Have you ever dreamed of walking the streets where the most famous playwright of all time grew up? Just a couple of hours from London, Stratford-upon-Avon is a perfect getaway for lovers of theatre, history, and charming towns.
In this article, I’ll tell you how to organize a day trip, what to see, and what not to miss in this gem of the Cotswolds.
Stratford-upon-Avon is a fairly large, very beautiful town to visit. It’s ideal for spending a full day and taking the opportunity to visit the place where Shakespeare was born, grew up, lived, and died.
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How to get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London
Stratford-upon-Avon is located about 160 km from London, and there are several ways to get there:
• By train: From London Marylebone station, there are direct trains to Stratford-upon-Avon (with a change in Leamington Spa in some cases). The journey usually takes about 2 and a half hours.
Trains also depart from Euston station, but you will need to make two changes, passing through Birmingham (which is further north). This option involves going further out (to Birmingham) and then "returning" towards Stratford-upon-Avon.
Prices vary greatly depending on dates and times, so it's best to book in advance.
I always recommend the Trainline app, which is perfect for buying train tickets at good prices and having your tickets on your phone for convenience.
• Train and bus combination: Train to Leamington Spa and from there a bus to Stratford-upon-Avon. That bus costs 3 pounds, so it's a very economical option. I chose this option because the train from Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon took more than an hour, and the bus journey took 30 minutes to arrive. Plus, the bus stop is 3 minutes from the first Shakespeare museum.
For this option: once you arrive in Leamington Spa, exit the station and cross the street. You will see a bus stop (Bus Stop 1). There, wait for the X18 bus, which is the one you need to take to get to Shakespeare's town.
• By car: The car journey takes between 2 and 2 and a half hours, depending on traffic. It's a good option if you want to explore the English countryside (Cotswolds) and include this town in your itinerary.
The Shakespeare Route in Stratford-upon-Avon: the five essential places
Stratford is steeped in history, and Shakespeare's legacy is present in every corner. If you are interested in following in the playwright's footsteps, these are the four main museums and the 5 overall places you can visit:
1. Shakespeare’s Birthplace
In the heart of the town, this is the house where he was born and grew up. The tour allows you to see period furniture, objects from his time, and learn about life in a wealthy 16th-century family.
Additionally, you can walk on the original floor Shakespeare walked on, see where his father's glove-making workshop was, and discover Shakespeare's entrepreneurial skills, as he, upon inheriting the house, turned it into an inn.
Don't miss the improvised theatre sessions that actors perform every 30 minutes. They will ask you which Shakespeare play you like and recite speeches and mythical excerpts from the mentioned works.
I also recommend visiting the shop. Of all the Shakespeare museums, it is the most complete and special. You will find everything from books to various souvenirs. My favorites were the prints I bought and showed on Instagram.
2. Shakespeare’s New Place
Here stood the house Shakespeare bought when he returned to Stratford after achieving success in London. Although the house was demolished centuries ago, the garden and interactive exhibition allow you to imagine his adult life and his period as an established writer.
Don't forget to ask the staff about the exhibition that has been created and all its symbolism, such as, for example, where Shakespeare's study is believed to have been, you will find two sculptures: a table with a chair, where you can sit and take photos, in the place where this genius did, and another, which I loved, a tree projecting its shadow over a sphere representing the world. It symbolizes the genius projecting his brilliance onto the world, and where that shadow falls, the rugged and aggressive relief of planet Earth softens. A beautiful representation of the good that art and the genius (and incidentally, humanity) of artists like Shakespeare do in the world. By the way, he bought this house for 120 pounds, and it was one of the best houses in town, in 1597.
This house was where he lived from his retirement from the London theater in 1598 until his death in 1616 (at 52 years old).
3. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
The beautiful Tudor-style cottage where Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife, lived before marrying him. This house belonged to the Hathaway family for generations. Surrounded by gardens and meadows, it is one of the most picturesque spots on the route.
It's a unique opportunity to discover more about life in the Tudor era, to walk on ground Shakespeare most likely walked on, to learn more about the (so mysterious and unknown) relationship between Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway, and to be inspired by an idyllic and rural setting.
It was in this museum that I met Andy, who worked there and told me a thousand interesting facts. Don't forget to ask the museum staff, as they will make your visit much more interesting.
Andy told me that, in truth, they weren't as short as we think. Women averaged 1.58m and men 1.70m. However, the doors are short for construction and main pillar support reasons, and the beds are small because they never slept lying flat, as it was considered a bad omen (you only lay completely flat when you died), and it could be dangerous due to the smoke from the chimneys.
Ceilings were low in austere houses, as construction methods were very limited and expensive. This meant it was better to stoop to enter your house, but ensure it would last a long time without needing repairs.
You can also see an authentic English thatched roof. Don't forget to look at the sections where you can see what it's like inside. Nowadays, I promise you, you won't find any rats, but Shakespeare surely coexisted with more than one.
4. Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall
This historic building is not only one of the oldest in Stratford-upon-Avon, but it is also probably where young William Shakespeare was educated between the ages of 7 and 14, when he attended the primary school known as King’s New School.
Built in the 15th century, the building has been carefully restored to show what school life was like in Shakespeare's time. It also served as a town hall (Guildhall) and local court, making it a key center of the town's public life for centuries.
You can enter the classroom where he is believed to have learned Latin grammar, rhetoric, classical literature, and writing. It is furnished as it was in the 16th century, with wooden benches, quill pens, and slates. This is where he surely met many authors who, it is believed, were his great references and inspirations, such as Seneca or Ovid.
Furthermore, this, of all the museums, is the most interactive, as you can dress up, practice calligraphy, and more. Ideal, especially for children.
5. Holy Trinity Church. The church where he is buried but also where he was baptized. His birth and death certificates are there, although they cannot be seen. I wish they could, as that birth certificate is very famous. It turns out he was baptized on April 26th; that is the first record we have of him, as birth certificates were not issued at that time. As he died on April 23rd, the same birth date as his death date has always been attributed to him, assuming he was born 3 days before his baptism (something quite common at the time, unless time prevented it, newborns were baptized very early).
So, April 23rd is World Book Day. He also shares that death date with Cervantes and Garcilaso de la Vega.
How to visit and prices
The first three have individual prices or package prices; here's a table to make it clearer:
|
Museum |
Adult |
Child |
Package Price |
|
Shakespeare’s Birthplace |
£20 |
£10 |
All three for £27 adults and £13.50 children
|
|
Shakespeare’s New Place |
£15 |
£7.50 |
|
|
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage |
£15 |
£7.50 |
As you can see from the table, it's worth buying the pack of 3, which also gives you access to all 3 museums for 12 months, meaning if you return, you can still enter the museums whenever you like.
You can purchase the pack (Shakespeare's Story Ticket) here.
However, keep in mind that visiting all three will take you all day. Furthermore, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage is about a 20-minute walk from the other two (i.e., from the town center).
If you have a car, it will be very easy, but if you spend a day in Stratford from London, visiting these 3 museums will take up the entire day.
Buy the pack if your goal is to spend the entire day discovering Shakespeare.
If, on the other hand, you only wish to spend some time in the town as you are on a route, and you only want to visit one museum, my opinion (and obviously this is my personal recommendation) is very clear: VISIT SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE.
Of all of them, it is the BEST, it can be visited very quickly and it is the most special if you are a Shakespeare lover. Although New Place is interesting, I didn't find it enough to buy an individual ticket for that place, and if you don't have time, you can skip that one.
On the other hand, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage doesn't have much information, but it's a nice experience to visit an old cottage inside, and it's a very pleasant place in general. However, don't go with expectations of discovering much about Shakespeare because there's very little (beyond being able to imagine him walking around there, of course).
For Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, admission is £13.50 for adults and £8 for children. It is much more interesting than New Place (in my opinion, I repeat). So if you're keen on getting the best, I would prioritize this one.
The church where he is buried has free admission, but make sure to check the opening hours so it's not closed when you arrive.
All, except Anne Hathaway's Cottage, are very close to each other, a maximum of 10 minutes walk, and in all museums you can ask for maps to find the others, ask the museum staff, look it up on Google Maps, or, do it more "Shakespeare style," follow the signs and street indications.
What else to do in Stratford-upon-Avon
In addition to the Shakespeare-related sites, the town offers other charming options:
• A walk along the banks of the River Avon
• See a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (if you stay until the evening)
• Stroll through the town center and discover independent shops, timber-framed houses, and charming cafes
• Visit a bookstore and buy a Shakespeare book
• Have a picnic in the extensive park right next to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
Dining recommendations
- BOSTON TEA PARTY, Café.
- THE WHITE SWAN, Pub (and hotel)
- CORTE CAMPANA, Italian pizza restaurant
- YORKS, Café and sandwiches
- THE STRATFORD ALEHOUSE, Pub
By the way, don't forget to ask at Shakespeare's Birthplace where the name "White Swan" comes from; you'll love the answer.
Tips and recommendations
• Book in advance if you are going during high season. You will be surprised by how many people are visiting the museum, and since these are quite small places, you will enter in small groups. If you go during low season, you can buy tickets directly there.
• Wear comfortable shoes: everything can be done on foot, but some areas have stone ground or dirt paths, and you'll also have to cross parks if you go to Anne Hathaway's Cottage.
• If you can, go in spring/summer. Seeing the green, blooming countryside and having sun will make you enjoy the experience much more. In winter it can be very cold.
• Go early. Keep in mind that museums close between 4:30 and 5 PM, and all shops close early, around 5 PM the town completely shuts down, even if it's summer. Take advantage of the morning and try to get there as early as possible. Remember that the journey from London is more than 2 hours, so calculate your time well to get everything done. Personally, I decided to have a big breakfast and bring snacks so I wouldn't have to stop for lunch. At 5 PM, I went to sit in a restaurant calmly, with everything done and all the shops closed.
Stratford-upon-Avon is much more than Shakespeare's birthplace: it's a journey into the past, a getaway full of history, beauty, and culture.
I hope this guide helps you organize your visit and enjoy it as much as I did. If you go, tell me what you thought, what you discovered, or if they recited a passage from your favorite play. And please, tell me your opinion on why Shakespeare leaves his wife "the second-best bed" in his will, and I'll tell you mine (which is greatly influenced by Andy).
Fate shuffles the cards, but we play the hand.
(Fate is the one that shuffles the cards, but we are the ones we play.)
Remember that you can book your tour with me in London here, or download the free guide about London.
See you soon!
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