Stratford upon Avon town is a mix of old and new, the old town centre; characterised by half timbered buildings, together with Old Town; a square mile of period homes lying north of the river Avon.

And new developments; thousands of new homes and a huge shopping mall growing North of Stratford upon Avon town centre pushing into the Bishopton village area and a major development south of the river avon, bordering Bridgetown village, creating a new urban area 'Trinity Mead' Stratford upon Avon.

Stratford upon Avon town centre still retains a degree of small town charm and if one lets ones gaze rise above the modern shop frontages to the timbered gables.Its easy to imagine a time when ragamuffins and tinkers filled these ancient streets with noise, stench from open sewers perfuming the air.

Walking around stratford town is a delight, the mix of medieval and modern is unique you may wander into a Sheep Street cafe and realise you're sipping latte in a room built in the 1600s.

High Street in contrast to Bridge street is characterised by shops built into buildings from the 14th and 15th centurys, beautiful half timbered reminders of a bygone age. Bill Bryson fans take note.

Stratford upon Avon High Street has a mix of shops, coffee houses and stores, walker friendly and looking westward toward Church Street and Elizabeth House, the Town Hall, seat of local government.

Half way down Stratford upon Avon High Street one may turn right into a 1970's concrete development of modern stores. Wisely hidden behind the Tudor facades of High St. Walk on visit the Garrick Hotel Bar and Harvard Museum farther down on the same side

Turning left at the west end of High Street brings the visitor into Sheep Street, Stratford upon Avon's centre of good restaurants. Walking down Stratford's Sheep Street toward Waterside the visitor may enjoy a choice of high class Stratford restaurants, pubs and bars.

Avoid bringing your car into Stratford town centre, there is a huge out of town, park and ride facility, on Bishopton Lane where Stratford upon Avon visitors can park the car and get a bus into Stratford upon Avon town inexpensivley.

Parking on a double yellow lines in Stratford town centre will draw attention from Stratfords army of navy blue/green uniformed traffic wardens, probably paid on revenue rake and very impolite.

Bridge Street is Stratford upon Avons main street, a magnificent boulevard lined with designer shops and stores many of which date from the Georgian period or earlier. Bridge Street is often closed to traffic on public holidays and used for markets and fairs especially in the weeks before Christmas.

Turn left at the top of Stratfords Bridge Street into High Street. Look immediatley above the shop on the corner;you will see an olde worlde shop sign advertising A Chymiste, remarkably preserved.