Stratford-Upon-Avon is a romantic old English town along the beautiful River Avon. The town is rich in both history and culture. It is Shakespeare’s birthplace and hometown but even so, it is often overlooked as a travel destination. Stratford-Upon-Avon may not have gathered the fame of other British old towns but it is just as beautiful and historically significant. Stratford-Upon-Avon is the best getaway and travel destination in Warwickshire and a great day trip near London. There are so many awesome things to do in Stratford Upon Avon and this guide will help you plan your visit to this incredible English town.

Getting there

Stratford-Upon-Avon is easily reachable by train or bus from London. A train journey will cost more but arrive faster with around a 2-hour journey. The bus journey will take the longest at roughly 3hr 40 minutes so a bus journey should probably be ruled out if you’re looking to visit Stratford-Upon-Avon for the day. Driving is also a good option which is the route I took. The journey by car was around 2 hours drive and there are some fairly cheap car parks within a short walk to the city centre. Overall the city is quite accessible by various modes of transportation which means that Stratford-Upon-Avon is a great day trip or short getaway.

Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Visiting the birthplace of the famous William Shakespeare should be at the top of most travelers visiting Stratford-Upon-Avon. The famous English author, poet, and playwright is world-renowned for engaging and magical stories and he is a vital part of English history.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace is one of the main reasons tourists visit Stratford-Upon-Avon, so try not to miss this one. The 16th century house is situated in the city centre and it is easy to locate.

The River Avon

The River Avon that flows through the heart of the city of Stratford-Upon-Avon is blessed with natural beauty. Walking the towpaths and crossing the ancient bridges of this beautiful scenic river is an amazing experience. If you are a fan of scenic riversides you may want to visit on a warm day and have a picnic by the river or just relax here for a couple of hours.

A boat trip on the River Avon will have you in awe of the natural beauty of Stratford-Upon-Avon. River cruises can be booked through a wide array of tour sites and are also offered around the riverside area. If you want to be the captain of your own boat there are small rowing boats available for hire.

The rowing boats are Shakespeare themed too which is really cool and they can hold up to four people on a rowing boat. There are a wide array of boats on offer and cruising or rowing through the River Avon on a bright sunny day is likely the best outdoor activity in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall

Shakespeare enthusiasts that require the full Shakespeare experience should definitely visit Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall is the place to visit. This museum is set in a Grade I listed building and is the perfect place to learn about Shakespeare’s early years and how he developed into an amazing playwright. The museum has plenty of interesting and unique features, such as being taught to write in a quill pen with ink just like Shakespeare had done.

The museum also allows visitors to dress up in Tudor clothes which they offer. This fits the theme of the museum and allows visitors to get a feel for what life was like in Tudor Times. Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall have a number of other activities such as educational talks and more. The tickets are reasonably priced at £12.50 so it’s worth the visit for anyone looking to know more about Shakespeare’s history. This is likely the best museum in Stratford-Upon-Avon to offer these unique Shakespeare-themed experiences.

Tudor World

Visit the Tudor World if you want the full Tudor times experience. This museum offers an insight into Tudor history with realistic lifelike models of Tudor scenes. If you’re interested in taking a trip to the past then this is the place to visit in Stratford-Upon-Avon. The Tudor World is an awesome experience and the museum will let you try Tudor clothes and learn about this interesting period of British history through activities and interactive scenes. The Tudor World is located in the town centre on the famous Sheep Street and it is reasonably priced at just £7 a ticket.

Big Wheel

If you’re a fan of aerial views and theme parks then the Big Wheel is a great way to see Stratford-Upon-Avon from above. The town doesn’t have any high towers or tall skyscrapers so this is one of the best ways to get a view of Stratford-Upon-Avon and its scenic riverside.

The ferris Wheel is located on the banks of the River Avon and the tickets are reasonably priced at £7. The Big Wheel is not the largest ferris wheel but it is an excellent way to get aerial and panoramic views of Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Historic Bridges

Clopton Bridge is a Grade I listed bridge situated along the River Avon. The late medieval bridge boasts 14 arches and dates all the way back to Saxon times. The bridge was first noted in 1245 and has undergone a few modifications since then. Walking along this ancient bridge offers you scenic views of the River Avon and allows visitors to experience an ancient bridge in Stratford-Upon-Avon. It is definitely worth the visit especially as it is within a short walk of many other sites.

Tramway Bridge is within a 100m walk of Clopton Bridge so both bridges can be seen easily. Tramway bridge was built in 1823 and served as a bridge for horse drawn carriages to cross the River Avon. The bridge is now only a footbridge and it offers visitors a great walk across the River Avon with views of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Big Wheel. The Tramway Bridge is the most popular bridge amongst visitors of Stratford-Upon-Avon. It’s a great place for some photos and gives you a chance to take in the amazing riverside views.

Stratford-Upon-Avon Town Centre

The Stratford-Upon-Avon town centre is where you will find most of the shops and restaurants along with some beautiful historic buildings including Shakespeare’s Birthplace and statue. The large statue of William Shakespeare sits directly in the centre of Henley Street right next to his birthplace. It’s a nice memorial to one of England’s best playwrights and tourists flock from all over to get a photo in front of this famous statue.

The Shakespeare statue and Birthplace are major tourist attractions, but the town centre area is also great if you want to shop or grab some food while exploring Stratford-Upon-Avon. There are some smaller boutique shops along with a few pubs. Overall it’s a unique town centre as it doesn’t have so many famous high street shops. The historic buildings on Henley Street the town centre’s main shopping street are what stand out the most here.

Sheep Street is a historic street in the town centre area. The street has some of the best restaurants pubs and cafes in town. It has become famous for its traditional British architecture, gastro pubs, and restaurants. If you’re looking for something a bit different from Henley Street then it’s worth checking out Sheep Street for some more unique shops and restaurants.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a Grade II listed building that sits along the banks of the River Avon. The theatre hosts famous Shakespeare plays which I highly recommend going to watch if you haven’t seen a Shakespeare play before.  The tickets for plays in this theatre usually need to be bought in advance due to the popularity of Shakespeare’s famous plays. You can book tickets through the Royal Shakespeare Company website.

Another awesome feature of this building is the rooftop restaurant and bar. The Rooftop bar offers amazing views of the River Avon and it is a great choice for lunch dinner or of course in true British style some afternoon tea. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre also has a souvenir shop where you can buy cool Shakespeare-themed souvenirs.

Holy Trinity Church

The Church of the Holy Trinity is a historic riverside Church and a Grade I listed building.  The Holy Trinity Church is said to date back to Saxon times and is thought to be first built around 1210. This means that the Holy Trinity Church is the oldest building in Stratford-Upon-Avon. That’s a big achievement considering the town’s rich history and abundance of historic buildings.

The Holy Trinity church is perched on the banks of the River Avon and is within a short walking distance of the previously mentioned Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The architecture of the church is truly beautiful and the amazing scenery of the River Avon compliments the ancient church. The Holy Trinity Church has been called by some folks as Shakespeare’s church, as this is where he was baptized. Shakespeare was also married at the Holy Trinity Church and when he passed away was buried there too. I highly recommend going to view this beautiful ancient church as it is an authentic piece of history that should not be missed.

Stratford-Upon-Avon is an amazing travel destination that flies under the radar for many tourists. If you are a fan of Shakespeare or just like to visit old historic British towns, then Stratford-Upon-Avon is a must. The town is easily accessible from the capital and it is likely the best place to visit in Warwickshire. I was surprised by all the interesting places and rich history of Stratford-Upon-Avon and hope to visit the amazing riverside town again soon.