Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon is located on the River Avon, 91 miles northwest of London, 22 miles south east of Birmingham and 8 miles southwest of Warwick. A market town in England West Midlands, Stratford-upon-Avon became a major British tourist hotspot mainly because of its strong ties with probably the best English writer of all time, William Shakespeare. 

A vibrant, compact town and synonymous with William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon is filled with history with a touch of mystery to explore. The market town boasts hundreds of captivating stories, holding at its heart not only many Shakespearean buildings that survive to day but also a wealth of unrivalled experiences you would expect from no other town but Stratford-upon-Avon.

All about Shakespeare

For those history, literature and culture lovers fascinated by all associated with Shakespeare, there is no other place more enchanting than Stratford-upon-Avon.

To discover more about the place where the creator of Hamlet took his first steps, you should visit Shakespeare's Birthplace. Shakespeare's New Place was demolished in 1759 and only its foundation remained. However, an Elizabethan garden was then designed to keep his memory alive. Visitors can still take this unique chance to immerse themselves in the last chapter of this great man's life coinciding with the time Shakespeare was at the height of his career. For a man who was destined to create the timeless love story of Romeo and Juliet, Anne Hathaway's Cottage was the ultimate destination for him to "Romeo" and Anne Hathaway to "Juliet." If you wish to picture the romance Shakespeare experienced, you must see the place where he expressed his affection to his bride-to-be, Anne Hathaway.

Hall's Croft was the house of Susanna Hall, Shakespeare's daughter and her husband Dr John Hall from 1613 to 1616. The beautifully furnished Jacobean house offering a walled garden full of fragrant herbs administered by Dr Hall in his remedies. Still want to see more of Shakespearean landmarks? Discover the sights, sounds and smells of a working Tudor farm at Mary Arden’s Farm, the childhood home of Shakespeare's mother and her seven sisters. Seeing the Tudors running the farm now helps you imagine how life could have been at that time.

To leave no Shakespearean stories untold, you should also drop by Shakespeare's Schoolroom and Guildhall and Royal Shakespeare's Company Theatre. Visiting Shakespeare's Schoolroom and Guildhall will give you a sense of the place where the story of the storyteller began. There, you can picture Shakespeare as an inspired school boy growing to be one of the greatest writers, unrivalled in the annals of history. The unforgettable journey for art lovers does not end here; located in the heart of downtown on 99 Downie Street, Royal Shakespeare's Company Theatre is an alluring place for performing arts enthusiasts. Revitalized but still carrying its old charm, this is where you can enjoy performances ranging from Shakespeare's timeless works to new writings. Finally, if you wish to commemorate the memory of Shakespeare, you must pay a visit to Holy Trinity Church. Located on the banks of River Avon and often known as Shakespeare's church, Holy Trinity Church is home to the grave William Shakespeare and four of his family members.

Beyond Shakespeare

All said, if you are not a fervent fan of taking a walk through the 16th century, don’t worry! This magnificent town has always something to satisfy all tastes. From eccentric side streets with unique and individual shops like Wood Street with the oldest shop in town (George Pragnell) or Meer Street famous for its Designer Shops to Rother Street and Canal Basis, the proper place to enjoy boat tours and riverside gardens, there’s always something for everyone.

Shopping

If you tend to treat yourself with something new or buy someone a gift, Henley Street and Sheep Street with a mixture of gift, clothes and lifestyle shops can offer you a wide range of options. High Street with its black and white Tudor style frontages and the old shop signs give you a sense of what the town might have looked like in Shakespeare's time. Nothing sounds more appealing than a local farm market to those who enjoy cooking with the best ingredients. Here's the good news! Market day is every Friday and a local Farmers Market is held every 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month in the Market Square at the top of Rother Street.

River Avon and Canal Basin

For most people who simply know Stratford-upon-Avon for Shakespeare, many miss to gain an insight into the River Avon, its wildlife and the Canal. For sightseeing lovers, visiting Canal Basin, located between the world famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre and main shopping areas, is a must. This canal is surrounded by beautiful riverside gardens, which are open to public to relax and enjoy. The basin is busy with colourful boats which makes it pretty easy for you to get the kick out of different boat tours. You can choose between the four providers: Canal and River Tours, Avon Boating, Bancroft Cruisers, and Countess of Evesham. Although most people come here for boating, there is still a lot more such as cycling, fishing and walking. In case you're a nature lover, don't forget to spend some quality time, taking in the wildlife and feeding the swans and moorhens.   

Eating

When it comes to food, Stratford-upon-Avon treats its guests with a wide range of options from well-known cafes to the finest restaurants. If you're short on time, there are a lot of snack and sandwiches outlets and fast food places, but if you're looking for something splendid, try the Midlands’ decent restaurants.

If you feel a bit puckish and look for a perfectly prepared food and a varied wine list, The Rooftop Restaurant, on the third floor of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, is the best choice, offering a spectacular panoramic view of the River Avon.

Events

Beside the cultural, historical, and shopping attractions, there's so much more happening throughout the year in Stratford-upon-Avon. That is why tourists keep flocking back every year. With a little bit of research and planning, you might be able to join the ones of your tastes and likes.  

Shakespeare's Birthday

Shakespeare's birthday, the most highlighted event in the town's calendar, is celebrated on 23 April every year. Artists and Shakespeare's lovers from all around the world gather to celebrate the life of Stratford's favourite son. The streets overflow with a fascinating mix of pageantry and performance.

Stratford River Festival

Every summer the riverside comes alive for two whole days with many places for guests to eat and drink and to be entertained. In 2019, a host of free events and activities brought over 70,000 merrymakers into the magnificent town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival

Since its establishment in 2007, the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival has been all about exciting debates, ideas, celebrity author events, workshops and humour. Certainly one of the most riveting features of this festival is the workshops in prisons helping prisoners write bedtime stories for their children.

Stratford-upon-Avon Music Festival

Now in its 24th year, Stratford-upon-Avon Music Festival offers town's people and visitors nine days of exciting music-making by established musicians and the cream of new talent, members of BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme, as well as established famous players.

Stratford Town Centre Food Festival

In the heart of a historic town, you have this chance to taste and fall in love with the food prepared by the passionate chefs. Cooking demonstrations, workshops, tastings, kids fun, live entertainment and a lot of other exciting activities all in a two-day festival.

Alcester Food Festivals

Alcester Food Festival holds 2 one-day food festivals in May and October each year. The High Street, Church Street, and Henley Street overflow with a vast variety of fantastic food and drinks.

Parking

Many parking spaces are located at Bridgeway, Riverside, Swans Nest Lane, Unicorn Meadow and Church Street. They cost around £4.00 (up to 4 hours), £6.00 (up to 9 hours), £8.00 (up to 12 hours), £10.00 (up to 24 hours) and £20.00 (up to 72 hours). If you're looking for parking for the same rates, you can also find some at Recreation Ground, Arden Street, Windsor Street and the Coach/Lorry Park.

For long stays, Park and Ride is a beneficial option in Stratford-upon-Avon. It costs £1.00 for a day (after 9AM). Then you can return on the bus, which leaves every 10-15 minutes from the parking directly to Stratford town centre. For shorter stays, however, you can use the on street parking meters, which are positioned mainly in the town centre.

How to Get around the Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon offers not only a variety of sites to visit, but also so many different ways to get to these pleasing places.

Walking

First of all, because of the compact nature of the town centre, you can simply use your legs to travel through the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Open Air Bus Tours

Taking Open air bus tours is another quick way to enrich your journey. On a sunny day in the open air, an open-top double-decker will take you through 14 top tourist attractions including all the buildings associated with Shakespeare. 

Hire a Bike

If you don't feel like walking, but you still prefer to take a stop wherever you want, hiring a bike is a satisfactory solution. Stratford Bike Hire is only a short walk from the town centre. They are open all week, but it is better to call before setting off.