Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.
- William Shakespeare , Henry VI , Act III Scene i

The small town of Stratford-upon-Avon is not only very popular with tourists [And for this reason, you might need to dip into your pocket more often than you'd like to pay for things. ] , but also the common starting point or destination for many who follow the course of the Avon. Near enough in the centre of the town is the Memorial Park and Royal Shakespeare Theatre , and by the banks of the river here you can hire yourself either a deckchair to sit in the sun or you can go down to the water's edge and for a small fee grab yourself a tiny rowing boat for half an hour, where you can splash about pretending you know how to use the oars.

For a more serene boating experience however, and better for those with young children or elderly relatives, a number of river cruisers operate from the same moorings. Far more comfortable (and less stressful), these 30-minute journeys up and down the river allow you to marvel at some of