Stratford-on-Avon

Stratford-on-Avon district sits in south Warwickshire within the West Midlands region. It covers a mix of market towns, villages and agricultural land, with Stratford-upon-Avon as the administrative centre. The River Avon flows through Stratford-upon-Avon and the Stratford Canal meets the river at a restored basin that now serves leisure boats; the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare's birthplace are located in the town. Other settlements in the district include Alcester, Shipston-on-Stour, Southam, Henley-in-Arden and Wellesbourne.

The district's landscape ranges from low river valleys to rolling farmland and patches of woodland associated with the Forest of Arden. Parts of the southern area lie within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and there are networks of footpaths, bridleways and canal towpaths used for walking and cycling. The local economy combines tourism linked to Stratford-upon-Avon with farming, light industry and market services centred in the smaller towns, while village communities retain parish councils and local clubs.