Editing Stratford-upon-Avon (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Stratford-upon-Avon, Falcon Hotel.jpg|thumb|Hotel Indigo, historically [[The Falcon Hotel]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Refurbishment of Stratford's iconic Falcon Hotel to begin|url=https://www.stratford-herald.com/news/refurbishment-of-stratfords-iconic-falcon-hotel-to-begin-9138619/|publisher=Stratford-upon-Avon Herald|access-date=13 August 2021|date=24 March 2017}}</ref> is one of many employers in the hospitality industry within Stratford.]]

[[Tourism]] is a major employer, especially in the hotel, [[hospitality industry]] and catering sectors.<ref name="Council_Tourism">{{cite web|last1=Council|first1=Stratford-on-Avon District|title=Tourism: Stratford-on-Avon District Council|url=https://www.stratford.gov.uk/leisure/tourism.cfm|website=Stratford.gov.uk|access-date=13 November 2016|archive-date=19 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819133912/https://www.stratford.gov.uk/leisure/tourism.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other industries in the town include [[boat building]] and maintenance, [[bicycle]]s, mechanical and electrical engineering, food manufacture, [[Information Technology]], [[call centre]] and [[service sector]] activities, a large motor sales sector, industrial plant hire, building suppliers, [[market gardening]], farming, storage and transport logistics, [[finance]] and [[insurance]], and a large retail sector.

Major employers in the town include the [[NFU Mutual|NFU Mutual Insurance Company]] (and Avon Insurance), [[Amec Foster Wheeler]], [[Sitel]], [[Tesco]], [[Morrisons]], [[Marks & Spencer]], [[B&Q]] and [[Pashley Cycles]]. There are three [[theatre]]s run by the prestigious [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], which attract large audiences and income for the town.

===Tourism===
The regular large influx of tourists is the major source of the town's prosperity,<ref name="Council_Tourism" /> receiving between 2.5 million and 3 million visitors annually.<ref name="OCR_TouristInformation">{{cite web|title=Case Study – Stratford-upon-Avon|url=http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/174862-question-paper-unit-g720-01-introducing-travel-and-tourism-pre-release.pdf|website=ocr.org.uk|access-date=18 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Controlling the location, scale and mix of development|url=http://www.stratford.gov.uk/localplan/ELECTRONIC/Section7.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104020507/http://www.stratford.gov.uk/localplan/ELECTRONIC/Section7.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2013|date=4 November 2013|access-date=28 February 2019}}</ref> Stratford is a major English tourist town due to it being the birthplace of [[William Shakespeare]], who many consider the greatest [[playwright]] of all time.<ref name="Council_Tourism" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=William Shakespeare|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/william_shakespeare|publisher=BBC|access-date=21 May 2015}}</ref> In 2010 the District Council spent £298,000 on [[tourism]] promotion<ref>''[http://www.stratford.gov.uk/news/news.cfm/archive/1/item/758 Stratford District Council still committed to tourism]'' Media release, 31 March 2010</ref> and supports an official open-top tour bus service. In 2010 [[Stratford-on-Avon District Council]] launched a re-branded official tourism website for the Stratford area called Discover Stratford<ref>''[http://www.stratford.gov.uk/news/news.cfm/archive/11/item/878 Stratford District Council launches new initiatives to promote tourism]'' Media release, 8 November 2010</ref> after opening a new [[tourist information centre]] on [[Henley-in-Arden|Henley]] Street in May 2010,<ref>''[http://www.stratford.gov.uk/news/news.cfm/archive/22/item/772 Tourist Office Opens]'' Media release, 12 May 2010</ref> which has since moved back to the original location on Bridgefoot.<ref>[http://stratford.gov.uk/news/news.cfm/archive/1/item/1061 Stratford Tourist Information Centre moving back to Bridgefoot] Media release 19 October 2011</ref>

===Shopping centres===
[[File:Stratford-Upon-Avon, High Street, geograph 3969619 by Lewis Clarke.jpg|thumb|High Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon]]
Apart from the town centre, Maybird Shopping Park, usually referred to locally as "The Maybird Centre" or simply "The Maybird", is a large [[shopping centre]] situated on Birmingham Road, approximately a five-minute drive from the town centre. The Rosebird Centre is a much smaller shopping centre located on Shipston Road, consisting of [[Waitrose]], a pet shop, a drive-thru [[Costa Coffee]] and a pharmacy/GP surgery. Bell Court Shopping Centre is in the centre of the town with entrances from Wood St, Ely St, High St & Rother Street. it has several restaurants and shopping offers.