Stratford-upon-Avon

About Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford has been a market town since 1196, but it is the four decades from 1564 to 1616 — William Shakespeare's lifetime — that made its name. Five surviving buildings have direct Shakespeare connections, and a sixth, New Place, where he lived as a wealthy man, has been excavated and reset as a garden.

It is the only town outside London with a permanent Royal Shakespeare Company theatre — three stages clustered on the riverbank — running plays year-round.

The Cotswold Guide Top Tips

The five Shakespeare Birthplace Trust properties (Birthplace, New Place, Hall's Croft, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Mary Arden's Farm) are best bought as a combined ticket — about 30% cheaper than buying separately.
The river boat trips from Bancroft Gardens are a good interlude between the main sights — a 30-minute round trip is plenty.

Attractions in Stratford-upon-Avon

Where to eat & drink

The Old Thatch Tavern
Stratford's oldest pub (1470), with original timber ceiling and a small terrace garden.
Lambs of Sheep Street
Modern British in a 16th-century building near the theatre.
The Dirty Duck
The actors' pub — fixtures from the Royal Shakespeare Company line the walls.

Getting there

By train
2h direct from London Marylebone.
By car
8 miles south of M40 J15.
By bus
1 from Stratford to Chipping Campden (45 min).

Best time to visit

The RSC season runs April through November, with performances most evenings. Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations, the weekend nearest 23 April, is the town's biggest annual event.