Alcester

Alcester is the quintessential English market town, an architectural gem with a lively community feel set in the attractive, rolling 'Shakespeare's Countryside', just seven miles west of Stratford-on-Avon. Situated on the River Arrow, its medieval street pattern survives almost intact, along with many ancient properties including the wonderful church of St Nicholas with its 14th century tower and the early 17th century town hall.

Alcester is very near the Cotswolds which has some of the most beautiful scenery in England as well as many picturesque towns and villages.

Alcester's history extends back to the Romans. The town has been the subject of numerous archaeological digs and is now one of the best understood Roman settlements in the country. See the History Section for more information.

You can explore the town centre with the aid of a heritage trail which incorporates our most important historic buildings, our wonderful selection of traditional pubs and coaching inns and other restaurants and a fascinating array of traditional, independent shops including antiques and other specialist retailers.

Getting there and around There is a direct train service from London and Birmingham to Stratford upon Avon and a regular bus service from Stratford to Alcester.

Places close to Alcester

Airports near here

Attractions near here

  • Shakespeare's Birthplace(11.2 km)
    Step into the house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 and re-enter the Tudor world. Newly refurbished, the house now offers visitors a fascinating insight into life as it was when Shakespeare was a child.
  • Hidcote Manor Gardens(18.7 km)
    Hidcote Manor Garden is one of England's great gardens. It was the life's passion of one man, self-taught gardener Lawrence Johnston who created his 'garden of rooms'.
  • Warwick Castle(20.5 km)
    The town of Warwick is situated near the centre of England, 8 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon. Warwick Castle is the finest mediaeval castle in England, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom.
  • Sudeley Castle(30 km)
    Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Cotswold Hills near the village of Winchcombe, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England's past.
  • Hook Norton Brewery(35.5 km)
    Hook Norton Brewery is a regional brewery in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, England, founded in 1849. The brewing plant is a traditional Victorian "tower" brewery in which all the stages of the brewing process flow logically from floor to floor.
  • Christ Church College(66.7 km)
    Christ Church is one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford and the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford. Located on St Aldate's it has a busy academic community of about 450 undergraduates and 150 graduate students.

Cities and towns near here

  • Great Alne(3.4 km)
    Great Alne is a pretty village located just outside the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. The village is made up of pretty cottages and a fantastic 400 year old pub. The village has easy access to Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham, warwick and other towns.
  • Bearley(9.7 km)
  • Stratford-upon-Avon(11.3 km)
    Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town established in 1196, occupies a unique position in British cultural heritage as the birthplace and home of William Shakespeare, Britain’s greatest playwright. Key properties associated with Shakespeare’s life have been exceptionally well preserved so visitors can experience a real flavour of life as Shakespeare and his contemporaries would have lived it. Stratford’s beautiful setting on the River Avon in the area known as the Heart of England, its excellent shops, restaurants, tea rooms and pubs, and the fact that it is the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, all make it a superb homestay location.
  • Stratford-upon-Avon(11.3 km)
    Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town established in 1196, occupies a unique position in British cultural heritage as the birthplace and home of William Shakespeare, Britain’s greatest playwright. Key properties associated with Shakespeare’s life have been exceptionally well preserved so visitors can experience a real flavour of life as Shakespeare and his contemporaries would have lived it. Stratford’s beautiful setting on the River Avon in the area known as the Heart of England, its excellent shops, restaurants, tea rooms and pubs, and the fact that it is the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, all make it a superb homestay location.
  • Stratford-upon-Avon(11.3 km)
    Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town established in 1196, occupies a unique position in British cultural heritage as the birthplace and home of William Shakespeare, Britain’s greatest playwright. Key properties associated with Shakespeare’s life have been exceptionally well preserved so visitors can experience a real flavour of life as Shakespeare and his contemporaries would have lived it. Stratford’s beautiful setting on the River Avon in the area known as the Heart of England, its excellent shops, restaurants, tea rooms and pubs, and the fact that it is the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, all make it a superb homestay location.
  • Evesham(15 km)
    Evesham is a pleasant town on the banks of the River Avon.
  • Wellesbourne(18.9 km)
  • Leamington Spa(24.1 km)
  • Worcester(24.3 km)
  • Birmingham(29.6 km)
    Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK. Birmingham is located in the central part of England and served by Birmingham airport, east Midlands airport and with a regular, fast direct train service to London. Birmingham is a culturally diverse city and an excellent city in which to learn English.
  • Winchcombe(30 km)
    Winchcombe is a traditional English village located in the heart of the Cotswolds.
  • Coventry(32 km)
    Coventry is a city dominated by its stunning state of the art Cathedral, with wide pedestranised streets, modern architecture, good shopping facilities, fashionable restaurants, luxurious modern hotels, parks and gardens, theatres, and sports venues.
  • Hook Norton(36 km)
  • Bourton-on-the-Water(37.7 km)
  • Cheltenham(38.1 km)
    Located in the rolling countryside of the county of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham is a fascinating town boasting picturesque architecture and unique shops. Cheltenham is also known as the 'gateway to the Cotswolds' due to its convenient access to this picturesque region.
  • Banbury(40 km)
  • Deddington(45.7 km)
    Deddington is a small market town with a population of about 2,000. Location in between Oxford and Banbury, Deddington is on the edge of the Cotswolds and is a wonderfully attractive village with traditional stone cottages.
  • Charlbury(46.5 km)
  • North Leigh(53.4 km)
  • Carterton(54.2 km)
  • Hereford(60.6 km)
  • Faringdon(65.1 km)
  • Oxford(66.5 km)
    Oxford is one of Europe’s great cities, famous for its ancient university and outstandingly beautiful with its many towers and spires of golden stone. As a centre of learning and culture, it offers the visitor a huge range of cultural experiences. At the same time, Oxford has always been a thriving modern city with successful industries and great entertainment facilities, including excellent shopping, hundreds of pubs and restaurants, many cinemas and theatres and an exciting night life. This mix of old and new, of scholarly tradition and popular British culture, makes Oxford the ideal location for a homestay.
  • Oxford(66.5 km)
    Oxford is one of Europe’s great cities, famous for its ancient university and outstandingly beautiful with its many towers and spires of golden stone. As a centre of learning and culture, it offers the visitor a huge range of cultural experiences. At the same time, Oxford has always been a thriving modern city with successful industries and great entertainment facilities, including excellent shopping, hundreds of pubs and restaurants, many cinemas and theatres and an exciting night life. This mix of old and new, of scholarly tradition and popular British culture, makes Oxford the ideal location for a homestay.
  • Oxford(66.5 km)
    Oxford is one of Europe’s great cities, famous for its ancient university and outstandingly beautiful with its many towers and spires of golden stone. As a centre of learning and culture, it offers the visitor a huge range of cultural experiences. At the same time, Oxford has always been a thriving modern city with successful industries and great entertainment facilities, including excellent shopping, hundreds of pubs and restaurants, many cinemas and theatres and an exciting night life. This mix of old and new, of scholarly tradition and popular British culture, makes Oxford the ideal location for a homestay.
  • Lydney(69.7 km)
  • Blakemere(74.4 km)
  • Marlow(103.6 km)

Famous People

  • William Shakespeare(11.3 km)
    Shakespeare's reputation as dramatist and poet actor is unique and he is considered by many to be the greatest playwright of all time, although many of the facts of his life remain mysterious. William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire and was baptised on 26 April 1564

English links