Our Stratford-upon-Avon Travel Guide consists of really helpful locations to go to and issues to do, lodging choices, ideas and extra for this historic English market city. Everything it’s good to plan your go to and important studying for anybody planning to go to Stratford-upon-Avon!
Stratford-upon-Avon Travel Guide
The fairly city of Stratford-upon-Avon is positioned within the coronary heart of England’s Warwickshire countryside. Mention Startford and its most well-known former resident will come instantly to thoughts. William Shakespeare was born, married, lived, died and is buried within the city.
As such Stratford-upon-Avon is a well-liked vacation spot for literature lovers and historical past buffs.
The city is dwelling to a plethora of cultural sights, together with the Royal Shakespeare Company, which levels productions on the gorgeous Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Visitors also can discover the charming streets of Stratford-upon-Avon’s historic city centre, which is crammed with medieval timbered buildings and winding cobbled streets.
If you’re seeking to bask in some retail remedy, Stratford-upon-Avon has a variety of impartial retailers and boutiques promoting all the things from artisanal crafts and domestically made items to high-street vogue and souvenirs.
The city can be dwelling to quite a few glorious eating places, pubs, and cafes, providing a various vary of delicacies to swimsuit all tastes and budgets.
But Stratford-upon-Avon isn’t only a good spot to go to for a day journey or a weekend getaway. Located on the northern fringe of the Cotswolds the city is surrounded by lovely countryside, making it an ideal base for exploring the area’s many charming villages and gorgeous pure magnificence.
Whether you’re seeking to chill out and unwind within the peace and quiet of the countryside or expertise the wealthy tradition and historical past of England’s most well-known playwright, Stratford-upon-Avon has one thing for everybody.
If you might be planning to go to quite a few sights and sights in Warwickshire take into account buying the Shakespeare’s England Explorer Pass. Save cash on admission costs and select from a move that’s legitimate for 1, 2, or 3 days. The move consists of entry to 9 sights eg Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Kenilworth Castle.
Plan your go to to Stratford-upon-Avon – FAQs
When is the very best time of yr to go to Stratford-upon-Avon?
Stratford is a well-liked vacation spot for guests from abroad and Brits alike so it’s price taking just a few issues into consideration when planning your go to.
Weather
The climate in Stratford-upon-Avon is typical of the UK and may be unpredictable at any time of yr. Summer (June to August) is mostly the warmest and driest season, with common excessive temperatures starting from 20-25°C (the mid-60s to low-70s Fahrenheit).
However, it will also be fairly busy and touristy throughout this time. Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are likely to have extra average temperatures and fewer crowds, making them good instances to go to if you wish to keep away from the height vacationer season.
Winter (December to February) may be chilly and moist, with common excessive temperatures ranging round 8-13°C (from the mid-40s to mid-50s Fahrenheit).
However, Stratford-upon-Avon continues to be a well-liked vacation spot through the winter months, particularly across the holidays.
Festivals and occasions
???? Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival – 2nd May to seventh May 2023
The pageant celebrates the wealthy literary heritage of Stratford-upon and options a wide range of occasions and actions for literature lovers of all ages.
The pageant usually takes place within the spring and incorporates a vary of occasions together with talks and discussions with authors and different literary figures, workshops and masterclasses, ebook launches, and readings. Past members have included a various vary of authors and audio system, akin to Margaret Atwood and J.Ok. Rowling.
???? Stratford-upon-Avon Food and Drink Festival – September 2023
The pageant celebrates the area’s wealthy culinary heritage and options numerous occasions and actions centered on foods and drinks.
Enjoy a variety of occasions together with foods and drinks tastings, cooking demonstrations, workshops, and talks by cooks and different meals trade professionals. The pageant additionally features a vary of foods and drinks stalls and distributors promoting a wide range of native and worldwide cuisines.
???? Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Market
In the weeks main as much as Christmas head to Stratford for the Christmas market. Enjoy a variety of occasions together with carol singing and festive leisure.
The market additionally features a vary of stalls and distributors promoting a wide range of Christmas presents and decorations, in addition to foods and drinks.
School holidays
If you need to keep away from crowds, you might need to keep away from visiting Stratford-upon-Avon through the college holidays, when the city can get fairly busy.
The major college vacation durations within the UK are the Christmas and New Year holidays, the Easter holidays, and the summer time holidays (late July to early September).
What is one of the simplest ways to discover Stratford-upon-Avon?
Walking is an effective way to see the sights and get a really feel for the city at your personal tempo. There are a number of strolling excursions obtainable together with this strolling tour specializing in Shakespeare’s life.
There are additionally themed excursions specializing in particular features of the city’s historical past and tradition eg a Shakespeare & Hathaway TV Sites Tour, the Sinister Side of Stratford Walking Tour and the Dark Chronicles Horror Walking Tour.
Stratford-upon-Avon is positioned on the River Avon which makes a ship tour an effective way to see the city from a unique perspective.
If you like a guided tour and don’t need to do quite a lot of strolling, a bus tour is an efficient possibility. A hop-on hop-off bus tour of Stratford-upon-Avon means that you can see the principle sights and sights at your personal tempo. It additionally consists of a number of the sights which might be a bit out of the city akin to Anne Hathaway’s cottage.
How to journey to Stratford-upon-Avon from London
On a tour
If you might be pushed for time one of the simplest ways to go to Stratford from London could also be to take an organised tour. Often these excursions embrace just a few different areas so this might be a possibility so as to add different locations into your itinerary.
Options embrace
- Stonehenge, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Bath Day Trip – Uncover the secrets and techniques of Stonehenge, have free time to find the town of Bath, absorb the allure of the Cotswolds, and go to Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon on this 12 hour day journey.
By prepare
The most direct service by prepare from London departs Marylebone Station. Most providers have one change.
The journey takes roughly two hours and trains run ceaselessly all through the day.
Buy prepare tickets right here.
By automobile
If you might be hiring a automobile within the UK and are beginning your journey from London we advise that you simply get out of the capital first and decide up the automobile from an airport akin to Heathrow or a bigger city or metropolis.
The complete distance from London Heathrow to Stratford-upon-Avon is about 90 miles and the journey ought to take round 1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours, relying on visitors.
By coach
To get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London by coach take a National Express coach from Victoria Coach Station.
There are common coaches from Victoria Coach Station to Stratford-upon-Avon, with a journey time of round 3 hours and 25 minutes.
You should buy tickets for National Express coaches on-line through Omio or on the coach station. It’s a good suggestion to ebook your tickets upfront, as costs can enhance nearer to the date of journey.
Attractions and issues to do in Stratford-upon-Avon
Favourite issues to do and see in Stratford
Walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps and discover the home the place he was born and grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Step into the world of Sixteenth-century William Shakespeare with this entry to his former schoolroom and the Guildhall. The interactive expertise helps you to sit within the very room the place Shakespeare studied as a boy, collaborating in a Tudor-style lesson.
- Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is a historic thatched cottage positioned within the village of Shottery, simply outdoors Stratford-upon-Avon. It was the childhood dwelling of Anne Hathaway, who was the spouse of William Shakespeare. The cottage is now a museum and is open to the general public.
As a part of your go to to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, you may discover the historic rooms of the cottage and study in regards to the life and instances of Anne Hathaway. The cottage has been fastidiously restored to replicate the interval wherein Anne lived, and the rooms are crammed with interval furnishings and artefacts.
In addition to the principle cottage, there’s additionally a fantastic backyard to discover, which options a wide range of vegetation and flowers that might have been acquainted to Anne and her contemporaries.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is open to the general public from March to October.
Mary Arden’s Farm is a dwelling historical past museum positioned within the village of Wilmcote, simply outdoors Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the childhood dwelling of Mary Arden, the mom of William Shakespeare, and is now a well-liked customer attraction.
As a part of your go to to Mary Arden’s Farm, you may step again in time and expertise life on a Tudor farm. The farm is dwelling to a wide range of animals, together with cows, sheep, pigs, and poultry, and there are every day demonstrations of conventional farming strategies, akin to spinning and weaving.
In addition to the farm, there’s additionally a Tudor home on the location that has been fastidiously restored to replicate the interval wherein Mary Arden lived. You can discover the home and study in regards to the every day lifetime of a Tudor household.
Mary Arden’s Farm is open to the general public from March to October.
- Royal Shakespeare Theatre
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a serious repertory theatre positioned in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is dwelling to the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), one of the vital prestigious theatre corporations on this planet.
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a fantastic venue, with a surprising modernist design and state-of-the-art services. It is the principle venue for the RSC’s productions of Shakespeare’s performs, in addition to a variety of different classical and up to date productions.
If you’re visiting Stratford-upon-Avon and are curious about seeing a play on the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, you may buy tickets on-line or on the field workplace. The RSC usually has a variety of productions on provide, so you may select the one which pursuits you most.
In addition to seeing a play, you can even take a tour of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, which lets you discover behind the scenes and study in regards to the historical past and operation of the venue.
The MAD Museum (Mechanical Art and Design Museum) is devoted to showcasing the work of native artists and designers. The museum is dwelling to a set of mechanical artworks, together with kinetic sculptures and automata, in addition to interactive displays and workshops.
As a part of your go to to the MAD Museum, you may discover the museum’s assortment of mechanical artworks and study in regards to the design and building of those intricate items. The museum additionally hosts a variety of workshops and occasions, the place you may study new abilities and check out your hand at creating your personal mechanical art work.
The MAD Museum is open to the general public from Monday to Saturday
Included within the Explorer Pass
Food and Drink Experiences & Tours
Learn to bake scones and different treats for a basic afternoon tea throughout a baking class close to Shakespeare’s home. The class takes place in a captivating cottage close to the city centre.
All the recipes are from/impressed by Shakespeare’s performs and Elizabethan cooking – this can be a distinctive cooking & baking expertise and an effective way to expertise the tradition at a neighborhood place.
earn the right way to make healthful sourdough bread at an impartial bakery within the coronary heart of Stratford-Upon-Avon.
Learn the secrets and techniques of gin making, learn how the spirits are influenced by Tudor-period distillery strategies and uncover all the numerous components that create the award-winning Stratford Gin.
Where to eat and drink in Stratford-upon-Avon
The Fourteas Tea Room
Vintage-themed cafe. There is an unique Anderson shelter positioned within the backyard!
Address – 24 Sheep Street, CV37 6EF
The Vintner
The Vintner is a wine bar positioned within the coronary heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. It serves a domestically sourced seasonal menu.
Address – 4-5 Sheep Street, CV37 6EF
The Windmill Inn
Serves British pub fare. Small beer backyard.
Address – Church Street, CV37 6HB
The Deli Cafe
The Deli is a well-liked cafe positioned within the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon. It serves a variety of sandwiches, salads, and soups, in addition to a choice of truffles and pastries.
Address – 13-14 Meer Street, CV37 6QB
Accommodation in Stratford-upon-Avon
- ￡￡￡ – The White Swan Hotel – Set in a Grade II listed constructing, this lodge combines historic allure with fashionable comfort.
- ￡ ￡ ￡ – The Arden Hotel Stratford – Situated reverse the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre with free personal parking.
- ￡￡ – Ashgrove House – B&B in an awesome location with glorious opinions
More particular stays – Accommodation Guide for England
Other in style locations to go to close to to Stratford upon Avon
- Warwick Castle: Located only a quick drive from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick Castle is a historic fortress that dates again to the eleventh century. Visitors can discover the fortress’s grounds and gardens, and see the medieval Great Hall and Banqueting Hall.
- The Cotswolds: The Cotswolds is a fantastic area of rolling hills and quaint villages positioned to the south of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is a well-liked vacation spot for strolling and biking, and there are a variety of charming cities and villages to discover, akin to Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, and extra.
- Oxford: Oxford is a metropolis positioned about an hour’s drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is dwelling to the world-famous University of Oxford and is a well-liked vacation spot for its historic schools, museums, and exquisite gardens.
- Birmingham: Birmingham is a serious metropolis positioned about an hour’s drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is dwelling to quite a few in style sights, together with the Bullring purchasing centre, the National Sea Life Centre, and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
- Blenheim Palace: Blenheim Palace is a grand nation home positioned a few 30-minute drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is dwelling to the Duke of Marlborough and is a well-liked vacationer attraction, with lovely gardens, a historic parkland, and an ornate stately dwelling.
- Hidcote Manor Garden: Hidcote Manor Garden is a fantastic backyard positioned a few 20-minute drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. It is thought for its distinctive “rooms”, every with its personal distinctive character and planting scheme.
- The Roman Baths: The Roman Baths (within the metropolis of Bath) are a well-preserved Roman web site positioned about an hour’s drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. Visitors can discover the baths and study in regards to the historical past of this essential Roman web site.
Enjoy your go to to Stratford-upon-Avon
Thanks for studying our information to Stratford upon Avon – I’m positive now we have included all the things it’s good to know to plan your go to.
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