Stratford-upon-Avon Itineraries
Half a day or a full weekend. Here are the best ways to spend your time in Stratford-upon-Avon, planned step by step.
Whether you have a few hours or a full weekend to explore, these itineraries give you a local’s route through Stratford-upon-Avon. Each one links directly to the restaurants and activities along the way.
Shakespeare's Stratford in half a day
A walking morning and early afternoon that takes in the Birthplace, New Place, lunch on Sheep Street, Holy Trinity and the theatre's free tower, all within a mile. Book the Birthplace timed slot first and check the seasonal hours for New Place Gardens and Holy Trinity, since both change through the year.
- 109:30·1 hour
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Book the 9.30 or 10 o'clock slot on Henley Street online; the ticket includes New Place Gardens and lasts twelve months.
View Shakespeare's Birthplace - 211:00·45 minutes
New Place Gardens, Chapel Street
A ten minute walk, which puts you at the gate as the gardens open at 11am. The Trust lists them 11am to 3pm daily from 1 September to 23 December; outside that window check its opening times page and use the time for the Guild Chapel next door.
View Shakespeare's New Place - 312:00·1 hour
Lunch on Sheep Street
Loxleys does lunch dishes from about £7.50 and a set pre-theatre menu from midday; the Vintner is the alternative. Book if it is a Saturday.
View Loxleys Restaurant & Wine Bar - 413:30·45 minutes
Holy Trinity Church
Walk down Old Town to the church on the bank. Church entry is free and the Chancel with the grave is £5; check the hours, which run Monday to Saturday in summer and weekends only from November to March. On Wednesdays in September and October the church opens at 2pm, so swap this stop with the tower.
View Holy Trinity Church - 514:45·45 minutes
The theatre tower and the river frontage
Walk back along the riverside path to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The tower is free from midday to 4pm except on matinee days or in bad weather; the Riverside Cafe is open from 10am.
View Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the RSC's free spaces
A full day, a river and a play
A day built round an evening at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre: Shottery in the morning, the Birthplace after lunch, the river, an early dinner on Sheep Street, then the play. Book the play and the dinner first. Boat cruises run to 1 November in 2026 and the Schoolroom does not open until 11am.
- 109:30·2 hours including the walk
Walk out to Anne Hathaway's Cottage
The Trust puts the walk from the town centre at 30 to 35 minutes; the cottage opens at 10am. The cottage is £5 extra with a Birthplace ticket.
View Anne Hathaway's Cottage - 212:15·1 hour
Lunch at the Old Thatch Tavern
A pub lunch on the corner of Rother Street and Greenhill Street, with a real fire in colder months. The kitchen serves from midday; the pub takes bookings by phone.
View Old Thatch Tavern - 3
- 415:00·1 hour
Shakespeare's Schoolroom and Guildhall
On Church Street, open 11am to 5pm with last museum entry at 4.15pm.
View Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall - 516:15·30 minutes
A river cruise from Bancroft Gardens
The 30 minute Edwardian launch cruise, sold on the day from the river frontage next to the theatre, runs to 1 November in 2026.
View Avon Boating: river cruises and boat hire - 617:15·1 hour 15 minutes
Early dinner on Sheep Street
The Vintner treats 5 to 6pm tables as pre-theatre and asks for them back by 7.15; Loxleys has a set pre-theatre menu to 6.30pm. Tell whichever you choose your curtain time.
View The Vintner - 719:30·An evening
The play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Check the performance time on your ticket; the RSC's 2026/27 Stratford season includes As You Like It to 7 November 2026.
View Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the RSC's free spaces
Ready to plan your visit?
Check the weather forecast before you head out.