The River AVON, also known as the River of the Bard, is a river in England that runs through the counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. It is most famously associated with William Shakespeare, who was born and raised in Stratford-upon-AVON, a town located on the banks of the river. The AVON is one of the major tributaries of the River Severn, and is an important source of water for many communities along its course.