WORLDWIDE tourist magnet Shakespeare’s Birthplace will reopen its doors to visitors on August 1 after being closed for more than four months due to the pandemic.
The property in the heart of Stratford has been awarded Visit Britain’s new ‘We’re Good to Go’ safety accreditation for Covid-19 safe attractions, with new measures in place across the building, garden and shop, and an online advanced ticketing system in place.
Tim Cooke, chief executive of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT), the independent charity which cares for the Shakespeare heritage in his home town, said: “Reopening Shakespeare’s Birthplace is an important statement for the UK as a whole as the culture and tourism sectors do their very best to find a way beyond the Covid crisis. Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare’s story offer iconic, unique and memorable experiences for visitors from home and abroad.
“With the help of emergency funding from Arts Council England, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is taking the first steps on a journey of survival and recovery. While our charity has many challenges ahead and times remain uncertain, we are determined to take a lead locally, nationally and internationally in championing the UK’s culture and heritage by sharing Shakespeare’s work, life and times both physically and digitally.”
All visitors will be required to wear face coverings, follow a one-way route, and maintain social distancing of 2 metres throughout. In order to manage capacity and to ensure the comfort and safety of visitors, tickets must be booked online in advance through our website www.shakespeare.org.uk. Tickets are on sale now.
The four other Shakespeare family homes in SBT’s care – Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Shakespeare’s New Place, Hall’s Croft, and Mary Arden’s Farm – will not reopen before spring next year at the earliest.
SBT s suffering a loss of income of some £8.5million due to the impact of the pandemic.
