In Shakespeare's footsteps - A day in Stratford-upon-Avon

Stop 1: Shakespeare's Birthplace

Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6QW

Begin where Shakespeare began - in the half-timbered house on Henley Street where William was born in April 1564 and spent his childhood. The house belonged to his father John, a prosperous glove-maker who rose to become high bailiff of Stratford in 1568. The restored rooms recreate the atmosphere of a prosperous Elizabethan craftsman's household. 

Don't miss the signatures scratched into the window glass by famous visitors. The adjacent Shakespeare Centre houses the Trust's library and archive, one of the world's most important Shakespeare collections. Allow 1–1.5 hours.

Travel

• 5 minutes' walk via Church Street

Stop 2: Shakespeare's Schoolroom and Guildhall

Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6HB 

A short walk from the Birthplace along Church Street - the same route the young William would have walked every morning - Shakespeare's Schoolroom occupies a Grade I listed building constructed between 1418 and 1420 by the Guild of the Holy Cross. The schoolroom itself sits within this ancient building, where generations of Stratford boys received the rigorous classical education, Experience tudor school life in the room where Shakespeare once sat, try writing with a quill pen and marvel at the rare medieval wall paintings.

Stop 3: Nash's House and New Place

Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6EP 

New Place was one of the grandest houses in Stratford - Shakespeare purchased it in 1597 at the height of his success and it was where he retired and died in 1616. The house itself was controversially demolished in the 18th century. The site today is managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust alongside the neighbouring Nash's House - the Tudor home of Shakespeare's granddaughter Elizabeth and her husband Thomas Nash - which now serves as the exhibition space for the combined site.

Walk through Nash's House and out into the garden, where the restored Knot Garden sits alongside the Great Garden - a tranquil space with sculptures inspired by Shakespeare's writing and bronze bands in the ground tracing the footprint of the house that once stood here. It is one of the most thoughtful heritage sites in Stratford, honest about what has been lost and imaginative about how to mark it.

Stop 4: Lunch

Time for lunch! On a fine day, the obvious move is a picnic in Bancroft Gardens - the riverside gardens that stretch along the Avon in front of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, with swans, canal boats, and the beautiful river Avon. Pick up supplies from one of the town centre delis or from the market on a market day and find a bench by the water.

For a sit-down lunch, you could go anywhere. One of Stratford's most characterful streets is Sheep Street, a short walk from the Schoolroom, it has an excellent concentration of independent cafés and restaurants.

Travel

• 1.5 miles, approx. 5 minutes
• 20 minutes through the fields via the signposted path Shottery Lane

Stop 5: Anne Hathaway's Cottagee

22 Cottage Lane, Shottery, CV37 9HH

One of the most romanticised buildings in England - and one that fully lives up to its reputation. The thatched Tudor farmhouse in the village of Shottery was the childhood home of Anne Hathaway, who grew up here before marrying Shakespeare in 1582. The cottage remained in the Hathaway family for 368 years and retains much of its character. The Courting Settle in the parlour, beside the fireplace, is the cottage's most famous object - tradition holds that this is where Shakespeare sat when he came to court Anne, a story the Hathaway descendants told Victorian visitors with considerable relish.

The garden is the equal of the house. The Shakespeare Tree Garden contains trees mentioned in the plays; the orchard, planted with old varieties of apple and pear, is one of the most beautiful garden spaces in Warwickshire; and a contemporary sculpture trail threads through it, with works responding to Shakespeare's language set among the fruit trees. Walk from the town centre through the fields to Shottery - signposted and straightforward in dry weather - and arrive at the cottage much as Shakespeare himself would have done. Allow 1.5 hours.

Travel

• 2 miles, approx. 6 minutes via B4086
• 5 minutes south along the riverside path

Stop 6: Holy Trinity Church

Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BG

End the day where Shakespeare's story ends. Holy Trinity Church, approached along a lime tree avenue from the river, is where he was baptised on 26 April 1564 and where he is buried beneath a simple stone in the chancel. The church is one of the oldest sacred sites in Warwickshire. Read the famous self-composed inscription — "Good friend, for Jesus sake forbear to dig the dust enclosed here. Blest be the man that spares these stones, and curst be he that moves my bones" and see the bust set into the wall above the grave - installed within seven years of his death and the earliest reliable likeness of his face. At the end of the afternoon, when the day's visitors have thinned and the light falls across the chancel, this is one of the most quietly moving places in Stratford. Allow 45 minutes.

Stop 7: Dinner

Stratford eats well. The town's restaurant scene has grown considerably in recent years, and there are plenty of restaurants offering quick service, knowing you're theatre bound. Just mention your curtain time when you book. For fabulous views over Stratford, consider dining at the RSC’s Rooftop. If you're after something lighter, or super quick, you can’t beat eating fish and chips sitting on the banks of the river Avon watching the swans and the last of the light on the water.

Stop 8: The RSC

If you have booked a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Company - and it is worth planning the day around one - this is how the day ends. The RSC operates three theatres in Stratford: the main Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the banks of the Avon, the Swan Theatre - an intimate Jacobean-style playhouse regularly hosting Shakespeare's contemporaries and The Other Place on Southern Lane, a 200-seat studio theatre presenting more experimental and contemporary work alongside Shakespeare's own plays. Seeing a production in Stratford carries a weight and magic. Popular productions sell out months in advance - book as early as you can. If you haven't planned ahead, it's always worth checking on the day: returns and last-minute tickets do become available, and the box office is worth a call on the morning of your visit.

Optional extra stop: Behind the scenes at the RSC

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BB

Even if you don't have tickets for a performance, the RSC buildings reward a proper visit. Guided tours run daily and might take you inside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre or The Other Place studio. Four distinct tours are available: the Theatre Tour, the Costume Tour, the Ghost Tour and the Scenic Workshop Tour. All are led by experienced guides and run regularly throughout the day. Some dates sell out so pre-booking is strongly recommended, particularly in summer and school holidays.