Before we dive into quills, conspiracies, and vanishing artefacts, here’s a heads-up - with your Mystery Guides Stratford, you can actually step into Shakespeare’s story yourself.

Follow treasure hunt clues through his hometown, uncover secrets, and solve the puzzling disappearance of a golden quill that once belonged to the Bard himself. 

As you solve the clues and unravel the story, you’ll also uncover amazing history connected to the bard - from the mystery of his missing skull to the age-old question of whether he truly wrote all his plays.

But first, let’s rewind a few centuries to meet the man behind the legend.

Mystery Guides Explains: Who was William Shakespeare?

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, he grew up the son of a glove maker and went on to become, well, the most famous playwright in the world. From very humble beginnings, he rose to write more than 30 plays and 150 sonnets - interesting tales of love, betrayal, ambition, and the full messy spectrum of human emotion.

His wonderful works transformed the English language and shaped storytelling, forever. Without him, we wouldn’t have phrases like “wild goose chase” or “break the ice.” He wrote for everyone - kings, commoners, and everyone in between - and amazingly, over 400 years later, his words still hit home…

Did Shakespeare really write his plays?

Some say yes. Others aren’t so sure. For centuries, people have questioned whether a small-town boy from Stratford could’ve written such brilliant works.

Theories blame everyone from Francis Bacon to the Earl of Oxford, but there’s no proof. 

Maybe Shakespeare was simply a genius — or maybe the greatest mystery in literature is still unsolved…

What happened to Shakespeare’s skull?

Now, here’s where things get really weird. In 1879, rumours spread that grave robbers had stolen Shakespeare’s skull from his resting place at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford.

When archaeologists scanned the grave in 2016, the results were… unsettling, to say the least. The scan showed signs of disturbance, and the skull? Missing.

Was it taken by a collector? Moved for safekeeping? Or was the whole thing a red herring worthy of one of Shakespeare’s own plots? No one can know for sure, but it adds another layer of mystery to a man whose life was already full of intrigue…

An Intro to Mystery Guides Stratford

In The Mystery of Shakespeare’s Lucky Quill, you’ll use the treasure hunt clues to uncover a brand-new story inspired by the Bard himself. The year is 1769, and it’s Stratford’s grand “Jubilee Festival” - a celebration of Shakespeare’s legacy. This year it ends in chaos, when a priceless golden quill, said to have belonged to Shakespeare, vanishes from thin air.

Armed with your Mystery Guide, you’ll follow treasure hunt clues through Stratford’s charming streets, solving puzzles, discovering hidden landmarks, and piecing together what really happened. It’s part treasure hunt, part city tour, part outdoor escape room  and 100% fun.

Whether you are a Shakespeare superfan, a puzzle lover, or just after a day of adventure with a special twist, Mystery Guides Stratford brings the Bard’s world to life. 

Grab your Mystery Guide, gather your troupe, and get ready to solve a mystery worthy of the world’s greatest storyteller…