Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour & city guide

Shakespeare's houses

Shakespeare's Birthplace on Henley Street is the half-timbered house where he was born in 1564 and grew up. Nearby, New Place is the site of the family home where he died, now a garden. Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the thatched farmhouse of his wife's family, is in the village of Shottery, a short walk away, and Holy Trinity Church, where he is buried, stands beside the river.

The river and the theaters

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Swan Theatre stand on the banks of the Avon, with a tower offering views over the town. Bancroft Gardens, beside the canal basin, is a lively spot with swans, narrowboats and the Gower Memorial statue of Shakespeare surrounded by his characters. Boat trips run along the river.

A classic walk through Stratford

Start at Shakespeare's Birthplace on Henley Street and walk down to the town center and Sheep Street, lined with Tudor buildings. Continue along Chapel Street past New Place to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Bancroft Gardens.

Follow the riverside path south through the gardens to Holy Trinity Church. Return across the river by the old chain ferry or the footbridge. The walk is about 3 kilometers.

Visiting tips

Stratford is about two hours from London by train and an easy day trip from Birmingham or Oxford. Warwick Castle is 20 minutes away, and the Cotswolds begin just to the south. Book theater tickets in advance, especially in summer.