Stratford-upon-Avon overview

A small, largely unremarkable town in the middle of England, Stratford-upon-Avon has been put on the map globally by one man: William Shakespeare.

Home town of the world's most famous playwright, the Warwickshire town is flocked to by tourists eager to see where the man who gave us Romeo and Juliet grew up.

The town in located on the banks of the River Avon and is a major theatre-going hospot, in which the Royal Shakespeare Company is based. Shakespearian productions are aplenty and the Courtyard Theatre has a traditional thrust stage, as in the Elizabethan era.

As well as theatrical enjoyments, Stratford-Upon-Avon also boasts some picturesque walking spots and wonderful restaurants for tourists to enjoy.

Stratford-upon-Avon Location

There are a number of transport options for those wishing to visit Stratford-upon-Avon.

Motorists driving up from London can take the M40 motorway and get off at Junction 15. It is around 102 miles (164 km) between the two destinations and it takes around two hours to make the journey. Motorists should always check the parking situation at their accomodation, while day visitors can make use of the park and ride system.
Those using public transport will benefit from the train station, which is located around half a mile west of the town centre. The town is easily accessible by foot from the station.
Rail links operate regularlt to Birmingham Snow Hill Station (this service takes abour an hour), to Warwick (30 minutes) and London Marlebone (two and a half hours). Those travelling from London will sometimes need to change at Lemmington Spa.

Why Visit Stratford-upon-Avon?

There are many things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon not least visit Shakespeare's birthplace at Henley Street. The building has been restored since the 16th century and it now replicates what historians think would have been the authentic decor and furnishings of the time Shakespeare was born.

His wife Anne Hathaway's cottage is also available for tourists to look around. The cottage is outside Stratford in the hamlet of Shottery and is where Anne lived from being a young girl, throughout her courtship to the playwright and until their marriage ended. The rooms have been restored and many family heirlooms are on display.

Holy Trinity Church is another historic attraction worth checking out. The burial site of Shakespeare, the church has become a place of pilmgrimage for his admirers despite being nothing out of the ordinary as churches go. However, the church is not a full-time tourist attraction and regular services do take place for worshippers, which visitors should respect.

There is also the award-winning Falstaff's Experience on Sheep Street, which is set in a 500-year-old Shrieve's House. Rumoured to be the most haunting building in the world, it is the largest museum in Stratford and features waxwork figures relating the story of Stratford. There are always spooky lantern-lit ghost tours and Most Haunted, the TV series, filmed there in 2004.