Getting to Stratford-upon-Avon
How to reach Stratford-upon-Avon by train, bus, or car.
Train
Stratford-upon-Avon station (CRS code SAV) is on Station Road, about a ten minute walk from the town centre, and is managed by West Midlands Railway. The live board at the time of checking showed West Midlands Trains services to Kidderminster and Worcester Foregate Street and a Chiltern Railways service to Leamington Spa, all starting at Stratford. Chiltern's own pages give the fastest journey to London Marylebone as 2 hours 23 minutes with about one service an hour, and its advance fares are quoted with a change at Leamington Spa. There is currently one direct train a day, an evening service from Stratford and none at weekends; direct services are due to return on 14 December 2026 (Stratford Herald, July 2026). Check the live board for the train you are catching. Do not book to Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway (STY), which is a separate station out on the A46 side of town, and this is not the Stratford in east London.
- Station Name
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Station Code
- SAV
- Operator
- West Midlands Railway (station operator); West Midlands Trains and Chiltern Railways services
- Getting From Station
- About a 10 minute walk to the town centre (Holy Trinity Church's own directions and Plantarium Cafe both say ten minutes); Station Road, CV37 6PL
Tips
- •London Marylebone is the London terminus; Chiltern advance singles start from £6.40 with a change at Leamington Spa, and its fastest journey is 2 hours 23 minutes. Direct trains are due to return on 14 December 2026.
- •The station has step-free access to all platforms (National Rail category A).
- •Check the live board before you go: the departures widget on this site is for Stratford-upon-Avon (SAV), not Parkway (STY).
🚆 National Rail from Stratford-upon-Avon
Live departures
National Rail service from Stratford-upon-Avon. Updates every few minutes.
Bus, Coach and Park and Ride
The Stratford Park and Ride is off Bishopton Lane by the roundabout of the A46 and the A3400 Birmingham Road, with more than 700 spaces including several EV charging points. Buses run seven days a week about every 30 minutes for most of the day and take 10 to 12 minutes into town; Warwickshire County Council lists adult single or return at £2.50, young person £1.50 and group return £4, and dogs are welcome aboard. It is the best way in on Mop Fair weekends, when the town-centre roads are closed. National Express coaches serve the town, and Stagecoach Midlands runs the X18 between Stratford, Warwick, Leamington Spa and Coventry; the county council's site lists local routes.
- Operator
- Warwickshire County Council (Park and Ride); Stagecoach Midlands; National Express
- Coverage
- Park and Ride into the centre; X18 to Warwick, Leamington Spa and Coventry; national coach services
- Park And Ride
- Bishopton Lane, satnav CV37 0RJ
Tips
- •Park and Ride fares from the county council page: adult £2.50, young person £1.50, group return £4.
- •Check the Stagecoach timetable before relying on the X18; current times are on Stagecoach's site.
- •Passenger terminal at the Park and Ride has toilets Monday to Saturday 7.30am to 12.30pm.
Driving and Parking
Stratford is a short drive from junction 15 of the M40 and close to the M42 and M6, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust puts London under two hours by road. The council runs pay-and-display car parks at Arden Street, Bridgeway, Church Street, Guild Street, the Leisure Centre, the Recreation Ground, Riverside and Windsor Street; Bridgeway is pay on return. On Mop Fair days the centre is closed to traffic, with Greenhill Street, Rother Street, Wood Street, Union Street, Bridge Street, Windsor Street, Meer Street, Henley Street and High Street shut from 00.01 on Sunday 11 October 2026, and on the Runaway Mop from 00.01 on Friday 23 October. The Park and Ride is the easier option.
- From London
- Under 2 hours by road (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust)
- Motorway
- M40 junction 15, then the A46
- Park And Ride
- Bishopton Lane, CV37 0RJ
Tips
- •Park and Ride avoids the closures on Mop Fair days and on the morning of the Birthday Celebrations.
- •Anne Hathaway's Cottage has a chargeable ANPR car park in Cottage Lane, Shottery, CV37 9HH.
- •Council charges change; read the sign or the council's car park pages.
Useful Links
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Birmingham AirportBHX
44 km away- Duration
- About 40 minutes without traffic
- Cost
- Check a taxi firm for a fixed fare
About 44km by road on a routing estimate (roughly 36 to 40 minutes); allow longer at peak times.
- Duration
- Allow well over an hour; journey times vary
- Cost
- Check National Rail for fares
Change at Birmingham for a train on to Birmingham International; check connection times on National Rail.
Operator: West Midlands Railway
Parking
Parking options in and around Stratford-upon-Avon. On busy weekends, arriving early or taking the train is recommended.
Stratford Park and Ride
Bus fares: adult single or return £2.50, young person £1.50, group return £4 (Warwickshire County Council, September 2026). The county council page lists bus fares and does not state a separate parking charge; check before travelling.. Off Bishopton Lane near the roundabout of the A46 and the A3400 Birmingham Road; satnav postcode CV37 0RJ. Seven days a week, buses about every 30 minutes for most of the day, 10 to 12 minutes into town, dogs welcome aboard. The sensible way to arrive on Mop Fair weekends, when the town-centre roads are shut.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council town-centre car parks
Charges change; check the sign or stratford.gov.uk on arrival. The council lists car parks at Arden Street, Bridgeway (multi-storey and surface), Church Street, Guild Street, the Leisure Centre, the Recreation Ground, Riverside and Windsor Street. Bridgeway is pay on return. Check the council's car park pages for current charges and for any closure on Mop Fair or market days.
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around United Kingdom.
Getting Around United Kingdom →Top Tip
The train is the best way to get to Stratford-upon-Avon. You arrive right in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon, there’s no parking hassle, and you can enjoy a meal and a drink without worrying about driving home.