10 Best Things to do In Stratford-upon-Avon

“To be, or not to be: that is the question”. This is one of the most famous quotes in all of history and one, I think, we can all pinpoint as coming from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The bard is undoubtedly renowned worldwide for his hundreds of sonnets and plays about Elizabethan England and he’s certainly a treasured icon here in the UK. Stratford-upon-Avon, located in the heart of Warwickshire, with its ancient timber-framed buildings, quaint alleyways and spiralling church towers, is synonymous with all things Shakespeare. It is William Shakespeare’s birthplace, after all. The playwright was not only born here, but he studied in the local school, romanced his wife Anne Hathaway and is buried in the church. So, the question today is whether ‘to visit, or not to visit Stratford-upon-Avon’. My detailed guide to the best Shakespeare-related things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon should help you answer that question. 

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Where is Stratford-upon-Avon and how to reach it?

Stratford-upon-Avon is situated in the county of Warwickshire and on the edge of the Cotswolds. If you’d like to know where to visit in the Cotswolds, check out my favourite Cotswold villages here. Anyway, Stratford-upon-Avon is only 80 miles northeast of Cardiff and 82 miles northwest of London. The market town is easily accessible by road and public transport.

• • • Trains to Stratford-upon-Avon: There is a train station in Stratford with direct train routes from Birmingham New Street and London Marylebone. You can check National Rail for details.
    • Buses to Stratford-upon-Avon: The National Express runs from London Victoria to Stratford-upon-Avon. This journey takes 3 hours. Take local buses by Stagecoach from Birmingham and Leamington Spa.
    • Cars to Stratford-upon-Avon: Stratford is connected to the UK’s Motorway networks. From the north, you can take the MI, M5, M40 and then the A46. From the south, drive on the M40, before taking junction 15 and then the A46.

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Getting around Stratford-upon-Avon

Thankfully, Stratford-upon-Avon is relatively compact with many key attractions within minutes of each other. For example, Shakespeare’s Birthplace is only a 15-minute walk from the Holy Trinity Church (the furthest point on our list). All the other Shakespeare sites, except one, can be found between them. Therefore, the best way to get around Stratford-upon-Avon is on foot. 

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10 Unmissable Things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon

1. Watch a play at the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company)

The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the best Shakespeare theatres in the country. It has been established in Stratford for well over a hundred years and was first constructed as the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in 1875. Although, there have been theatrical performances in town since at least Shakespeare’s day. The RSC we have today was first opened to the public in 1879 and by 1925 it had received a Royal Charter. Now it is considered the place to go to see an authentic and true-to-the-text performance of Shakespeare’s plays with big names like Patrick Stewart and David Tenant gracing the stage. We saw A Comedy of Errors in their temporary outdoor theatre space (this was a Covid-19 safety measure), and I honestly haven’t laughed as much as I did then! Top-notch performance! Before you visit Stratford-upon-Avon, you can view the RSC play schedule here.

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2. Dine at the RSC Rooftop Restaurant and Take the Behind the Scenes Tour

The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon has a wonderful Rooftop Restaurant with views across the entire town. The restaurant serves the best of British food with an afternoon tea menu and pre-theatre menu with a delicious roasted South Gloucestershire beef sirloin and a Crown Prince pumpkin spiced raviolini with nutmeg, wilted spinach and hazel nuts. 

The RSC guided tours are also a must while you visit Stratford-upon-Avon. They take you backstage to explore the theatre’s private areas, including the dressing rooms, lighting rooms, rehearsal rooms and costume departments. In the latter, you get to dress up in some costumes and the tour teaches you that a play at the RSC is planned for four years before we see it on stage. While walking backstage, look out for the signatures of famous Shakespearean actors. We also learned a few theatre superstitions along the way. One of which is that it’s supposedly back luck to say Macbeth in the theatre. Instead, you must say ‘the Scottish play’, and it’s thought to be bad luck to whistle on or off the stage.

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3. Embark on a Stratford Town Walk

Taking a guided town walk around Stratford-upon-Avon is the only way to see the town, and its historic sites, as they should be – through Shakespeare’s eyes! This is a multi-award-winning Stratford-upon-Avon walk lasting a couple of hours. The tours are led by genuinely charismatic and enthusiastic guides and if you are pressed for time, they are a great way to see all the key sites. The town walk is likewise one of the best things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon for travellers on a budget. As I said, you pass all the major Shakespeare sites for the cost of £10 (adults) or £5 (children). 

The walk starts on the green in front of the RSC, before walking the historic streets. Along the way, our guide points out quirky features. For example, we learnt that The Black Swan/The Dirty Duck is the only pub in England licensed under both names. From there, we went in pursuit of Shakespeare’s “footsteps”, visiting Shakespeare’s Birthplace, New Place, Hall’s Croft and more. Along the way, we were told thrilling stories about the plague, medieval medical cures, floods and how the lamp posts in Stratford-upon-Avon have been donated by countries around the world, like Hungary and Israel. 

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4. Tudor World

One of the most unusual things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon that’s Shakespeare-related is to visit the Tudor World. This is a living history museum set within a historic 16th century, Grade 2* listed building in the centre of Stratford’s town. Inside, there are historical settings like a grand banquet dining table (which visitors are encouraged to sit at), plaque rooms, a four-poster bed to lie on and a throne to perch upon. Nowhere is more immersive and educational (in a fun way) about the secret lives of the Tudors, the life and times of William Shakespeare, along with his contemporaries like Elizabeth I.

• • • • • • • • • •  Admission Prices: Adults (£7) and children (£4)

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5. Shakespeare’s Grave at the Holy Trinity Church

Set within a colony of trees and overlooking the River Avon is the Holy Trinity Church – a landmark as the oldest building in Stratford-upon-Avon. Here, you’ll find Shakespeare’s grave, but before he died, the church played a prominent role in the bard’s life as the place he was baptised. Shakespeare was also a regular worshipper here and was married in the building. Within the church, is some of the most magnificent stained-glass windows in England and under the High Alter are five graves. These are occupied by the Shakespeare family, including the poets’ which has a curse written on it to deter thieves.

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The curse reads “Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones”. Unfortunately, someone did rob the grave and Shakespeare’s head is now missing. Next to Shakespeare’s grave is Anne (his wife), his daughter Susanna and her husband, John Hall. The church and grounds are free to enter, but a donation of £3 is asked of each visitor. 

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6. Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Despite being situated on Henley Street, one of the busiest high streets in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s Birthplace still deserves a visit. The wonky timber-framed Tudor house is the birthplace of Shakespeare and where the playwright spent the first 24 years of his life. It was owned by his father, John Shakespeare, who worked in the right half of the building as a glove maker for the wealthy. Wonderfully, the floors inside have not been replaced, so you are literally following in the footsteps of William Shakespeare. Unlike the other Stratford-upon-Avon attractions, Shakespeare’s Birthplace offers a guided experience with costumed tour guides on hand to give you all the juicy gossip. One guide even told me some BIG fans actually kiss the floor knowing Shakespeare walked here!

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The first thing you see at Shakespeare’s Birthplace is a museum, detailing his life, work and what people thought of him. Towards the end, there is a tapestry of Shakespeare’s 38 plays with quick summaries to engage young audiences. Then you walk through a bright and overflowing garden to reach the back of the house. Then through the family’s bedrooms, kitchen, a workspace where Shakespeare helped his father make gloves, and the Shakespeare pub. At one point, this family home was converted into an inn for travellers, called the Swan & Maidenhead. On the top floor, there is an original glass window featuring signatures from famous writers, like Charles Dickens, who have visited this property. 

• • • • • • • • Shakespeare’s Birthplace: Tickets are £17
              • If you purchase the ‘full story ticket’, you can enter all of Shakespeare’s family homes for around £22
              • The ‘full story ticket’ also has a 12-month entry guarantee

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7. Statues and Gardens at New Place

One of my all-time favourite things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon is to visit Shakespeare’s New Place because it has a beautiful garden and characterful statues representing the bard’s plays. New Place is lesser known than most Shakespeare buildings, but I find it the most compelling as the bard’s final home. Shakespeare brought the house for £120 after he made his fortune in London. He lived in New Place from 1597 until his death in 1616. Unfortunately, New Place didn’t stand the test of time and all we see today is the property’s outdoor spaces commemorating his greatest achievements. The courtyard is laced with references to Shakespeare with the floor paved with sonnet extracts.

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Ernest Law, a trustee of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust designed the Knot Garden at Shakespeare’s New Place between 1919 and 1920. He was also an expert in garden history, and this garden is based on illustrations from the Gardener’s Labyrinth, first published in 1577. As a result, the Knot is a type of garden that was very fashionable during Shakespeare’s time. There’s an incredible smell of rosemary and thyme here, with exquisite views of the church and Stratford’s medieval architecture. New Places’ The Great Garden is an area of greenery with statues inspired by Shakespeare’s plays which have quotes from the respective plays on the back. My favourites are the mixture of heads and a donkey to represent A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the distorted figure of Hamlet. So, if you’re looking for the real Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, New Place is where you should visit!

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8. Go Back to School at Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall

It’s quite obvious that William Shakespeare had an excellent grasp of the English language, and it’s here, at the Schoolroom and Guildhall, where it all began for him. Shakespeare was taught Latin and didn’t learn with ink, a quill or paper as we would expect, but he repeated verbal phrases back to his Master. Then, Shakespeare along, with the other students, would jot things down on a slab of slate. Lessons were likewise unusual, as the boys drank ale and no female students were allowed. The first girl to be taught here was in 2013. 

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Today, you can learn all about teenage Shakespeare with one-to-one talks with knowledgeable guides. As part of the tour, you’ll get to see a rare example of a medieval wall painting with scenes from the bible. Next is the 15th-century Guildhall which was made from timber frames that slotted together. You can still see the Roman numerals inscribed to guide the builders on where to put the wooden pieces. In the classroom, you can experience “classes” with Shakespeare’s tutor, Master Thomas Jenkins. During these classes, learn how to write with a quill and ink, dress up in Tudor clothes and answer the Master’s questions. 

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9. Visit Hall’s Croft

 Hall’s Croft is perhaps one of the most beautiful places in Stratford-upon-Avon with its weathered Jacobean architecture, enormous chimneys, wonky windows and overgrown wisteria. It was the home of Shakespeare’s daughter, Susanna and her husband, physician John Hall. Susanna was Shakespeare’s eldest daughter who lived here until she inherited New Place after her father’s death. In the back, the tranquil walled garden is worth exploring, as it features medicinal herbs that John Hall would have used in his remedies.

Unfortunately, none of the Jacobean furniture, nor any of Susanna and John’s belongings survive, except a spice grinder in the attic. Throughout history, Hall’s Croft has been home to professional people until the 1800s when it served as a small school. After this, many notable people stayed here, including Marie Corelli and George Bernard Shaw. There are also reported sightings of a blue ghost on the stairs, which is believed to belong to the spirit of Betty Leggett who fell to her death here. 

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10. Walk to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

The last thing you should do during your visit to Stratford-upon-Avon is walk to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. From the town centre, it is roughly a 25-minute walk to the cottage, but along the way, you’ll see local parks, twee white cottages overlooked by grand mansions, ducks and garden plots that I guarantee you won’t see if you drive. When you eventually arrive, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage will steal your heart with its charming thatched roof, multi-styled architecture and vibrant flowers. This was the home of Shakespeare’s wife, Anne, whom he married at 18 years old. Anne was 26 years old, and to be so much older than her husband was a controversial topic at the time. On top of that, Anne was already pregnant, meaning they did the naughty deed long before their wedding day. The museum holds 9 acres of gardens with vegetable plots and Willow Arbour, representing the cottage’s life as a Tudor farm. Inside there is a traditional kitchen and bedrooms with Shakespeare’s ‘second best bed’ that he left to his wife in their will. 

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Final thoughts on the best things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon

Whether you’re a fan of William Shakespeare, love historic houses and watching plays, or are simply looking for an exciting staycation in the UK, Stratford-upon-Avon is the town for you! My four days here with my sister are some of my favourite memories, and I’m itching to go back.

Have you been to Stratford-upon-Avon? If so, what was your favourite place to explore?