Stratford-upon-Avon City Centre Travel Guide

Stratford-upon-Avon

Birmingham showing a garden, a river or creek and tranquil scenes
Birmingham showing a river or creek, a bridge and a small town or village
Stratford-upon-Avon City Centre
Birmingham which includes a small town or village
Birmingham featuring theatre scenes and interior views

Featuring over 800 years of history, fascinating museums and scenic riverboat cruises, the heart of this lively town is the birthplace of playwright and poet William Shakespeare.

Visit Stratford-upon-Avon City Centre to step inside Shakespeare’s Birthplace and experience a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. See one of the productions after exploring the town’s historical centre, perusing one of its museums or taking a leisurely boat cruise on the River Avon.

Once a sleepy village, Stratford-upon-Avon grew into a bustling trade centre after King Richard I granted the town permission to start holding a weekly market in 1196. Today, Stratford-upon-Avon offers a huge range of activities, with Shakespeare-related attractions taking the number one spot on the itinerary of many visitors.

After you are done exploring the house where Shakespeare was born, head to Shakespeare’s New Place where he lived until his death in 1616 and visit Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the childhood home of Shakespeare’s wife.

For something different, go to the MAD (Mechanical Art and Design) Museum, which offers families the opportunity to learn about and interact with high-tech machines, such as robots. Make your way to the Magic Alley, a Harry Potter-esque store complete with spell books, magic wands and broomsticks. Another attraction for families is the Stratford Armouries, an antique centre that features a display of the tail section of a Wellington Bomber.

Consider renting a boat for a relaxing cruise on the River Avon, browsing the Stanford Farmers Market or strolling through the Bancroft Gardens to admire its swan fountain and large sundial.

Easily accessible by car or public transportation, Stratford-upon-Avon is located just under 40 miles (65 kilometres) south of Birmingham, one of the United Kingdom’s largest cities. Travel around Stratford-upon-Avon City Centre using its numerous cycle paths, including the Stratford Greenway, a 5-mile (8-kilometre) picturesque, traffic-free track. Starting on Seven Meadows Road, it winds along the river toward the villages of Welford-on-Avon and Long Marston. A number of operators offer sightseeing cruises along the River Avon, some using converted river barges.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon City Centre

The Swans Nest Hotel

The Swans Nest Hotel

4 out of 5
Bridgefoot, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿3,141 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
฿3,141
฿3,769 total
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the bar and the helpful ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,001 reviews)
Good spot!!
"Well situated hotel with reasonable car park costs. staff helpful. a little tired in some reception rooms."

Reviewed on 21 Aug 2025

The Swans Nest Hotel
The DoubleTree by Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon

The DoubleTree by Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon

4 out of 5
Arden Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿3,416 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
฿3,416
฿4,099 total
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
"Felt that the garden needed some TLC"

Reviewed on 20 Aug 2025

The DoubleTree by Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon
Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon by IHG

Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon by IHG

4 out of 5
4 CHAPEL STREET, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Fully refundable
The price is ฿3,434 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
฿3,434
฿4,559 total
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (848 reviews)
"When we checked in we were not made aware that we needed to separately register our car - apparently we should have been handed / directed to a tablet to do this. Consequently we received a parking “fine” letter; however the hotel dealt with this very promptly after I phoned them about this. So be ..."

Reviewed on 18 Aug 2025

Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon by IHG
Hotel Du Vin Stratford Upon Avon

Hotel Du Vin Stratford Upon Avon

4 out of 5
7-8 Rother St, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
The price is ฿4,347 per night from 4 Sept to 5 Sept
฿4,347
฿5,216 total
4 Sept - 5 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,000 reviews)
Excellent Central Location
"Good hotel Clean and new. In excellent shape. Central to everything. Walk to restaurants, shops and Shakespeare birthplace. The balcony room was a good size. Excellent bathroom. Good price for the quality."

Reviewed on 12 Aug 2025

Hotel Du Vin Stratford Upon Avon
The White Swan Hotel

The White Swan Hotel

4 out of 5
Rother St, Stratford-upon-Avon, England
The price is ฿4,557 per night from 25 Aug to 26 Aug
฿4,557
฿5,468 total
25 Aug - 26 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (997 reviews)
"I wish we had stayed at this hotel for more nights while visiting the Cotswolds and Stratford instead of booking another hotel in between Bath and here. Our room was recently redone, very clean and comfortable. Parking was across the street, literally just feet from the hotel."

Reviewed on 20 Aug 2025

The White Swan Hotel
Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club

Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club

4 out of 5
Maxstoke Lane, Meriden, Birmingham, Solihull, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿2,781 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
฿2,781
฿3,338 total
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Solihull. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Nice and quiet"

Reviewed on 19 Aug 2025

Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.



Stratford-upon-Avon City Centre Travel Guide