About
Shakespeare's New Place is one of the most significant and evocative sites in the Shakespeare story: the location of New Place, the large and prestigious house that William Shakespeare purchased in 1597 as a symbol of his success and which remained the home of his family until his granddaughter Elizabeth's death in 1670. The original house was demolished in 1759 by its then-owner, the Reverend Francis Gastrell, who was irritated by the constant stream of visitors, but the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has since created a remarkable visitor experience on the site that combines the adjacent Nash's House, archaeology, and a beautifully interpreted garden to bring the lost house back to life.
New Place was the second-largest house in Stratford-upon-Avon when Shakespeare bought it in 1597 for the considerable sum of sixty pounds, a clear demonstration of the financial success he had achieved as playwright and shareholder in the Globe Theatre. The house had five gables, ten fireplaces, and extensive grounds, and it served as the family home of Shakespeare's wife Anne and their daughters Susanna and Judith while he spent much of his working life in London. Shakespeare retired to New Place in 1612 or 1613 and spent the final years of his life here before his death in 1616.
Nash's House, adjacent to the New Place site, was the home of Thomas Nash, who married Shakespeare's granddaughter Elizabeth Hall in 1626. It is a fine sixteenth-century townhouse that has been carefully furnished and interpreted to evoke the domestic life of a comfortable Elizabethan and Jacobean household. The house contains displays exploring the history of Stratford-upon-Avon, the Shakespeare family, and the story of New Place from its construction in the 1490s to its demolition in 1759.
The garden occupying the site of New Place is one of the most thoughtfully designed elements of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust experience. Rather than attempting a literal recreation of the lost house or its Elizabethan garden, the Trust commissioned a contemporary garden design that responds to the history of the site through planting, landscaping, and interpretive art. The result is a space of great beauty and contemplative power, offering visitors room to reflect on Shakespeare's life and legacy in the place that was most personally his own.
Archaeological investigation has revealed foundations and artefacts from the original New Place house, and elements of this investigation are incorporated into the visitor experience, allowing visitors to see what has been discovered beneath the ground and understand the physical reality of Shakespeare's lost home.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- New Place is the most historically significant of all the Trust properties — it was Shakespeare's own home — but it requires imagination as the house no longer stands.
- The garden is exceptional — allow at least 30 minutes simply to explore and enjoy this beautifully designed space.
- A combined ticket for all five Trust properties is excellent value — New Place sits naturally on a route with Shakespeare's Birthplace and Hall's Croft.
- Look for the mulberry tree — a successor to the one Shakespeare allegedly planted in 1609, cut down by the infuriated Reverend Gastrell.
- The archaeological displays showing foundations of the original New Place are fascinating for those who want to understand what the building actually looked like.
- The adjacent Guild Chapel and grammar school where Shakespeare was educated can be seen from the entrance — worth a brief detour.
- Summer garden events and theatrical performances in the Great Garden are superb — check the Trust's events calendar before visiting.
- The area around New Place, Hall's Croft, and Holy Trinity Church is the quietest and most historically authentic part of Stratford.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
Shakespeare's New Place and Nash's House hold period furnishings and decorative art in Nash's House, an important collection of displays on Stratford local history, archaeological finds from the New Place site, and the contemporary designed garden. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's main research library and archive is held centrally.
Nash's House: Stratford Through the Ages
Displays in Nash's House exploring the history of Stratford-upon-Avon from the medieval period to the present, with period furnished rooms and interpretive material relating to the Shakespeare family.
New Place: The Lost House
The story of New Place from its construction in the 1490s through Shakespeare's ownership to the Reverend Gastrell's demolition in 1759, with archaeological evidence and interpretive displays.
The Garden of New Place
The contemporary designed garden on the site of Shakespeare's house, incorporating a formal knot garden, great garden, mulberry tree, and artworks inspired by Shakespeare's writing.
Archaeological Discoveries at New Place
Foundations and finds from archaeological investigation of the New Place site, displayed in context to help visitors understand the physical reality of Shakespeare's lost home.
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.