Bard's home town goes wireless

The PDA provides a virtual guide to Shakespeare's home town

Visitors to Shakespeare's birthplace town of Stratford-upon-Avon can now get a virtual guide to show them around.

A personal digital assistant (PDA), hired for £8 a day, provides internet access, an interactive map and a guide to the tourist hotspots.

Local residents will also be able to take advantage of wireless hotspots that will be dotted around the Warwickshire town.

The Stratford Unplugged project is set to run initially for a year.

Wi-fi stage

"It will give visitors a fresh view of this great town," said Stratford Unplugged director Tim Luft.

"Whilst known for our links with 'Ye Olde Worlde' we are constantly looking for ways to move the town forward and allow people to access the information they need, when they need it most," he said.

The wireless hotspots, provided by BT, will be installed in hotels, shops and local tourist attractions, giving complete connectivity throughout the town.

"Now all the world's a wi-fi stage as far as this town is concerned. We are sure that the many tourists who like to visit Stratford from across the globe will appreciate how much easier it will be to hit the literary hotspots using the latest technology as your guide," said Chris Clark, chief executive of BT Wireless Broadband.

The PDAs will be available for hire from the local Tourist Information Office or the Thistle Hotel from 29 June.