What to do in Stratford Upon Avon

Monday, 30 May 2022
  • Days Out

Things to do in Stratford Upon Avon

To visit, or not to visit? That is the question. And, luckily for you, we’ve got a host of ideas and things to do that will get you booking train tickets to Stratford-Upon-Avon in a heartbeat.

Commonly known as the birthplace of one of (if not the most) famous playwrights in the world, William Shakespeare, you can step back in time to a place that is steeped with culture and history.

Now, without further ado, here are our top picks on things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Discover Shakespeare

As we have established, Stratford-Upon-Avon is famously known for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare, which is why you will not be disappointed with the rich heritage Stratford-Upon-Avon has devoted to England’s most famous literature great.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

The place where it all began. Enter Shakespeare’s Birthplace and hear the stories from Shakespeare’s past, as well as getting up close to world-class collections that can’t be seen anywhere else.

This refurbished 16th century half-timbered house is a very popular visitor attraction that is open to the public. A must-visit for anyone entering ‘Shakespeare’s country’.

Better yet why not take advantage of our 2FOR1 tickets to Shakespeare’s Birthplace when you travel with us?

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Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall

Discover where Shakespeare was educated and inspired to follow his dreams of becoming an English playwright.

Explore the very room where Shakespeare sat as a student in the 570s and join in with a Tudor School lesson from the school’s own Master Jenkins. Get into the spirit of 16th Century life and dress up as a Tudor, play Tudor games, and brush up on your quill and ink skills.

Hurry up and don’t be late for lessons with 2FOR1 to Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall when you travel by train!

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Royal Shakespeare Company

Lover of the arts? Adore Shakespeare plays… or just want to understand them? Then why not book tickets to one of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s shows?

Situated on Waterside, alongside the River Avon, you can indulge in spectacular performances of some of Shakespeare’s much-loved plays; from Richard III to the Twelfth Night and the show that should not be named (*cough Macbeth).

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Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Gardens

No, do not get Anne Hathaway’s cottage confused with the American actress… unless she was around in the -1500s!

Instead, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-Upon-Avon is the place where a young William Shakespeare dated his future bride to be at the most romantic of the Shakespearian houses.

You too will fall in love with this charming Tudor gem, nestled in nine acres of picturesque grounds (including award-winning gardens and orchards), you can stroll along the woodland walks, listen to Shakespeare’s sonnets, and learn more about the fascinating history of Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway.

Alternatively, you can fall in love with our 2FOR1 tickets to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage right here!

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Holy Trinity Church

Located on the banks of the River Avon, Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon is considered as one of England’s most visited Parish Churches and the site where Shakespeare was baptised in 1564 and buried in 1616.

Free to enter, you can gaze on the beautiful architecture of this Grade I listed building. However, you are requested to pay a fee if you wish to visit the grave of William Shakespeare – nothing too big though.

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Explore the outdoors

Located north of the Cotswold limestone belt and beside the River Avon, Stratford-Upon-Avon is a charming English town that everyone must visit once in their lifetime - and is just one of the reasons as to why you should make the most of the outdoor activities it has to offer.

Avon Boating

Avon Boating has one of the largest fleets of self-hire rowing boats, punts, and canoes in the country, so why not make the most of them whilst you’re here?

There’s nothing like peace and tranquillity than enjoying a nice cruise on the river in your very own rowboat, meandering down the River Avon, enjoying the sites and sounds of the outdoors.

Alternatively, if you want to cruise the town without the effort of manual labour, then you can also hire a motorboat.

On the other hand, if you fancy someone else taking the steering wheel, public cruises also operate from mid-March to the end of October with two or three boats available to board every 15-30 minutes.

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Stratford Bike Hire

What better way to see Stratford-Upon-Avon than by bike? The Stratford Bike Hire and Carriages Café gives you the option to collect a pre-booked bike from our Stratford-Upon-Avon train station or collected from the hire centre located at the Stratford Greenway cycle path.

There are a variety of bikes to choose from, including a number of Pashley bikes – which are hand built in Stratford-Upon-Avon itself. There are tandem bikes, tricycles and etrikes all available to use no matter what your ability is.

Leave you car at home because when you travel by train you can get 2FOR1 at Stratford Bike Hire .

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Stratford Big Wheel

The big wheel is back at Stratford-Upon-Avon and is bigger and better than ever.

Offering the best views of the Shakespearean town and surroundings, this fantastic experience is fun for the whole family, as well as being a great opportunity to take in the wonderful scenery.

The wheel also offers a car that is accessible for people in wheelchair and mobility scooters too.

Please check opening times on the website.

The Recreation Ground

Also known as the ‘Rec’ to local folk, the Recreation Ground is home to many of Stratford-Upon-Avon’s annual activities. There is also a bandstand featuring musical performances throughout the summer season.

The Rec offers a range of facilities including football pitches, playgrounds, paddling pools, mini golf, and a bowling club. With its large grassy area, it is also the prime spot to tuck into a picnic too!

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Indoor activities in Stratford-Upon-Avon

We all know the English weather can be very unpredictable, which is why it’s often good to have some rainy-day activities in the bag to pull out for those unexpected occasions.

Stratford-Upon Avon Butterfly Farm

Did you know, most butterflies’ tastebuds are on their feet? No? Well, there’s many more facts like that to discover at the Stratford-Upon-Avon Butterfly Farm.

Come rain or shine, this unique experience will get you coming face to face with hundreds of the world’s most beautiful butterflies. Flying around an exotic environment of tropical plants, fish -filled pools and waterfalls, it will be a great memory to look back on. All from just £7.95 per adult, £6.95 for kids, or free admission for children under three.

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MAD Museum

The UK’s only permanent museum focusing on mechanical art. MAD Museum combines imagination with clever and witty designs to encourage kids to put down their phone and controllers to be more hands-on.

Located in the centre of Stratford-Upon-Avon, this unique and quirky attraction is perfect for a rainy day. If you’re not quite sure what to expect, or what ‘mechanical art’ means, just picture the fun gadgets and gizmos from Wallace and Gromit, Scrapheap Challenge, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Getting there by train

Train tickets to Stratford-Upon-Avon needn't break the bank. And, with Off-Peak tickets you can go back in time for less, without the mad scientist!

The closest station to Stratford's town centre is Stratford-Upon-Avon, which is around a 15-minute walk to the main centre of the town. Luckily, we can take you right there!

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