, how to travel to stratford-upon-avon from london, favourite things to do and see in stratford, food and drink experiences & tours, where to eat and drink in stratford-upon-avon, accommodation in stratford-upon-avon, other popular places to visit near to stratford upon avon, enjoy your visit to stratford-upon-avon, plan your visit to stratford-upon-avon – faqs.

Stratford is a popular destination for visitors from overseas and Brits alike so it is worth taking a few things into consideration when planning your visit.

The weather in Stratford-upon-Avon is typical of the UK and can be unpredictable at any time of year. Summer (June to August) is generally the warmest and driest season, with average high temperatures ranging from 20-25°C (the mid-60s to low-70s Fahrenheit).

However, it can also be quite busy and touristy during this time. Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) tend to have more moderate temperatures and fewer crowds, making them good times to visit if you want to avoid the peak tourist season.

Winter (December to February) can be cold and wet, with average high temperatures ranging around 8-13°C (from the mid-40s to mid-50s Fahrenheit).

However, Stratford-upon-Avon is still a popular destination during the winter months, especially around the holidays.

Festivals and events

📚 Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival

The festival celebrates the rich literary heritage of Stratford-upon and features a variety of events and activities for literature lovers of all ages.

The festival typically takes place in the spring and features a range of events including talks and discussions with authors and other literary figures, workshops and masterclasses, book launches, and readings. Past participants have included a diverse range of authors and speakers, such as Margaret Atwood and J.K. Rowling.

🥂 Stratford-upon-Avon Food and Drink Festival – September 2023

The festival celebrates the region’s rich culinary heritage and features various events and activities focused on food and drink.

Enjoy a range of events including food and drink tastings, cooking demonstrations, workshops, and talks by chefs and other food industry professionals. The festival also includes a range of food and drink stalls and vendors selling a variety of local and international cuisines.

🎄 Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market

In the weeks leading up to Christmas head to Stratford for the Christmas market. Enjoy a range of events including carol singing and festive entertainment.

The market also includes a range of stalls and vendors selling a variety of Christmas gifts and decorations, as well as food and drink.

School holidays

If you want to avoid crowds, you may want to avoid visiting Stratford-upon-Avon during the school holidays, when the town can get quite busy.

The main school holiday periods in the UK are the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Easter holidays, and the summer holidays (late July to early September).

• Explore on foot

Walking is a great way to see the sights and get a feel for the town at your own pace. There are several walking tours available including this walking tour focusing on Shakespeare’s life .

There are also themed tours focusing on specific aspects of the town’s history and culture eg a Shakespeare & Hathaway TV Sites Tour , the Sinister Side of Stratford Walking Tour and the Dark Chronicles Horror Walking Tour.

• Take a boat tour

Stratford-upon-Avon is located on the River Avon which makes a boat tour a great way to see the town from a different perspective.

• Hop on hop off bus

If you prefer a guided tour and don’t want to do a lot of walking, a bus tour is a good option. A hop-on hop-off bus tour of Stratford-upon-Avon allows you to see the main sights and attractions at your own pace. It also includes some of the sights that are a little out of the town such as Anne Hathaway’s cottage.

If you are pushed for time the best way to visit Stratford from London may be to take an organised tour. Often these tours include a few other areas so this could be an opportunity to add other destinations into your itinerary.

Options include

• Oxford, Stratford & Cotswolds Guided Day-Trip – Admire the fairytale houses of the Cotswolds, the historic Oxford University, and the birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon on this 9-hour tour.
• Stonehenge, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Bath Day Trip – Uncover the secrets of Stonehenge, have free time to discover the city of Bath, soak up the charm of the Cotswolds, and visit Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon on this 12 hour day trip.
• Oxford, Warwick Castle, and Stratford-upon-Avon – Full-day trip to Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Warwick Castle from London.

The most direct service by train from London departs Marylebone Station. Most services have one change.

The journey takes approximately two hours and trains run frequently throughout the day.

Buy train tickets here.

If you are hiring a car in the UK and are starting your trip from London we advise that you get out of the capital first and pick up the car from an airport such as Heathrow or a larger town or city.

The total distance from London Heathrow to Stratford-upon-Avon is about 90 miles and the journey should take around 1 hour 30 mins – 2 hours, depending on traffic.

To get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London by coach take a National Express coach from Victoria Coach Station .

There are regular coaches from Victoria Coach Station to Stratford-upon-Avon, with a journey time of around 3 hours and 25 mins.

You can purchase tickets for National Express coaches online via Omio or at the coach station. It’s a good idea to book your tickets in advance, as prices can increase closer to the date of travel.

Attractions and things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon

• Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps and explore the house where he was born and grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon.

• Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall Entry Ticket and Tour

Step into the world of 16th-century William Shakespeare with this entry to his former schoolroom and the Guildhall. The interactive experience lets you sit in the very room where Shakespeare studied as a boy, taking part in a Tudor-style lesson.

• Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a historic thatched cottage located in the village of Shottery, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. It was the childhood home of Anne Hathaway, who was the wife of William Shakespeare. The cottage is now a museum and is open to the public.

As part of your visit to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, you can explore the historic rooms of the cottage and learn about the life and times of Anne Hathaway. The cottage has been carefully restored to reflect the period in which Anne lived, and the rooms are filled with period furnishings and artefacts.

In addition to the main cottage, there is also a beautiful garden to explore, which features a variety of plants and flowers that would have been familiar to Anne and her contemporaries.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is open to the public from March to October.

• Mary Arden’s Farm

Mary Arden’s Farm is a living history museum located in the village of Wilmcote, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the childhood home of Mary Arden, the mother of William Shakespeare, and is now a popular visitor attraction.

As part of your visit to Mary Arden’s Farm, you can step back in time and experience life on a Tudor farm. The farm is home to a variety of animals, including cows, sheep, pigs, and poultry, and there are daily demonstrations of traditional farming techniques, such as spinning and weaving.

In addition to the farm, there is also a Tudor house on the site that has been carefully restored to reflect the period in which Mary Arden lived. You can explore the house and learn about the daily life of a Tudor family.

Mary Arden’s Farm is open to the public from March to October.

• Royal Shakespeare Theatre

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a major repertory theatre located in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is home to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), one of the most prestigious theatre companies in the world.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a beautiful venue, with a stunning modernist design and state-of-the-art facilities. It is the main venue for the RSC’s productions of Shakespeare’s plays, as well as a range of other classical and contemporary productions.

If you’re visiting Stratford-upon-Avon and are interested in seeing a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, you can purchase tickets online or at the box office . The RSC typically has a range of productions on offer, so you can choose the one that interests you most.

In addition to seeing a play, you can also take a tour of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, which allows you to explore behind the scenes and learn about the history and operation of the venue.

• The MAD Museum

The MAD Museum (Mechanical Art and Design Museum) is dedicated to showcasing the work of local artists and designers. The museum is home to a collection of mechanical artworks, including kinetic sculptures and automata, as well as interactive exhibits and workshops.

As part of your visit to the MAD Museum, you can explore the museum’s collection of mechanical artworks and learn about the design and construction of these intricate pieces. The museum also hosts a range of workshops and events, where you can learn new skills and try your hand at creating your own mechanical artwork.

The MAD Museum is open to the public from Monday to Saturday

Included in the Explorer Pass

• Traditional Afternoon Tea Experience and Baking Class

Learn to bake scones and other treats for a classic afternoon tea during a baking class near Shakespeare’s house. The class takes place in a charming cottage near the town centre.

• Shakespearean Cooking Experience

All the recipes are from/inspired by Shakespeare’s plays and Elizabethan cooking – this is a unique cooking & baking experience and a great way to experience the culture at a local place.

• Sourdough Bread Making Lunch Experience

Learn how to make wholesome sourdough bread at an independent bakery in the heart of Stratford-Upon-Avon.

• Shakespeare Distillery Tour

Learn the secrets of gin making, find out how the spirits are influenced by Tudor-period distillery techniques and discover all the varied ingredients that create the award-winning Stratford Gin.

The Fourteas Tea Room

Vintage-themed cafe. There is an original Anderson shelter located in the garden!

Address – 24 Sheep Street, CV37 6EF

The Vintner

The Vintner is a wine bar located in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. It serves a locally sourced seasonal menu.

Address – 4-5 Sheep Street, CV37 6EF

The Windmill Inn

Serves British pub fare. Small beer garden.

Address – Church Street, CV37 6HB

The Deli Cafe

The Deli is a popular cafe located in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon. It serves a range of sandwiches, salads, and soups, as well as a selection of cakes and pastries.

Address – 13-14 Meer Street, CV37 6QB

• ￡￡￡ – The White Swan Hotel – Set in a Grade II listed building, this hotel combines historic charm with modern convenience .
• ￡ ￡ ￡ – The Arden Hotel Stratford – Situated opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre with free private parking.
• ￡￡ – Ashgrove House – B&B in a great location with excellent reviews
• ￡ ￡ – Shakespeare’s View – B&B accommodation with exceptional reviews
• ￡￡ – Hotel Du Vin Stratford – Hotel which features a bar, free WiFi and on-site dining.

More special stays –  Accommodation Guide for England

• Warwick Castle: Located just a short drive from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle is a historic castle that dates back to the 11th century. Visitors can explore the castle’s grounds and gardens, and see the medieval Great Hall and Banqueting Hall.
• The Cotswolds: The Cotswolds is a beautiful region of rolling hills and quaint villages located to the south of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is a popular destination for walking and cycling, and there are a number of charming towns and villages to explore, such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, and more.
• Oxford: Oxford is a city located about an hour’s drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is home to the world-famous University of Oxford and is a popular destination for its historic colleges, museums, and beautiful gardens.

• Birmingham: Birmingham is a major city located about an hour’s drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is home to a number of popular attractions, including the Bullring shopping centre, the National Sea Life Centre, and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
• Blenheim Palace : Blenheim Palace is a grand country house located about a 30-minute drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is home to the Duke of Marlborough and is a popular tourist attraction, with beautiful gardens, a historic parkland, and an ornate stately home.
• Hidcote Manor Garden: Hidcote Manor Garden is a beautiful garden located about a 20-minute drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is known for its distinctive “rooms”, each with its own unique character and planting scheme.

• The Roman Baths: The Roman Baths (in the city of Bath ) are a well-preserved Roman site located about an hour’s drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. Visitors can explore the baths and learn about the history of this important Roman site.
• Stonehenge: Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located about an hour and a half’s drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is one of the most famous landmarks in the UK .

Thanks for reading our guide to Stratford upon Avon – I am sure we have included everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Read more about visiting England and beyond:

• Birmingham Travel Guide
• Bath Travel Guide
• Bristol Travel Guide
• York Travel Guide
• Liverpool Travel Guide

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Shakespeare’s Birthplace

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Explore Shakespeare’s childhood world in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear tales of his time from costumed guides and his words come to life through dedicated resident actors.

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Shakespeare's New Place

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460 Years Ago, Shakespeare Was Born Here. Or Somewhere.

Every year, millions flock to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, to visit the house known as Shakespeare’s Birthplace. But was he really born there? A whole industry depends on it.

By Elizabeth Winkler

Sometime in the late 18th century, a sign appeared outside a shambly butcher’s hut in the English town of Stratford-upon-Avon: “The Immortal Shakspeare was born in this house,” it announced, using a then common spelling of his name. Devotees began making pilgrimages — dropping to their knees, weeping, singing odes: “Untouched and sacred be thy shrine, Avonian Willy, bard Divine!”

A tradesman grew rich selling carvings from a local mulberry tree, like pieces of the true cross. Some skeptics suspected that the sign was part of a scheme to bring visitors to Stratford; others wondered if it had been hung by the property’s occupant. A local antiquarian criticized the whole scene as “a design to extort pecuniary gratuities from the credulous and unwary.”

Pilgrims flocked to the house, and it became a site so hallowed that one visitor warned that the veneration of Shakespeare threatened to eclipse that of God:

Yet steals a sigh, as reason weighs/ The fame to Shakespeare given,/ That thousands, worshippers of him,/ Forget to worship Heaven!

About 250 years after its break from the Catholic Church, England had its own Bethlehem and manger.

The problem: No one really knows where Shakespeare was born.

Mock Tudors and magic wands

Stratford-upon-Avon lies two hours northwest of London in the Midlands, more or less the heart of England. Today, it is one of Britain’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing up to three million visitors a year. The Birthplace is its main attraction, followed by the cottage reputed to be the place where Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife, grew up.

Stratford exudes Elizabethan kitsch, with souvenir shops and half-timbered buildings. ​​In the 19th century, the Victorians tried to make Stratford look more “authentic,” which has left it teeming with mock Tudors.

It’s a town whose economy and identity revolve around Shakespearean fervor, which peaks every year on April 23, the date celebrated as Shakespeare’s birthday. It is also, conveniently, St. George’s Day , honoring the patron saint of England.

On my first visit in June 2021, I passed the Hathaway Tea Rooms and a cafe called the Food of Love, a cutesy name taken from “Twelfth Night” (“If music be the food of love, play on”). Confusingly, there were also several Harry Potter-themed shops. Stratford and Hogwarts, quills and wands, poems and spells . Then again, maybe the conflation was apt: Wasn’t Shakespeare a sort of boy wizard, magically endowed with inexplicable powers?

On Henley Street, I arrived at the Birthplace, a half-timbered house yellowed with age. Today, it looks like a single detached building, but it was originally a row of tenements. John Shakespeare bought one tenement on the street in 1556, though he also bought property on nearby Greenhill Street, which could just as easily have been the site of his son’s birth. He bought the property thought to be the Birthplace in 1575, 11 years after his son was born.

Those who believe in the Birthplace point to a record from 1552 showing that a John Shakespeare was fined for keeping a dung heap somewhere on Henley Street. It doesn’t specify the location, but that dung heap has fueled a theory that he must have been living there at the time of his son’s birth, perhaps as a renter.

Similarly, the claim for the authenticity of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage rests on a record that a John Hathaway leased the 90-acre farm on which the building stood 13 years before Anne was born in about 1556. The cottage may well be linked to the Hathaways, but there is no proof that Anne actually grew up in it, just as there is none that Shakespeare was born in the house on Henley Street.

Together, these traditions have sustained Stratford’s tourist industry, worth about $315 million in 2019, before the pandemic. But they have not convinced many skeptics over the years.

“Stratford permits — indeed encourages — one of the biggest frauds in England to rage unchecked,” the journalist Bernard Levin railed in The Daily Mail in 1965. “I mean those two monumental frauds, ‘Shakespeare’’s Birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.”

It didn’t help that hucksters have found ways to make the story profitable. In the early 19th century, a tenant of the Birthplace named Mrs. Hornby ran a lucrative hustle showing and selling Shakespeare’s “relics” to gullible visitors. The relics were eventually exposed in an 1848 article in Bentley’s Miscellany , which observed that four different chairs, each purporting to be “Shakespeare’s chair,” had been sold over the years, each made by a well-known local craftsman.

I entered through the Shakespeare Centre, a strange museum that acts as an antechamber to the Birthplace. There were no books owned by Shakespeare or letters in Shakespeare’s hand, because none are known to exist. Instead, a glass case displayed eight Shakespeare busts dating from 1844 to 2000. Another case featured a Shakespeare beer mug (1933), Shakespeare playing cards (1974) and a Shakespeare action figure made in China (2003).

Inside the Birthplace, I went from room to room with the other visitors. Guides regaled us with tales of Shakespeare’s childhood — how he played and ate and dreamed in these rooms. Of course, his childhood is actually a yawning blank: From his baptism in 1564 to his marriage in 1582, there are no records of him. In one room, a table displayed books, quills and ink, indicating a family of learning — but his parents signed documents with a mark, like many illiterate people in Tudor England.

The other visitors murmured to one another in reverent museum whispers and nodded at the guides. I thought of how, in the late 19th century, a Birthplace custodian named Joseph Skipsey resigned his post after a few months, explaining that “not a single one of the many so-called relics on exhibition could be proved to be Shakspere’s” and that “the Birthplace itself is a matter of grave doubt.”

The power of popular faith

Efforts to preserve the property as the official Birthplace began in 1847, when it was put up for sale. In response to fears that P.T. Barnum was going to buy it and make it part of a show, a committee was formed to “save” the house for the nation, and the group began to solicit donations.

Not everyone was convinced. “The extraordinary sensation caused by the purchase of this shabby sausage-shop deserves a prominent place amongst popular delusions,” declared the 1848 Bentley’s Miscellany article . A writer for another British periodical mocked the gullibility of a nation pouring forth funds to buy a “rubbishing mass of lath and plaster in which the Poet was no more born than was the Man in the Moon himself.”

But the belief had already become an article of faith, strengthened by its own repetition. The Birthplace was a better shrine for the very absence of evidence — for the faith it required of its visitors — the publisher Charles Knight wrote at the time. That same year, the committee secured the Birthplace at auction for 3,000 pounds, worth about $323,000 today .

The “shabby sausage-shop” made an uninspiring temple. So the adjoining premises were demolished, walls moved, floorboards replaced, new doorways and staircases created. Its new stewards transformed it into the large, comfortable home of a prosperous Elizabethan family, leaving the cellar as “the only portion which remains as it was,” as the scholar Sidney Lee wrote in 1901. What emerged was less a Tudor dwelling than a Victorian imagination of one.

The committee became the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust , the group that still runs the site, and maintains its authenticity. “We know that, to the best of our current understanding, the building includes the surviving fabric of a property that is traditionally and intimately associated with Shakespeare and his family,” said a spokesman for the trust.

The trust went on to acquire more properties, including Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, a thatched farmhouse where visitors are invited to “relive Shakespeare’s love story.”

A temple to baby Shakespeare

“This is the room where we believe William Shakespeare was born in April 1564,” read a sign in the Birthroom. Next to the bed stood a cradle laid out with blankets and a tiny pillow, encouraging visitors to imagine the baby genius mewling by his parents’ side. For the Victorians, the Birthroom offered the mystical possibility of contact with the poet. Visitors recorded melodramatic accounts of what they felt on entering the room: They burst into tears. They fell down. They kissed the floor. Those desiring a more extended communion spent the night.

Others were unimpressed. “If I were to allude to Stratford, it would not be in connection with the fact that Shakespeare came into the world there,” wrote the novelist Henry James after visiting. “It would be rather to speak of a delightful old house near the Avon which struck me as the ideal home for a Shakespearean scholar.”

But the fantasy is resilient. In a 2023 PBS documentary, “ Making Shakespeare: The First Folio ,” the scholar Michael Dobson, director of the Shakespeare Institute, stood in the Birthplace, gushing over “the very room in which Shakespeare was born.”

I shuffled around the cradle with the other visitors, unsure of what to do. Were we supposed to genuflect? Kiss it? After an appropriate amount of staring, we moved on.

To exit, I had to pass through the gift shop, where any lingering sense of piety dissipated in a tidal wave of consumerism. Visitors were loading up on Shakespeare T-shirts, breakfast teas and tea towels. Shakespeare rubber ducks and windup toys. Shakespeare Christmas ornaments, baby onesies, tote bags and luxury chocolates. Belief is good business.

When I returned to Stratford last February, little had changed since my first visit. The Shakespeare Centre was now showing modern artists’ interpretations of the poet, including a Surrealist painting of a masked figure that suggested the mystery surrounding him. The trinket stands were still hawking their modern versions of those 18th-century mulberry tree carvings. Faith in the traditions is bound up with desire — the need to believe.

Where was “the Immortal Shakspeare” really born? Stories are usually more seductive than the truth.

Sheelagh McNeill contributed research.

Elizabeth Winkler is a journalist, a critic and the author of “ Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies: How Doubting the Bard Became the Biggest Taboo in Literature .”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

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Restaurant near Coventry with 'finely tuned seasonal dishes' awarded with 3 AA Rosettes

Salt in Stratford-upon-Avon offers diners 'modern and complex dishes'

• 05:00, 24 FEB 2024

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Many restaurants across the UK have been awarded Rosettes for culinary excellence. One restaurant in Warwickshire was described to have 'finely tuned seasonal dishes' by an AA inspector who awarded the restaurant with three rosettes.

Salt, located in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon offers seasonal tasting menus with vegetarian options offered in a warm and snug space with a patio and fireplace. The restaurant is owned by chef Paul Foster and was launched via a Kickstarter campaign in 2016.

Paul quit his job, used all his savings and spent a month panicking if the project would work, but the funding drive raised over £100,000 and with the additional help from investors, Salt became a reality.

Read more: Michelin-star pub offering 'a foodie experience' named one of UK's best

Read more: The 'stunning' waterfall' near Coventry that has 'great wildlife' and 'peaceful views'

Salt opened in 2017 and is described as a fine-dining restaurant using the best produce, served in a relaxing atmosphere where you can sit back, be comfortable, and enjoy the dining experience. After just being open for a year and a half, the eatery got its first ever Michelin Star and 6/10 in the Good Food Guide.

In 2020, they opened Salt Cookery School and Chef's table above the restaurant, offering a range of cookery courses from fish preparation, and meat butchery to bread and pasta. They also use the cookery school as a private dining space where they cook in front of diners for a live cooking experience.

The Michelin Guide states that the team 'knows their stuff' and each creative dish is 'served with a full explanation of its makeup' with a clean and unfussy style. When diners tuck into the dishes, they will discover a range of flavours and textures, with playful combinations such as sweetbreads with cauliflower and coconut.

The AA Rosette website describes the restaurant as 'charming' - with two rooms, with one having an open view of the kitchen. The restaurant has 'neutral colours, chunky tables and flagstone floors' to add to the rustic look, but the food is 'big on flavour, modern and deceptively complex'.

The AA inspector recommends Jersey Royals when they are 'in season' of skin on pieces cooked in seaweed butter with a homemade salad cream and sea lettuce. Or, a 'carefully cooked' juicy piece of Isle of Gigha halibut with Wye Valley asparagus, crème fraîche and a drizzle of verdant lovage oil.

In terms of the menu, they currently offer a 4-course set Winter Menu for £65pp on Wednesday and Thursday evenings alongside the dinner tasting menu. Usually, a four-course lunch costs £62pp, £75pp for 6-course, £42pp for 4 glass drinks pairing and £48pp for 5 glass drinks pairing. The menu changes regularly and also offers a 'unique' wine list, as well as local beers and premium spirits.

Other items on the menu include:

• Aged sirloin tartare, pickled pear, salt-baked swede
• Roasted monkfish, coco beans, crème fraiche, lovage
• Carrot cooked in chicken fat, crispy chicken skin, pickled carrot

Hafod Cheddar, Guinness pickle, treacle cake

Cornish turbot, St Austell mussels, squash, lovage

Equatorial chocolate crémeux, almonds, blackberries

The restaurant has a 4.5-star rating on Tripadvisor, with a Traveller's Choice Badge for 2023. Other ratings include food (4.5/5), service (4/5), value (4.5/5) and atmosphere (4.5/5).

Elaine G said: "On our first visit to this restaurant, we thoroughly enjoyed the 6-course tasting menu together with the matching wine flight. Each course was superb, with excellent flavours and presentation. The wines selected for us matched each course perfectly. A very pleasant, comfortable and happy atmosphere and the staff and service were top-notch. Excellent value for money for a Michelin-starred restaurant. Will return."

Paul J said: "Fantastic experience. Wonderful staff who were so welcoming and made us feel at home. The food was beautiful, not everyone liked every dish equally but all were interesting. Highlights were the 11-year-old bread, the carrots (unbelievably good), the best beef we have ever had, and the fudge. The paired wines were great, and we were given just the right amount of information about them."

Jayne M added: "Salt continues to deliver outstanding food. Courses are seasonally focused so on the menu was Vale asparagus and lamb to name a few - all bursting with flavour and elevated in a way only the best chefs and restaurants can. Service from the team is informative and relaxed including wine from the menu which is on point. Fabulous dinner for any time and highly recommend it."

Where to find Salt:

• Location: 8 Church St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6HB
• Opening times: 12pm-1:30pm and 6pm-8:30pm Wednesday to Saturday
• Bookings : To make a reservation, visit the Salt website.

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Much ado about dining in shakespeare's stratford.

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Historic Stratford town on river Avon is the birthplace and gravesite of playwright and poet William ... [+] Shakespeare.

The homeland of William Shakespeare, Stratford upon Avon is a historic market town in the English countryside of Warwickshire, known for its meandering river, rowing boats, half-timbered Tudor architecture, and world-renowned stage, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

But, in addition to the obvious, it’s also a honeypot of cuisine: a culinary tour-de-force ranging from top-notch quirky afternoon teas to gastropubs, fine dining and modern boltholes with river views and Michelin-starred tasting menus.

So stroll along its quaint lanes and receive an authentic taste education.

The Fourteas Tea-Room Brasserie

Perched on Sheep Street, The Fourteas Tea-Room Brasserie is a cheerful embrace of big-band swing and 40’s nostalgia. Rich ochre and cranberry-painted walls are adorned with enlistment posters, gas masks, and memorabilia, but achieve a fine balance of class and quirk.

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Dive into its Ivor Novello Afternoon Tea served on chic 1940s china wear with champagne, loose-leaf tea, and a quintessential triple-tier display.

Sandwiches are deliciously deep-filled, from Scottish salmon and dill to coronation chicken and mango chutney, followed by homemade pancetta quiche and light scones with strawberry jam.

Mini cakes dance on top with a citrus treacle tart, a chocolate cup with a melting mousse middle, a blood orange cheesecake, and a traditional rum-soaked fruit cake.

The Coach House

Dating back over 477 years, The Coach House won “Best Pub” in the 2022 Foodie Awards and took a finalist spot in the 2023 National British Pub Awards.

Snuggle into Chesterfield booths surrounded by peaky blinders-era bottle green subway tiles and red tassel vintage light shades as you chew flat iron steak with fondue, ‘Sharing is caring’ boards with seasoned fries loaded with cheese, bacon, and fried eggs, or vegan platters with cauliflower wings and jalapeno poppers.

Peruse seven Davenport Ales from cask and keg and participate in the pub percussion as you tambourine with silky-voiced crooners singing King of the Swingers at weekends.

Greek Platters

El Greco is an independent Greek bolthole on Rother Street, cozy and intimate, with whitewashed walls and glittery tiled walkways.

It is a true family affair with Chef Patron Dimitrios leading the kitchen, his wife overseeing the front of house, and their son, Olympios, on glass washing!

Their 22-dish Hellenic banquet is a feast for the eyes with oven-warm pitta dipped in salty taramosalata and creamy tzatziki, spanakopita spinach parcels, morish chargrilled halloumi cheese, Fasula, and calamari squid rings.

As you swan through to the main course, gorge on loukaniko sausages, keftedes meatballs, stifado stew, grilled souvlaki, nutty short grain rice, and stuffed vine leaves topped off with moussaka.

The One Elm

Rustic Courtyard

The One Elm is a Mediterranean gastropub on Guild Street, as part of Peach Pubs, a collection of twenty-one local pubs dotted in towns and villages across England, winning Best Sustainable Pub Company in 2022.

Glide across encaustic entryway tiles past exposed beams, and you’ll clock roaring open log fires, cozy booths upholstered in rich kilim, country-style dressers, vintage tables, African wicker lampshades, and a rustic courtyard just a stone’s throw from Shakespeare’s birthplace.

Kick back, and you can sip a rum and banana cocktail accompanied by hefty halloumi chips before nibbling on mussels with a Thai twist, fine cuts of sirloin, or hearty lamb tenderloins with sweet, creamy celeriac gratin on a bed of bitter wilted spinach.

The Rooftop Restaurant at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Afternoon Tea

High up in the tower, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre serves A Midsummer Night’s Dream Afternoon Tea with a birds-eye view over Stratford upon Avon, perfect for a pre-matinee bite.

Choose from an array of sumptuous loose-leaf teas, from Jasmine Dragon Pearl to Early Grey blue flower and white tea elderflower, before nibbling on Scottish smoked salmon, and Burford Brown egg mayonnaise served on brioche. The in-house pastry chef prepares creative additions such as Mediterranean vegetable tartlet, foraged mushroom arancini, and Chicken parfait savory éclairs.

There are, of course, perfect freshly baked mixed fruit scones with clotted cream, but the jewel-colored sweet fancies on the top are the crowning glory.

Savour bites of Mulberry jam and violet macaroons, rhubarb and lemon posset, passion fruit cream cake, and chocolate cup cappuccino mousse.

No 44. Brasserie

Sat opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on Chapel Lane, No 44. Brasserie is the Arden Hotel’s 2 AA Rosette fine dining restaurant.

Step up from the street of Chapel Lane onto an Orangerie-style porch as you sink into deep velvet banquet chairs surrounded by warm little lamps.

After you’ve sipped a fizzy Aperol spritz, indulge in a game terrine or king prawns in semolina with dots of delicately layered jus.

Melting Monkfish masala is served with zesty lemon rice and fresh pea shoots, whilst sticky toffee pudding is enshrouded in a deep pool of rich sauce.

Bonus Tip: Theatregoers can pay a visit before a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with No 44. Brasserie’s 2-course pre-theatre menu.

The Boathouse

Perched on Swans Nest with gaping views of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Boathouse was opened in 2019 by award-winning chef Nick Rowberry.

Gaze across the light-dappled River Avon on sumptuous velvet seats surrounded by crystal chandeliers, a zinc-topped bar, and protea floral arrangements on a rustic backdrop of reclaimed wood, fisherman’s lanterns, and salvaged rowing boats.

Here, you can sip Malfy Italian gin slings and sink your teeth into tempura battered crab in bao buns or smokey clam seafood chowder.

Locally sourced specials take the lead with creamy, delicate lemon sole with punchy samphire or venison on a bed of earthy wild mushrooms and rosti.

The Woodsman

Hidden inside Hotel Indigo on Chapel Street, The Woodsman sits in a rustic-chic 16th-century former residence with Tudor half-timbering, oak beams, taxidermy falcons, and country house decor, the perfect home for its upscale farm-to-table cuisine.

Strut past three bars en route to The Woodsman with shelves stacked with Shakespeare gins, a mixologist pushing punchy Chilli and coriander margaritas, and an aperitifs trolley shaking out everything from classic barrel-aged negroni to Laurent-Perrier.

Conservationist and the UK’s most famous game chef, Mike Robinson, is the resident chef, attracting discerning diners who flock for his wood-fired produce from Gilthead bream sourced from small Cornish fishing boats to Deer hunted locally and butchered on site.

The kitchen furnace is positioned right at the center of The Woodsman, producing heritage beetroot and goats cheese bites, duck slices with smoked egg yolk, Saint Austell bay mussels with grape and celeriac samphire sauce, and Bathurst estate fallow Deer scattered with parsnip crisps and hazelnut — followed by rhubarb and hibiscus grenadine on a wafer-thin almond pastry and a 70% chocolate mousse with olive oil ice cream.

Shakespaw Cat Cafe

Tucked away on Union Street, Shakespespaw Cat Cafe is a snug, eclectic, vintage tea room where you can pour tea from a teapot shaped like King Henry VII’s head and meet roaming moggies like Hamlet and Horatio (its two Persian fluffies) surrounded by fairy lights, oilcloth, and kitsch kitty artwork.

Sip loose-leaf lady grey as cats scale the roof on platforms, snooze in fluffy pods next to you, and jump on your table to say hello.

Nibble on kitty crumpets, chili jam waffles, coronation chicken fingers, and scones bordered by wedges of lemon drizzle and coffee cake.

Salt is Stratford’s Michelin-starred restaurant with a European feel, founded by Paul Foster thanks to a Kickstarter campaign.

Tiptoe across flagged floors under exposed timbers, and you'll find an open kitchen and The Chef's Table for private bookings and communal supper clubs where you can watch Foster's precise techniques to craft expert dishes or join his online cooking masterclasses in everything from bread making to perfecting the finest Béarnaise sauce.

Start with malt glaze mini loaves, tiny unami wild fungi toasts, and Charlotte potatoes with Barbecue mayonnaise coil oil before nibbling tender Cornish cod accompanied with lovage, steamed carrot, chicken, and miso popcorn, sweetbreads in curry emollient, Hampshire fallow saddle and a finale of white chocolate ganache with passionfruit.

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On this day in history, April 24, 1800, Library of Congress is born, oldest federal cultural institution in US

O n this day in history , April 24, 1800, President John Adams — the second president of the United States — approved the appropriation of $5,000 for the purchase of "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress," according to the website of the Library of Congress.

The research library — the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States — is celebrating its 223rd birthday on Monday, April 24, 2023. 

The books that Adams referred to — first purchased for the Library of Congress — were ordered from London. 

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They arrived in 1801, the library also explains on its site.

The collection of 740 volumes and three maps was stored in the U.S. Capitol , which was the library's first home. 

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Then, on Jan. 26, 1802, President Thomas Jefferson approved the first legislation that clearly defined the role and functions of the new institution, the library also explains on its website.

Jefferson was the primary shaper of the Library of Congress, it notes, as he "believed that a democratic legislature needed information and ideas in all subjects to do its work."

It goes on, "From the beginning, however, the institution was more than a legislative library, for an 1802 law made the appointment of the Librarian of Congress a presidential responsibility. It also permitted the president and vice president to borrow books , a privilege that eventually was extended to the judiciary, officials of government agencies, and, under certain conditions, members of the public."

Jefferson, over time, remained keenly interested in the library, it says in its history — and instrumental to its continued existence.

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"In 1814, when the British invaded Washington, they destroyed the Capitol, including the Library of Congress. By then retired to Monticello, Jefferson offered to sell his personal library of more than 6,000 volumes to Congress."

That purchased "was approved in 1815, doubling the size of the library. It also expanded the scope of the collections."

Notes the library as well, "Anticipating the argument that his collection might be too wide-ranging and comprehensive for use by a legislative body, Jefferson argued that there was ‘no subject to which a member of Congress may not have occasion to refer.’ The Jeffersonian concept of universality is the philosophy and rationale behind the comprehensive collecting policies of today's library."

It was not until 1897 that the Library of Congress moved into its own building — almost 100 years after its founding.

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"Congress gave the Librarian of Congress sole responsibility for making the Library's rules and regulations," the library says, "and invested in the Senate the authority to approve a president's nomination of a Librarian of Congress."

"Since World War II , [the Library of Congress] has become an international resource of unparalleled dimension and the world's largest library," the library itself notes. 

"In its three massive structures on Capitol Hill, the Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and James Madison Memorial Buildings, the Library of Congress brings together the concerns of government, learning, and librarianship — an uncommon combination, but one that has greatly benefited American scholarship and culture ."

However, others stepped in and were responsible for the library's continued growth and development.

Says the library on its website, "The individual responsible for transforming the Library of Congress into an institution of national significance was Ainsworth Rand Spofford, Librarian of Congress from 1864 to 1897."

He "applied Jefferson's philosophy on a grand scale," notes the library. 

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"He linked the library's legislative and national functions , building a comprehensive collection for both the legislature and the nation. In obtaining greatly increased support from Congress, Spofford employed a combination of logic, flattery and nationalistic rhetoric."

By 1867, "his acquisitions made the Library of Congress the largest library in the United States."

Among his other top achievements: In 1870, he centralized all U.S. copyright activities at the library — "which ensured the continuing growth of the collections by stipulating that two copies of every book, pamphlet, map, print and piece of music registered for copyright be deposited in the library — and construction of a separate building, a 26-year struggle [that was] not completed until 1897."

Through a service begun by Herbert Putnam, head of the Library of Congress from 1889 to 1939, the library makes its catalog available to many thousands of subscribing American libraries and institutions, Britannica.com points out.

To Putnam, says the library itself, "a national library was more than a comprehensive collection housed in Washington. It was ‘a collection universal in scope, which has a duty to the country as a whole.’ He defined that duty as service to scholarship, both directly and through other libraries."

The Library of Congress has continued to grow over the years — "balancing its legislative, national, and, after World War II, international roles," it says.

"Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish (1939-1944) stressed the library's roles as a symbol of democracy and a cultural institution," the website of the library indicates. 

"Luther H. Evans (1945-1953) pushed forward the library's bibliographic and international activities. [And] L. Quincy Mumford (1954-1974) greatly expanded all the library's roles, but particularly its bibliographic activities and foreign acquisitions."

Then, under the leadership of historian Daniel J. Boorstin, Librarian of Congress from 1975-1987, the library's "visibility" greatly increased, the library says of its own history.

"Boorstin's successor, historian James H. Billington (1987-2015) … vigorously pursued a similar course." The library said he "established private sector support groups and an educational role for the library, using new technologies to share the library's collections with the nation."

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On Sept. 14, 2016, Carla Hayden was sworn in as 14th Librarian of Congress, nominated to the position by President Obama on Feb. 24, 2016. Her nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 13, 2016. 

Here are some other facts and figures associated with today's Library of Congress (all figures courtesy of the library itself). 

1. It today contains more than 173 million items.

2. Every working day, the library receives some 15,000 items and adds more than 10,000 items to its collections.

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3. Since 1962, the Library of Congress has maintained offices abroad to acquire, catalog and preserve library and research materials.

4. About half the library's book and serial collections are in languages other than English.

5. The Law Library of Congress is the world's largest law library , with more than 2.9 million volumes.

6. The library holds the largest rare-book collection in North America (over 700,000 volumes), including the largest collection of 15th-century books in the Western Hemisphere.

7. The library has approximately 100 extremely rare children's books, including "The Children's New Play-Thing" (Philadelphia, 1763) and "The Children's Bible" (Philadelphia, 1763).

8. Foremost among the Manuscript Division's holdings are the papers of 23 presidents, ranging from George Washington, first president, to Calvin Coolidge, the nation's 30th president. 

9. The Gutenberg Bible, one of the treasures of the Library of Congress, was purchased in 1930. The 15th-century work is one of three perfect copies on vellum in the world.

10. The Library of Congress, in addition, has the most comprehensive collection of American music in the world: over 22 million items, including 8.2 million pieces of sheet music.

11. The American Folklife Center administers the Veterans History Project, created by Congress in 2000 to preserve the reminiscences of the nation’s war veterans . To date, more than 100,000 submissions have been collected.

12. The American Folklife Center also administers and preserves the StoryCorps project, a nationwide grassroots initiative to record the oral histories of ordinary citizens. 

13. Since 1931, the library has provided books for the blind in Braille and on sound recordings. 

14. The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled has replaced its inventory of recordings on audio cassettes with newly developed Digital Talking Books and digital playback equipment.

15. The X (formerly known as Twitter) account of the Library of Congress has 1.2 million followers. 

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Original article source: On this day in history, April 24, 1800, Library of Congress is born, oldest federal cultural institution in US