Stratford-upon-Avon
Set on the banks of the river Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most visited towns in England. Always rewarding to visit, there is always more to see and do here, from historic spots to secret gardens, unexpected wonders to hands-on fun. Walk from the station down to the High Street and within ten minutes you are standing in a townscape that Shakespeare himself would largely recognise - timber-framed Tudor buildings, a medieval Guild Chapel, the church on the river where he was baptised, married and buried. Yet beyond its literary fame, Stratford is a thriving market town with an outstanding food and drink scene, creativity, and riverside views that makes it as much a pleasure to visit on a quiet Tuesday morning as on a busy summer weekend.
Plus, Stratford-upon-Avon has an endlessly creative and welcoming community who bring events and festivals to the town throughout the year - from the Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations in April to the River Festival in summer and a much-loved Christmas market in December.
Stratford-upon-Avon's highlights
Shakespeare's Birthplace
The keystone of any visit is Shakespeare's Birthplace on Henley Street - a historic museum and family home where the Bard was born in 1564 and spent his early years. But the wider collection of Shakespeare properties managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust tells a far richer story. Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Shottery is a picturesque 500-year-old thatched farmhouse where the young Anne was born and raised, and where Shakespeare came to court her, and the garden, with its old orchard and sculpture trail, is one of the loveliest in Warwickshire.
Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity is Stratford-upon-Avon's oldest building, situated on the banks of the River Avon, and is one of England's most visited churches. William Shakespeare was baptised and buried here and the chancel also contains the graves of Anne Hathaway, Dr John Hall, his wife Susanna Shakespeare, and Thomas Nash, as well as 26 fine 15th century carved misericords.
The Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company has three theatres in Stratford - the flagship Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the riverfront, the intimate Swan Theatre next door, and The Other Place on Southern Lane. The RSC makes Shakespeare (and work from other playwrights) accessible, visceral and thrilling. The backstage theatre tours are equally worthwhile, taking visitors through the costume workshops and onto the stage itself.
Bancroft Gardens and the River Avon
Bancroft Gardens, on the bank of the River Avon directly in front of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre contains the Gower Memorial - Shakespeare's statue surrounded by Hamlet, Lady Macbeth, Falstaff and Prince Hal - and overlook the canal basin where the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal meets the river. Rowing boats, canoes, river cruises and electric boats are all available from the riverside throughout the summer, and you can explore the River Avon on a boat trip, hire a rowboat or simply sit and have a picnic on a sunny day.
Stratford-upon-Avon Local Nature Reserve and “The Rec”
The Recreation Ground, or “Rec” is a large open space on the other side of the River. With lots of green space for a game of ball, bandstand, playground, riverside walk and stunning views of the town, it’s perfect to escape the hustle and bustle. A stunning 71-acre nature reserve is part of the Stratford Riverside Project and is just a few minutes' walk from all the shops and amenities. Visitors can enjoy the riverbanks, meadow grassland, reedbeds and wetlands on an accessible circular walk.
Beyond the Bard
Stratford has pleasures in store for those who look beyond the obvious. For something different, visit The MAD Museum for interactive mechanical art - think massive marble runs, giant 3D faces and flying mechanical birds, hugely interactive and accessible for all ages. The Shakespeare Distillery on Sheep Street offers guided tours and tastings of its gin and rum, and the Rother Street Market on Fridays and Saturdays offers plenty of fresh local produce and independent traders.
Welcombe Hills Country Park
Welcombe Hills Country Park, just to the north of the town, offers wonderful views over Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding Warwickshire countryside. Just half an hour from the town centre on foot via the Monarch's Way, the park also includes the Snitterfield Bushes Nature Reserve nearby.
A market town shaped by one extraordinary life
Stratford-upon-Avon's origins stretch back well before Shakespeare - it was granted its first market charter in 1196 by Richard I, and by the 14th century it had grown into a prosperous wool and corn trading town on the River Avon. The town's grid of streets survives and is almost unchanged today. It was into this confident, well-connected market town that William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 - and though he spent much of his working life in London, he retired to Stratford, bought its grandest house, and was buried in its parish church in 1616.
Insider tips
- Walk south along the river from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to Holy Trinity Church in the early morning, before the crowds arrive - the avenue of lime trees leading to the church and the views across the Avon are serene.
- The RSC often releases day tickets on the morning of a performance - queuing early can secure seats for a fraction of the standard price.
- Take a walk down Stratford Greenway - a lonely green corridor for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It takes you past a charming independent café in a converted railway carriage just south of the racecourse, and one of the town's most unexpected pleasures.
- Get lost in the magical world of the Butterfly Farm – a tropical butterfly house in the heart of Stratford.
- Take an entertaining town tour with a Town Walk.
Getting here
By rail
Stratford-upon-Avon train station is around 10 minutes walk from the main shopping area of Stratford. Trains run regularly to Birmingham, Solihull, Leamington and Worcester.
By bus
Bus stops are on Guild Street, Bridge Street, Wood Street and Windsor Street, with routes serving local communities. The Stratford Park and Ride operates seven days a week with buses every fifteen minutes for most of the day, dropping passengers on Wood Street in the town centre - a particularly stress-free way to arrive in summer.
By car
The town offers several car parks including Park and Ride options for stress-free access to the centre, with designated disabled parking spaces available in key locations. The town is close to junction 15 of the M40, giving easy access from Birmingham, Coventry and London.
Walking and cycling
The countryside around Stratford-upon-Avon is superb walking and cycling territory, with the river, canal and Greenway all providing easy routes from the town centre. There’s also a remarkable concentration of long-distance trails passing through. The following walking routes pass through or start from Stratford-upon-Avon:
Stratford Greenway
The Stratford Greenway is a wildlife-friendly five-mile walking and cycling route that follows the course of the old Honeybourne Line - a single-track railway built in 1859 and closed in 1976 - connecting Stratford-upon-Avon with Long Marston. Perfect for car-free walking, jogging, cycling, and horse riding, it is a peaceful route through beautiful countryside and a great place to spot wildlife. It’s got two independent carriage cafés along the way and bike hire available near the start.
Shakespeare's Avon Way
Following the River Avon as closely as possible from its source near Naseby to its confluence with the Severn at Tewkesbury, Shakespeare's Avon Way passes directly through the heart of Stratford - connecting the town by river path to Warwick, Evesham, and the wider Warwickshire and Worcestershire countryside. The section south from Holy Trinity Church along the Avon towards Welford-on-Avon is a particularly lovely stretch in any season.
Monarch's Way
The Monarch's Way can be picked up in the town and followed out into the surrounding countryside through Welcombe Hills Country Park towards Snitterfield and Warwick, or south-west towards Long Marston and the Cotswolds - tracing the escape route taken by King Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 across 625 miles of English countryside.
National Cycle Route 41
Route 41 is a long distance cycle ride that takes you through Bristol, Gloucester and Stratford-Upon-Avon. Taking you through woodland, towns with stunning architecture and wonderful views en-route.
National Cycle Route 48
National Cycle Route 48 runs from Tetbury and Cirencester to Northleach, Moreton-in-Marsh and Southam. Warwickshire Council has produced maps between Moreton-in-Marsh and Shipston-on-Stour and then Shipston-on-Stour to Southam.
Discover more
To discover more things to do and explore in and around Stratford-Upon-Avon, take a look at the town website.