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Stratford-upon-Avon

Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon

This charming Tudor town built on the banks of the Avon River is best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare.

Stratford-upon-Avon at a glance

  • Make a visit to the Royal Shakespeare company a priority. Showcasing the finest theatre productions, you can immerse yourself in British literature at the RSC. From Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet to Midsummer Night Dream and Macbeth, this particular Stratford theatre supplies pure entertainment.

  • Shakespeare fans will relish the chance to walk in the bard’s footsteps: visit the timbered home where he was born at Shakespeare’s Birthplace; explore the house where he courted his wife at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and pay your respects at his final resting place in the Holy Trinity Church.

  • Another popular attraction for anyone on the Shakespeare trail is Mary Arden’s Farm. The family home of Shakespeare’s mother, the traditional house is now a working museum where you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of a Tudor farm, as it would have been in his mother’s day.

  • Enjoy a play in the Swan Theatre’s traditional Elizabethan stage where the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company perform.

  • Did you know? Compton Verney is just 20 minutes from Stratford by car. A magnificent 18th mansion with an award-winning gallery and museum, it’s surrounded by 120 acres of parkland which was landscaped by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.

  • Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust has everything you need to know about visiting the Bard’s hometown, including new attractions such as Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall.

  • From London you can get to Stratford-upon-Avon in around 2 hours 30 minutes by train and it’s just 1 hour south of Birmingham.
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre from the Canal Basin, Stratford-upon-Avon © VisitBritain/LeeBeel
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Famed for its ties to William Shakespeare and its romanticized Tudor architecture, Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town packed with history and heritage. Of all the things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace is the star attraction. The renowned poet and playwright lived in the town and you can walk in his footsteps at his childhood residence. In addition to the Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare house, you can explore Mary Arden’s Farm, once home to the great playwright’s mother or visit Anne Hathaway’s House, the home of the Bard’s wife. Catch a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre when in Stratford-upon-Avon, browse independent shops and boutiques in the centre of the town, and sample its eclectic foodie scene while discovering more of the town that produced the world’s most famous playwright.

Things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon

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Where is Stratford-upon-Avon

Found in the heart of the Warwickshire countryside, Stratford-upon-Avon nearest airport is Birmingham. Located around 28 miles (around 30 minutes by car) from the centre of the town, the airport has routes to more than 150 global destinations. Megabus and National Express services also run from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon, taking from one hour.

Getting around Stratford-upon-Avon

Given its central location in the West Midlands, Stratford-upon-Avon can be easily accessed from across Britain. Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon trains take between 60-90 minutes. Some direct services operate from London Marylebone, while others require a change at Leamington Spa, with the journey from the capital taking in the region of two hours. Once in Stratford-upon-Avon, you can explore the town on foot, or enjoy the convenience of its public transport network.

  • This guide from Visit Stratford-upon-Avon has the essential information you need to plan your trip
  • Hop-on hop-off Tours operate in Stratford-upon-Avon, providing an easy way to see its historic architecture and Shakespeare attractions
  • Looking to explore places near to Stratford-upon-Avon? Stagecoach Midlands runs services to Warwick, home to the imposing Warwick Castle, as well as to Coventry, the 2021 UK City of Culture

BY FOOT

Wander around the main Stratford-upon-Avon attractions on foot, as you can walk from one side of the town to the other in less than 15 minutes.

BY BIKE

Discover a different side to Stratford-upon-Avon by hiring a bike and exploring the surrounding countryside, including the Stratford Greenway, a cycle path following a former railway line.