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Why we love Stratford-upon-Avon

Born and buried here in this hopelessly romantic 16th-century town in the heart of England is the great bard himself, William Shakespeare. Understandably there’s a lot centred around the scribe from its three theatres to the half-timbered Tudor homes and cottages of his and his significant others. You can’t come here and avoid it – nor should you. But there’s also plenty to do once you’ve done all that. The question is whether it’s paddle boarding to ghost touring, raising a glass to its pretty fine gin distillery or taking the Shakespeare Distillery’s produced spirit aboard on a cruise and toasting the whole thing– what to see or not to see, that really is the question.

Things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon

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See a Shakespeare play in the home town of the bard himself – head to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Book tickets and tours at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

West Midlands Growth Company

The exterior of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Spectacular shows and attractions, spellbinding storytelling and exhilarating experiences make Warwick Castle one for bringing history alive.

Book tickets for Warwick Castle

gary718/Shutterstock

Warwick, England

A hot air balloon floats over Warwick Castle in Warwickshire, England.
Warwick Castle

Discover the childhood home of Britain’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare.

Book tickets to Shakespeare’s Birthplace

©VisitBritain/Nemorin

Couple walking around the exterior of Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Get hands on with gadgets and enjoy all-things mechanical at the weird and wonderful museum of kinetic art, MAD.

Explore the MAD museum

the_mad_museum

Stratford-upon-Avon

A family visiting the MAD Museum, Stratford-upon-Avon
MAD museum

Visit one of Stratford’s most famous attractions, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, once home to William Shakespeare’s wife.

Book tickets to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

©VisitBritain/Nemorin/Tom Hare

Stratford-upon-Avon

Wheelchair user and friend sat beside a wooden sculpture
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Discover what life was really like in Tudor times in the immersive Tudor World in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Go back in time at Tudor World

tudor.world.museum

A man holding a lantern at Tudor World Museum
Tudor World

Book a seat at Stratford Play House and enjoy an evening of everything from music to comedy and theatre.

Grab your tickets for Stratford Play House

VisitBritain/Nemorin

VB34184901
Stratford Play House

Enjoy an hour-long cruise of the River Avon, with a gin-tasting session included, thanks to Shakespeare Distillery.

Raise a glass to the Gin-Tasting Cruise

VisitBritain/Nemorin

VB34184826
Shakespeare Distillery Gin Cruise

Discover how gin and rum are made on a guided tour and tasting session of the Shakespeare Distillery.

Enjoy a tour of the Shakespeare Distillery

VisitBritain/Nemorin

VB34184823
Shakespeare Distillery Tour

Experience life on a Tudor farm at the home of Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden’s Farm in Stratford.

Take a trip to Mary Arden’s Farm

shakespearbtrust

A lady standing outside Mary Arden's Farm
Mary Arden’s Farm

Visit 700-year-old Guild Chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon and listen to the choir perform in the historic surrounds.

Listen to the choir at Guild Chapel

VisitBritain/Nemorin

VB34184449
Guild Chapel Concerts

Take a walk through a tropical paradise full of butterflies at the Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm, for a magical day out.

Check out the Stratford Butterfly Farm

Shakespeare's England

A child posing with a butterfly at the Butterfly Farm in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm

Learn all about the history of Stratford-upon-Avon, on one of its popular Stratford Town Walks and Ghost Walks.

Take a tour to remember

Stratford Town and Ghost Walks

A group of tour guides on a ghost walk in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford Town Walk and Ghost Walk

See a Shakespeare play in the home town of the bard himself – head to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Book tickets and tours at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

West Midlands Growth Company

The exterior of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre

Spectacular shows and attractions, spellbinding storytelling and exhilarating experiences make Warwick Castle one for bringing history alive.

Book tickets for Warwick Castle

gary718/Shutterstock

Warwick, England

A hot air balloon floats over Warwick Castle in Warwickshire, England.
Warwick Castle

Discover the childhood home of Britain’s most famous playwright, William Shakespeare.

Book tickets to Shakespeare’s Birthplace

©VisitBritain/Nemorin

Couple walking around the exterior of Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Get hands on with gadgets and enjoy all-things mechanical at the weird and wonderful museum of kinetic art, MAD.

Explore the MAD museum

the_mad_museum

Stratford-upon-Avon

A family visiting the MAD Museum, Stratford-upon-Avon
MAD museum

Visit one of Stratford’s most famous attractions, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, once home to William Shakespeare’s wife.

Book tickets to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

©VisitBritain/Nemorin/Tom Hare

Stratford-upon-Avon

Wheelchair user and friend sat beside a wooden sculpture
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Discover what life was really like in Tudor times in the immersive Tudor World in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Go back in time at Tudor World

tudor.world.museum

A man holding a lantern at Tudor World Museum
Tudor World

Book a seat at Stratford Play House and enjoy an evening of everything from music to comedy and theatre.

Grab your tickets for Stratford Play House

VisitBritain/Nemorin

VB34184901
Stratford Play House

Enjoy an hour-long cruise of the River Avon, with a gin-tasting session included, thanks to Shakespeare Distillery.

Raise a glass to the Gin-Tasting Cruise

VisitBritain/Nemorin

VB34184826
Shakespeare Distillery Gin Cruise

Discover how gin and rum are made on a guided tour and tasting session of the Shakespeare Distillery.

Enjoy a tour of the Shakespeare Distillery

VisitBritain/Nemorin

VB34184823
Shakespeare Distillery Tour

Experience life on a Tudor farm at the home of Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden’s Farm in Stratford.

Take a trip to Mary Arden’s Farm

shakespearbtrust

A lady standing outside Mary Arden's Farm
Mary Arden’s Farm

Visit 700-year-old Guild Chapel in Stratford-upon-Avon and listen to the choir perform in the historic surrounds.

Listen to the choir at Guild Chapel

VisitBritain/Nemorin

VB34184449
Guild Chapel Concerts

Take a walk through a tropical paradise full of butterflies at the Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm, for a magical day out.

Check out the Stratford Butterfly Farm

Shakespeare's England

A child posing with a butterfly at the Butterfly Farm in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm

Learn all about the history of Stratford-upon-Avon, on one of its popular Stratford Town Walks and Ghost Walks.

Take a tour to remember

Stratford Town and Ghost Walks

A group of tour guides on a ghost walk in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford Town Walk and Ghost Walk

Places to stay in Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon

A small area with plenty of demand from visitors means demands on accommodation are always there, check out its boutique hotels to quaint Tudor cottages.

Warwick

Is a lovely day out in itself and is popular for its castle, and is a 25 minute train ride away.

Leamington Spa

The elegant spa town of Leamington Spa is also accessible and has fewer tourists and maybe a better alternative to the two towns in the summer months.

Getting to Stratford-upon-Avon

In the heart of the Warwickshire countryside, and of England itself makes getting to Stratford-upon-Avon easy. The closest airport is Birmingham. Located around 28 miles (around 30 mins by taxi) from the centre of the town, the airport serves more than 150 global destinations. Megabus and National Express take an hour, and trains from Birmingham take around an hour. Direct services also from London to Marylebone.

Getting around

By foot

Stratford-upon-Avon's many attractions can and should be reached by foot – in fact you can walk from one side of the town to the other in fewer than 15 minutes.

By bike

Hire a bike and explore the surrounding countryside, including the Stratford Greenway, a cycle path following a former railway line.

Want to know more?

Check out Visit Stratford-upon-Avon for top insider tips and inspiration.