'Delightful' West Midlands thatched cottage that history buffs should visit in 2026
Anne Hathaway’s historic thatched cottage in Shottery, known for its connection to Shakespeare, is a delightful destination for history enthusiasts. Managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, it offers a glimpse into the past and blooms with beauty.
Anne Hathaway’s historic thatched cottage located in Shottery has been featured as one of the UK’s cosiest cottages in a recent 2025 BBC article on the country's cosiest thatched cottages.
In an article named, ‘Eight of the UK's cosiest thatched cottages’, the BBC writer, Dominic Lutyens, emphasised how the area influenced the works of Shakespeare.
Dominic Lutyens wrote: ‘Hollyhocks and delphiniums bloom in the garden at Stratford-upon-Avon, many of whose plants are mentioned in Shakespeare plays.’
The home is best known for being the childhood home of Anne Hathaway, who was married to famous playwright William Shakespeare.
Special features of the property include that it was once a farmhouse, originally built in 1463 before Anne Hathaway was born.
Historically, Anne’s grandfather John Hathaway, who was a tenant sheep farmer was the first one in the Hathaway family to live in the cottage.
Anne Hathaway was born in the cottage in 1556, her father worked as yeoman farmer.
Nowadays, the cottage is managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and is a popular tourist destination for those who are massive fans of the Shakespeare family.
Visitors can book a visiting slot, on The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
On the website it states that the cottage is open daily, 10am - 5pm.
There is a entry price when considering a visit to the historic cottage, a single adult ticket costs £15, with children tickets costing £7.50.
There are also family ticket prices available.
The BBC has also listed the following locations on its list of ‘Eight of the UK's cosiest thatched cottages’:
- Thomas Hardy's Cottage, Higher Bockhampton, Dorset
- Cottage in Sandy Lane, Wiltshire, owned by Matt Carey-Williams
- Whimsical cottages with round walls
- A traditional Welsh thatched cottage
- Blackhouse thatched cottage in the Hebrides, Scotland
- Thatched building at Abigail Hopkins and Amir Sanei's home in Suffolk
- Oxfordshire thatched house by Richard Parr Associates