WHAT YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN’T MISS VISITTING STRATFORD UPON AVON, ENGLAND

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“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” Ibn Battuta

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If you like weekends away packed with culture and history, Stratford-upon-Avon should be on your bucket list.  

Stratford is a small and historic Elizabethan market town on the River Avon in Warwickshire. The town offers the perfect destination for life-long Shakespeare lovers but there are more things to do than you may think.

This town’s medieval streets are filled with delightful shops, top-quality restaurants and pubs, all within walking distance of the scenic River Avon, and surrounded by the wonderful Warwickshire countryside.

What to see

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

William Shakespeare’s birthplace is a restored 16th-century half-timbered house situated in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon in Henley Street.

The house contains a lot of rare artefacts and it’s a perfect place to take a trip back in time with the captivating costumed guides who brings Shakespeare’s story to life.

William was born in 1564 and he was the third of their eight children. He inherited the house in 1601 after the death of his father. When Shakespeare died in 1616 he left the property to his elder daughter Susanna, and when she died she left it to her only child, Elizabeth.

The property was purchased at auction by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1847 for £3,000.

Tip: Consider online booking particularly during busy periods such as weekends.

Address: Henley St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QW

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is situated in Shottery, a pleasant one-mile stroll west of the town center, a brick building with half-timbering, thatched roof, and a delightful garden. This picture-perfect country house remains almost exactly the same as it was when Shakespeare won the hand of his wife, Anne.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage was built in 1463 and comprised of only three rooms, two of which survive – the kitchen and the parlour. Anne, later Shakespeare’s wife, was born in the cottage in 1556.

The cottage was passed down the Hathaway family until 1846, when financial problems forced them to sell it. In 1969 the cottage was badly damaged in a fire, but was restored by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. It is now open to the public as a museum.

Tip: When planning a visit make sure that you check whether the cottage is open. It closes for the winter and reopens in March. It’s also worth to consider online booking particularly during busy periods such as weekends.

Address: Cottage Ln, Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9HH

Shakespeare’s New Place

Shakespeare’s New Place was his family home from 1597 until he died in the house in 1616. The house was demolished in 1759, and a registered garden has been designed on the site where the New Place once stood.

Tip: When planning a visit make sure that you check whether the New Place is open. It’s also worth to consider online booking particularly during busy periods such as weekends.

Address: 22 Chapel St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6EP

Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall

Make sure that the schoolroom is on your to do list and immerse yourself in sixteenth century Stratford. It’s a fantastic experience opportunity to discover where William Shakespeare was educated and inspired to become the world’s greatest playwright. How exciting is to see the very room where William Shakespeare sat in the 1570s and where he wrote his first works?!

Tip: When planning a visit make sure that you check whether the school and guildhall are open.

You can purchase tickets HERE.

Address: Church St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6HB

Holy Trinity Church & Shakespeare’s Grave

An avenue of lime trees leads to the 13th-century Holy Trinity Church considered one of England’s most-visited Parish Churches and the site where William Shakespeare was baptized in 1564 and buried in 1616.

There you can also find the graves of Anne Hathaway, Dr John Hall and his wife Susanna Shakespeare and Thomas Nash.

The 800 year-old church has some notable stained glass windows and 26 carved misericords dating from the 1400s. The high altar is one of the very few pre-reformation stone altars still in use in England today.

Stratford-upon-Avon Canal

Stretching 25 miles from the Birmingham suburbs to the River Avon in Stratford, this scenic waterway passes through enchanting countryside in the very heart of England, cutting through the Forest of Arden and an area rich in Shakespearean history.

Stratford offers a plethora of options when comes to river cruises, from hiring a rowing or self-drive motor boat with one of the area’s traditional boating companies to a classic Edwardian passenger vessel for a public cruise, which will take you from the Bancroft Gardens and past the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

How about a combination of the riverside sights including the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare’s burial place, while enjoying a tutored tasting of the craft gins produced by the award winning Shakespeare Distillery? Sounds good? Learn more and buy tickets HERE.

Tudor World Museum

Tudor World is an independent museum set in an original Tudor property and accessed via the only remaining cobbled street in Stratford. It offer Tudor lovers a slice of different areas of Tudor life and a heady atmosphere of the time.

What I really liked about the museum were the interactive elements: from touchscreens, videos to a four poster bed to lie on.

If you feel brave enough why not to join the Ghost Tour? Ghost tours take place after the museum is closed and the lights switched off! This is the only tour to take place within one of the historic buildings of Stratford and is therefore more eerie and atmospheric.

The museum also offers the Shakespeare tour which meets at the Tudor World Museum then proceeds to his Birthplace, to his children’s houses, New Place, his school and ends at his final resting place Holy Trinity Church.

Address: 40 Sheep St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6EE

Hop on Hop off Tour

This is a great way not to only see all the main attractions but also to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic views of the city. I always make sure I have enough time in my itinerary for a hop on hop off bus whatever a city I visit.

1 bus tour route & 11 stops around the city, including all main sights & attractions.

You can purchase tickets HERE.

The Swan Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

The Royal Shakespeare Company has three theatres in Stratford. Performing arts centre The Other Place, the flagship Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Swan Theatre that regularly stages plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and later writers.

Magic Alley, Stratford upon Avon’s Most Magical Attraction

If you fancy something extraordinary I recommend popping into the Magic Alley shop. It’s like stepping into another world of entertainment and education, stardust and wonder.

You will find there everything from magic spells and antique prints, to crystals, candles, puzzles, quirky books, board games and Halloween all year round!

And when you thought this is where it ends, the Magic Valley comes up with even more magical surprises, think Enchanted Treasure Trail or Christmas extravaganza. All tickets can be purchased online.

Address: 1st Floor, Bell Ct, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6EX

Cute Shops

Stratford upon Avon is packed with extraordinary shops so make sure you put aside an hour or two for a causal stroll. Fancy a full on Christmas adventure in the middle of summer, not a problem. Why not to take your youngsters to the cuttest Teddy Bear Shop?

Where to eat

Honey Blue coffee shop

The town’s best kept secrets when it comes to a quick bite or coffee boost. Looking for something intagrammable, try a hot chocolate that comes topped with a giant toasted marshmallow on a stick!

Address: 2 Shrieves Walk, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6GJ

The Woodsman Restaurant

Situated at Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon it’s a modern restaurant serving an upscale farm-to-table British menu in a rustic-chic 1500s building.

I really enjoyed the rustic ambience with a large wood-fired oven and charcoal grill being the focal point of the restaurant. It was a truly mesmerizing experience watching chefs preparing the finest British deer, wild boar, beef and Hebridean lamb; all raised on farms with the highest standards of husbandry.

I love a good cocktail and having a full stocked up trolley with the restaurant specialties at the table within minutes of our arrival definitely set a good start to the evening.

Address: 4 Chapel St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6HA

Loxleys Restaurant & Wine Bar

Cosy 2-floor restaurant with exposed brickwork, an open fire, terrace seating and Sunday roasts. We really enjoyed the experience, attentive staff, delicious food, excellent presentation, cosy ambience and all of it at affordable prices. A meal for two ranges between ££ and £££ if your throw in a bottle of good wine.

Address: 3 Sheep St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6EF

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre rooftop restaurant

If you appreciate a good view, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre is home to a rooftop restaurant with stunning views over the River Avon and very affordable prices ££.

Address: 3rd Floor, Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BB

Where to Stay

We stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel that is conveniently located in the centre of Stratford and literally a few minutes walk from most of the above mentioned attractions and venues.

Affordable ££, modern deco, restaurant, bar/lounge, room service, fitness facilities are just a few to mention that hotel offers. We really enjoyed a pre dinner drink at the hotel with an impressive selection of cocktails and friendly service.

Address: Arden St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QQ

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