In Shakespeare's 400th anniversary year, what better location to enjoy Hamlet than against the dramatic backdrop of Kronborg Castle in Helsingor (also known as Elsinore) in Denmark, which is where this most popular of Shakespeare's plays was set. This year, from 1st – 21st August, the castle, which is now a UNESCO heritage site, is hosting its famous Shakespeare Festival with some of the world's leading theatre companies staging a number of Shakespearean productions.
If Hamlet isn't your thing, then the festival – which is the world's oldest Shakespeare festival – also features a great choice of other productions. The Laurence Olivier Award-winning Cheek by Jowl company will be performing Measure for Measure, whilst Julius Caesar and The Two Gentlemen of Verona is being performed by the Globe's resident theatre troupe.
As well as the two nights in Helsingor, the 11 day self drive holiday is the perfect way to explore the beauty of Denmark and takes in the country's main highlights, including Copenhagen, North Zealand (where Helsingor is located), North Jutland, with its unspoilt countryside and towns of Aarlborg, with its museums, galleries and cafés, and Skagen, with its lovely coastal setting, great seafood and artistic community. In addition to Kronborg, as you drive from Copenhagen to Helsingor along the wonderful coastline, there are several other castles including Fredriksborg Castle – the largest renaissance castle in Scandinavia and Fredesnsborg Palace, the Danish royal family's spring and autumn residence.
