I just loved it. Breakfast was superb. My room was beautifully appointed, and so in keeping with an Elizabethan cottage. The building itself is so authentic it was hard to believe I wasn't actually vacationing in Stratford-on-Avon. Innkeeper Juliette and her husband John were charming and gracious. I plan to come back to Staunton as soon as possible and stay there again. ~ October 3, 2011
"What a splendid B&B!"
Your delicious food, Elizabethan ambience, and gracious hospitality combined with our delightful excursions around Staunton (in January even!) have made it a momst memorable celebration. You can be sure we'll return, Lord willing, before too long. Fred and Miriam ~ January 30, 2011
"Thank you for making my birthday special"
My husband and I stayed at Anne Hathaway's Cottage for three nights, using it as our base to discover this part of Virginia. We explored Monticello, Skyline Drive, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Museum, the Black Friar Theater (saw The Tempest and it was good), wineries, and great restaurants! Our room and bath were a good size, and we could control the air conditioning which was great, because boy was it hot in July! Our host and owner, Juliette, was very helpful and gracious. She was nice enough to let us store our picnic food in her fridge for our stay. During the week Juliette serves a continental breakfast, but during the weekend she serves a full breakfast. We were there Monday through Thursday and took advantage of a reduced room rate. The property was beautiful and it was right next door to the best bakery in town! Great bread! We would definitely visit again! ~ August 19, 2011
“Lovely Cottage in Staunton, VA”
Anne Hathaway's B&B was a charming little place in a middle of a well maintained garden. Ms. Juliette well out did herself with this place! Even her cats, Puck, Lear and Portia are adorable. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly, shown around, taken to our room and then told exactly what there was going on in town. After seeing the room, who would want to leave, except for the yummy breakfast that she prepares. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and I cannot wait to go back! ~ May 31, 2011
“Romantic Birthday Weekend in a Cozy B&B”
Julliet, our hostess and owner, went out of her way to make us feel comfortable and at home. The sherry and brandy offered before going to bed was a lovely surprise. Breakfast in the morning was delicious. We look forward to returning and strolling through her beautiful well tended English garden. ~ September 3, 2011
"Go back in time when staying at Anne Hathaways Cottage"
No better place to stay for an English teacher who wishes to see Shakespeare performed in Staunton. The outdoor gardens are magnificent, the innkeeper is gracious, and the entire setting is perfect for putting one in the mood for an evening of Shakespeare or romance. Definitely a must stay for an Anglophile. The cottage truly evokes Tudor England, and the helpfulness of the hostess is an added dimension--we took the two night special package and saw two plays at Blackfriars, and the hostess arranged tickets for us. We definitely plan to return here. ~ July 17, 2011
"English teacher's delight"
We stayed two nights and really enjoyed the unique decor and style. The house and garden are amazing! Staunton is a neat town and we visited the Black Friars Playhouse (to see a show) and a nearby vineyard. The stay was very nice and we intend to return for another stay in the future. ~ April 26, 2011
"Unique experience - we will return"
An amazing 6th anniversary stay...What a sincere pleasure to stay in such a special place. The rooms were excellent, the breakfast out of sight, and the innkeeper Juliette was such a pleasure to get to know. We will definitely come back soon. ~ September 27, 2010
Wayne Stark, Senior Director of Career Cervices
Sweet Briar College
My husband and I stayed here on a weekend getaway to Staunton. What an absolute gem! There's nowhere else in Staunton that we saw that was anywhere close in terms of quality. The cottage: We were surprised to learn that the cottage is newly built because the owner has done such an amazing job of recreating the famous British cottage in the original style: everything from the antique furniture to the artwork, wood trim, hand-painted border design and even old, reclaimed windows. My husband and I often found ourselves sitting in the communal great room, just reading or talking. Or just wandering around the lovely gardens. The location: on the main drag, just a short walk up from downtown. The room: We stayed in Juliette's room, which, along with Romeo's room, is upstairs. The room was beautiful, bed was comfortable, temperature perfect (it was in the middle of summer, so quite hot outside), bathroom was very large and the bathroom soap and shampoo were very nice. Breakfast: We really enjoyed the morning breakfasts prepared by Juliette. The food was delicious and had that taste that food only has when prepared with care and love. She used Polyface eggs one morning for a frittata. And served a lovely fruit "starter" garnished with mint from her garden. Portions were just right. We're tea drinkers and she serves a bizillion different teas. Juliette is so fun and easy to talk to, as were the other guests. I had much more the feel that I was visiting a family member than someone else's B&B. My husband and I definitely plan to return. ~ August 9, 2010
"Exceptional"
This is really such a lovely B&B, and Juliette makes it so comfortable to stay there. We highly recommend this! I've been in the lodging business for years, and Anne Hathaway's Cottage brings the best of the different types of lodging together at a great value. The rooms are exquisitely decorated and extremely clean and comfortable. It is much more convenient than staying in a hotel, though, as Juliette has thought of everything so you have all the comforts of home but in this charming cottage. You can make your own tea or coffee at any time, store your dinner leftovers in the fridge, get recommendations for dining (there are some terrific restaurants in town), have a spot of sherry or port, read a book in the great room, borrow a movie to watch in your room, and get a lovely full breakfast served in the morning. There is even free wi-fi, in case you just must check your email. At breakfast we got to know the other guests. We were there for 2 nights, and other guests can be quiet, or very interesting. ~ June 26, 2010
"Excellent B&B"
We highly recommend Anne Hathaway's cottage - not least because Juliette is such a thoughtful and gracious host. Being at the cottage is like having the best of "English Country Living" while in Virginia. The open access to hot tea and the kitchen was also lovely. We had a wonderful stay! ~ January 10, 2010
"What a jewel of a bed and breakfast!"
This is a lovely recreation of a beautiful example of English architecture, within a short distance of a great Shakespearean theatre. We were quite pleased and well-fed during our short Thanksgiving stay. Just goes to show - - you can have a great little English B&B, WITH washcloths! Thank you, Juliette, for a warm and hospitable stay. Thanks to you Staunton is graced with a unique and comfortable bit of the isles! ~ December 3, 2009
"Thanksgiving stay"
What blissful slumber, we have enjoyed a delightful sojourn at Anne Hathaway's cottage, and greatly admire the beautiful appointments and attention to detail. We will surely be back for a return visit. Miss Dolly, our pre-spoiled pooch loved it too. ~ November 8, 2009
"To sleep, perchance to dream..."
We stayed one night and I wish we could have stayed longer. Juliette, the innkeeper, is very friendly and a great conversationalist but knows the value of letting her guests relax to themselves. The place is extremely well kept and tastefully decorated in keeping with the original cottage's history. We stayed in Romeo's room and loved all the details, from the embroidered bedspread to the signed playbills on the wall. The garden had wound down for the year but was still very pretty. Breakfast was delicious -- fruit, yogurt, granola, then French toast and sausage. We very much enjoyed our stay and plan on returning the next chance we have. ~ October 25, 2009
"Wonderful B&B"
We felt so comfortable in this beautifully done in - and loved all the small touches and little bits of character. We especially enjoyed being surrounded by all the books. Nice and cozy, size was perfect, delicious food, pleasant conversation. We didn't want to leave! Loved the homemade jams. ~ September 2, 2009
"A truly lovely experience!"
My husband, Chris and I spent a delightful evening at the Anne-Hathaways Cottage in June, immersed in Shakespeare's time. The Anne-Hathaways Cottage B&B is an charming recreation of Shakespeare's original, with a thatched roof, period furnishings and fabrics, and an inviting, authentic English garden, located in the heart of Staunton, VA. Its three bedrooms, "Shakespeare", "Romeo" and "Juliet" are each appointed in period style with modern bathrooms, phone and cable TV. There are quotes of Shakespeare everywhere along with a stair way photo gallery of Inns in England owned by Anne-Hathaway's seasoned and gracious Inn Keepers. The ambiance had a feeling of intimacy, comfort and engagement. Inn-Keeper, Juliette Swenson greeted us with a glass of sherry and conversation and recommended that we dash off to the Blackfriar's Playhouse Theatre to see the production of The Comedy of Errors. The play was brought alive by its cast and full of laughter and cheer to top off a great evening. The next morning, we were treated by Juliette to a delicious, full course breakfast and more recommendations for where to have lunch and sites to visit in Staunton. We chose the Frontier Culture Museum to learn more about the agricultural history and architecture of the Region and also toured Mary Baldwin College. Our little 24 hour excursion was a delight and possibly our most memorable mini-vacation. ~ July 30, 2009
"A slice of England in Staunton"
Nestled in its neighborhood, Anne Hathaway's Cottage B&B is an exceptional delight offering an unusual lodging experience in America. The archictecture of the home, itself, is worth a visit with its thatched roof, diamond paned windows, and exposed timber framing. Add to that the beauty and fragrance of Juliette's garden and you're transported across "the pond" and through time to a simpler life...without leaving behind all the luxury and conveniences of modern America.
We arrived on a Friday afternoon and stayed in Juliet's room. Thoughtfully appointed, the room was comfortable, warm, and offered amenities one would hardly expect in a B&B like a towel warmer. We had to inquire for nothing...all was anticipated and provided...iron, toiletries if we forgot something, bath robes.
The main gathering/dinning room is a comfortable showplace -- that could describe everything about Anne Hathaway's! Music, fresh cut flowers, a fireplace, sherry or port, coffee or tea and chocolates at your disposal 24/7. Hospitality at its best.
All was impeccably clean and our room and bath was straightened and cleaned after our first night.
Breakfast was elegant but simple...reinforcing the feeling of quality comfort without being pretentious or off-putting. Most improtantly, all was delicious!
Juliette is the perfect hostess and gracious in everything she does. She's also very interesting and fun to get to know. We love her!
Located a short drive or bike ride from Downtown stores and attractions, sight-seeing in Staunton was easy and stress-free. We never had any problem finding parking on Beverley Street and lots and a garage had ample spaces throughout out visit.
Downtown shops and restaurants were interesting and eclectic and made for intriguing exploration. The nightlife in this small town was very surprising! Young and old, families and singles/couples mixed in the streets as live music (and it was GOOD) wafted block to block from several inviting venues.
We saw "The Importance of Being Ernest" at the Black Friar Theatre during our visit and it was an excellent performance and experience. The theatre is a gem to behold and its intimacy (capitalized on by the troupe) makes for a fun unusually relaxed experience for the visitor.
Would we recommend Anne Hathaway's Cottage B&B? Enthusiastically! We'll be back, and as often as possible. We left using words like "wonderful", "fantastic", and "perfect." We can't wait until next time!
Thank you, Juliette, for creating a fairy-tale escape that we don't just have to dream about! ~ June 27, 2011
“Fairy tale escape caps Shakespearean (and historic small town) experience”
Our group of four adults spent a Thursday and Friday night in mid-May 2011 at Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Staunton, VA. Juliette Swenson, the owner and hostess, formerly from Bath, England, warmly welcomed us upon arrival. As we entered the Great Room from the parking area behind the cottage, classical music softly played on the sound system and carafes of port and sherry stood nearby ( as well as every conceivable blend of tea and a constantly-hot, water dispenser).
Juliette oriented us to the handsomely furnished "Romeo" and "Juliet" bedrooms, made sure we understood how to work the satellite TV controls (although we never watched once) and then briefed us on the many restaurants, sights, and historical venues in town and nearby. Our first trip out the door was to Juliette's garden, comprising an amazingly beautiful collection this time of year of blooming iris and other mid spring flowering plants. It is reminiscent of a botanical garden, and she has populated it with plants that do well in the Staunton environment. Our walking tour of the historic Thornrose Cemetery (literally across the street) produced a question to her about some very tall, stately trees we observed there, with smooth, gray bark and maroon colored leaves, which she identified for us as copper beeches.
Anne Hathaway's Cottage, as the name suggests, is a modern 2008 reincarnation of the structure in which William Shakespeare's wife was raised.The furnishings, books, wall hangings, great oak beams, wavy glass windows, fireplace (too warm in May to use!) and real thatch roof combine to create an unusual visual experience. The downstairs has a fully accessible bathroom for travelers needing such. The garden was developed by Juliette in 2004, before building began, and a binder of photographs taken in 2008 as the cottage was erected shows how it all came together.
Juliette topped our breakfasts both days with fresh mint from her garden, lots of coffee for us non-tea drinkers, and she even responded graciously to a special breakfast request sprung on her after one of us experienced some traveler's indigestion. It was clear that she enjoyed her interactions with us, but she always respected our privacy, too. A final touch we all enjoyed was the occasional friendly cat inside sunning itself or outside on the porches.
We are outdoors types, and it is only a half hour drive to the entrance to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive to the north and the Blue Ridge Parkway to the south at the Rockfish Gap crossing of I-64. We hiked the Turk Mountain trail in a refreshing fog and enjoyed the mountain's blooming early azaleas, followed by a visit to the Afton Mountain Vineyard for a wine tasting. We also visited the nearby Polyface Farm on one of its scheduled tours, a farm featured in the documentary, Food Inc., and practicing environmentally friendly, non-industrial farming meat production practices.
Our visit to Anne Hathaway's Cottage was a highlight of a fun trip to Staunton. ~ May 22, 2011
“A beautiful garden, a terrific cottage, and gracious hostess”
We were visiting Staunton for the second time to visit the Black Friar's Theatre again. We are not Shakespeare buffs but thought this B&B looked unusual and fun. We were right!
It's a small 3 BR Inn, just 1 year old. It is owned by an English woman named Juliette who is an avid gardener. Upon entering the property, you feel like you've crossed the Atlantic and wandered into a wonderful Inn in a quaint English town. Once inside, you feel it even more.
Juliette built the property and even flew in an Irishman from Ohio to thatch the roof. The great room inside is perfect to read a book, drink a cup of tea or two, and look at the eclectic decor.
We stayed just one night and will be back again. Highly recommend it! ~ July 13, 2010
“Charming B&B - Wonderful for Shakespeake Lovers and Non-Lovers Alike”
Our stay at Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Staunton, VA was wonderful and relaxing. The rooms are spacious and the bed was large and comfortable. All 3 rooms are in keeping with the English cottage decor. I especially loved the extra deep tub with it's dark wood paneling in our bathroom. Our hostess was very warm and friendly with advice as to where to dine out for the evenings. We only ate at Mill Street Grill, but it was so good that we went back a second night. There's much to do and see nearby and Staunton itself has many historical homes and buildings to tour. We plan to make a return visit to this delightful B & B. ~ October 25, 2009
“Anne Hathaway's Cottage was simply charming”
My daughter just graduated from High School and loves everything English from Jane Austen to William Shakspeare. I thought a stay at this beautiful cottage would be a perfect choice for a special girls weekend to celebrate her graduation and we were not disappointed. It was absolutely wonderful! The cottage was so charming we were not sure if we were in Staunton or England. The cottage had the look and feel of a historic inn with all the modern comforts, good size rooms, private baths and an absolutely lovely great room complete with wood beams and a fireplace. The breakfasts were delicious and Juliette, the innkeeper was warm and friendly without being intrusive. The beauty of the whole experience was that we were minutes away from downtown Staunton with all of its wonderful shops, restaurants, theaters and museums. This fact I appreciated especially after a long day of touring around town. My daughters are still talking about our stay. Of all the B&Bs I have stayed in, this has been our best memory! We plan to go back for another visit. ~ July 31, 2009
“A Perfectly Magical Place!”
My husband and I had a great stay at Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Staunton, VA last week. This new bed & breakfast had charm written all over it! The innkeeper was lovely and even shared some clippings from her beautiful garden. We felt right at home and the breakfast was top rate! We easily walked to the downtown and had our choice of shops and restaurants. Wish we had been in town longer but hope to visit again. ~ June 23, 2009
“Anne Hathaway's Cottage Bed & Breakfast”
