William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright.
Stratford-upon-Avon . The town is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace of English playwright and poet William Shakespeare , and receives approximately 2.5 million visitors a year . William Shakespeare ( [ ˈʃeɪkspɪə ] 26 April 1564 ( baptised ) -- 23 April 1616 ) was an English : poet , : playwright , and actor , widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world 's pre-eminent dramatist . He is often called England 's national poet , and the `` Bard of Avon '' .