Stratford-upon-Avon



Stratford-upon-Avon is an historic town on the River Avon in the English county of Warwickshire, best known as the home town of the great English playwright and poet, William Shakespeare. Today, it is a major theatre-going destination as the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. As such, it represents one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Although it's often abbreviated to just "Stratford", when organising transport or accommodation always refer in full to "Stratford-upon-Avon". There's a large district of London called Stratford, where you don't want to go by mistake.

Understand
"I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it."

- William Shakespeare - As You Like It, Act II, Scene 4

Stratford-upon-Avon has its origins in the Saxon culture of medieval England (the name "straet-ford" indicates that it was a river crossing). For many centuries it was little more than a small market town on the road to London; even today, it has only 24,000 permanent residents. Though it has developed some industrial capacity, Stratford is now known mostly for its association with Shakespeare. The town benefits tremendously from the resulting tourism and cultural activity, and has gone to great lengths to preserve those buildings that have survived since Shakespeare's time. As a result the centre of town is quaint and attractive, drawing many thousands of tourists each year to its cultural and historical amenities.

Get in
"Journeys end in lovers meeting."

- Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene 3

By plane
The closest international airport is Birmingham Airport, with many flights domestically and across Europe. Intercontinental destinations include Istanbul, Newark (New Jersey), the Gulf States, Amritsar and (who knew?) Ashgabat in Turkmenistan. Trains run from the airport to central Birmingham, change there for Stratford, and reckon 90 min.

The London airports, especially Heathrow, have a wider intercontinental choice. Reaching any of them from Stratford by public transport takes around four hours by coach, and three hours by train (as you have to go into central London and then out again). By car, Heathrow is only 90 min away if the motorways are clear, but when would the M25 and M40 ever be clear?

By train


There are frequent direct trains to Birmingham Snow Hill station (around an hour) and Warwick (around 30 minutes). For London there are only 3 direct trains, taking 2 hours to London Marylebone station. The journey usually takes 3 hours, changing either in Birmingham for trains to London Euston, or at Royal Leamington Spa for trains to London Marylebone.

By bus
National Express run direct coaches to Stratford from London Victoria (about 3 hr), Birmingham (1 hr) and Oxford (1 hr 15 min).

By car
From London follow the M40 motorway and exit at Junction 15 for A46 south. Distance 102 miles (164 km), journey time approximately 2 hours. See also the town's Park and Ride website.

By boat
At Stratford, the navigable River Avon meets the Stratford canal, which connects to Grand Union Canal and the entire English waterway network. You could even reach Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, given enough time, and a narrowboat to wriggle through the narrow locks. Historically this was important, creating a freight route between Bristol to London in the early 19th century; and then in the 20th century it was the cause which focus efforts to rescue the national canal system from neglect.

Get around
"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!"

- Richard III, Act V, Scene 4

The town is compact and most sights are in easy walking distance. However Anne Hathaway's Cottage is in Shottery, a mile west from the centre, and Mary Arden's Farm is three miles west in Wilmcote. For these either use your own car, or take the open-top bus tour, or cycle. Cyclists will also enjoy Stratford Greenway, 5 miles of traffic-free track on the edge of town.



Those unable to walk can hire a mobility scooter from Shopmobility, located on the ground floor of the Bridgefoot multi-storey car park.

See
"So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."

- Sonnet 18

There are five sites closely associated with Shakespeare, and managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. A combi-ticket (called "The Full Story") is best value and they can all be seen in the course of an afternoon. Three are central: Shakespeare's birthplace on Henley Street is the obvious starting point. In later life he bought a house at New Place - it's long been demolished, but you visit to see the garden there, and the adjoining Nash's House where his grand-daughter Elizabeth lived. His daughter Susanna married Dr John Hall, and Hall's Croft was their house. A mile west in the hamlet of Shottery is Anne Hathaway's Cottage, where she grew up before marrying Shakespeare. Three miles west in Wilmcote is Mary Arden's Farm, childhood home of Shakespeare's mother.











Further afield






Do
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players"

- As You Like It, Act II, Scene 7


 * There are three RSC theatres in town, which can be toured. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre within the Waterside complex is the main space for performing Shakespeare; it has 1018 seats with a thrust stage. Also within the complex is Swan Theatre, used for performing Shakespeare's contemporaries, and Restoration and newer work. It has 426 seats around a deep thrust stage. Some 150 m south along the river is The Other Place. This has a 200-seat theatre (incorporating the former Courtyard Theatre) plus rehearsal and studio space.
 * Tickets are normally £50-75 for seats on the lower level on the stage, with no restricted view. On the day standby tickets are considerably cheaper (£10-20), however you are not guaranteed availability, and seat choices are limited.
 * Tickets are normally £50-75 for seats on the lower level on the stage, with no restricted view. On the day standby tickets are considerably cheaper (£10-20), however you are not guaranteed availability, and seat choices are limited.


 * Hire a rowing boat and take a trip up and down the river.
 * Stratford Town Walk is a guided sightseeing walk, daily at 11:00 plus Sa Su at 14:00. The walk starts from the Swan fountain on Waterside, near the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and opposite the junction of Sheep Street. The walk takes about two hours, adults £6, no booking. The same team also runs:
 * - Stratford Town Ghost Walk on Saturdays at 7:30PM (90 min), adults £7, book on 07855 760377 or 01789 292478.
 * - Cruises on the River Avon, with ghostly stories and, uh, mind-reading.
 * - Cruises on the River Avon, with ghostly stories and, uh, mind-reading.



Buy
"If money go before, all ways do lie open."

- The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act II, Scene 2

Stratford sounds like an ideal place to stock up on Shakespeare... but is it? A book of the complete works of Shakespeare can be bought online for less than £4 plus postage, a Kindle version for less than £1, and a simple text download for free. That's because the works are deemed to belong to the common heritage of the English-speaking peoples, with no copyright restrictions, and there are innumerable print editions and e-sources out there. So Old Bill could be adding class to your bookshelves long before your trip.

On most summer Sundays there is a craft-market on the Waterside. The produce isn't particularly local though.

Eat
"'Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers."

- Romeo and Juliet, Act IV, Scene 2

Stratford eating places are well geared to theatre-goers. Usually there's a pre-theatre rush at 5PM, then it all goes quiet between 6PM and 7PM before the evening crowd starts coming in. But there's not much of a late night scene, as you'd find in London's West End or in Edinburgh.

Venturing further afield, there are many pubs and restaurants in surrounding villages and towns. Look at Alcester, Welford-on-Avon, Chipping Campden, and the Cotswolds.
 * The One Elm 1 Guild St CV37 6QZ, just off High Street (daily 11AM-11PM). Great food all day and lovely back courtyard.
 * Barnabys 25 Sheep St CV37 6EF, across the road from RSC (daily 11AM-8PM). Good inexpensive fish & chips and other fast food.
 * Baraset Barn Pimlico Lane, Alveston CV37 6RJ, 2 miles northeast of Stratford off B4086 (M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-5PM). Nice gastropub.
 * Baraset Barn Pimlico Lane, Alveston CV37 6RJ, 2 miles northeast of Stratford off B4086 (M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-5PM). Nice gastropub.
 * Baraset Barn Pimlico Lane, Alveston CV37 6RJ, 2 miles northeast of Stratford off B4086 (M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-5PM). Nice gastropub.
 * Baraset Barn Pimlico Lane, Alveston CV37 6RJ, 2 miles northeast of Stratford off B4086 (M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-5PM). Nice gastropub.

Drink
"Now is the woodcock near the gin."

- Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene 5


 * The One Elm: see "Eat" listing.
 * Dirty Duck / Black Swan: see "Eat" listing.
 * Prospero Lounge: See 'eat' listing

Sleep
"Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed The dear repose for limbs with travel tired"

- Sonnet 27

Reliable mid-range chain hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon include Mercure, Premier Inn, Best Western and Crowne Plaza.


 * Virginia Lodge, 12 Evesham Place CV37 6HT: a nice B&B about 5 minutes' walk to Stratford town centre.
 * YHA Hostel, Alveston has basic dorms in a grand Georgian villa, 2 miles northeast of Stratford off B4086 Wellesbourne Rd in Alveston.

Connect
As of May 2024, Stratford and its approach roads have 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from EE.

Go next
"There is a world elsewhere."

- Coriolanus, Act III, Scene 3


 * Warwick — One of Britain's most famous and best preserved castles.
 * Wellesbourne — Large village known for its airfield and close to Charlecote Park, a manor house and deer park that William Shakespeare allegedly poached in.
 * The hills to the south are the Cotswolds, with a series of charming villages - Chipping Campden, Blockley, Bourton-on-the-Water, or any of the hundreds of other villages.
 * Bristol — large city known for its' merchant trading history, south of the Cotswolds
 * Cheltenham to the south of the Cotswolds, and Royal Leamington Spa on the railway line north of Stratford, are elegant spa towns.
 * Oxford to the south-east is a must-see.
 * Head for Birmingham for big city attractions, as well as an international airport and train connections to the rest of the UK and onwards to mainland Europe (via Eurostar).