How To Plan The Perfect Stratford upon Avon Weekend Break

This handy guide to a Stratford upon Avon weekend break features a (large) sprinking of Shakespeare, a misting of magic, and some pretty delicious places to eat…

Stratford upon Avon has been on my UK hit list for a couple of years now, and for my birthday, we spent a weekend exploring the home of Shakespeare. As a former drama student, I’ve always been quite the fan – so spending my birthday weekend in his birthplace seemed like the perfect plan. But as I discovered – there’s plenty more to Stratford beyond the Bard too. This guide will show you how to plan a magical, memorable weekend break in Stratford-upon-Avon!

_{*This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I’ll earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you). MyHotelBreak provided me with travel and accommodation for this trip*}

The best things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon

Even if you’re not the biggest Bard-lover, there’s plenty more to do during your weekend in Stratford-Upon-Avon! But if you are, you can easily spend a day following the ‘Shakespeare Trail’ around town…

Read more: The Best Shakespeare Sites in Stratford upon Avon

Shakespeare Trail: Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace

The main bulk of our Saturday afternoon was spent in pursuit of the Bard – with Stratford upon Avon being William Shakespeare’s home town, it’d be rude not to, really.

First stop: where it all began! If you’ve only got the time/inclination to check out one of these spots, Shakespeare’s Birthplace would be it.

Opening Times: Mon-Sun, 10am-4pm (last entry 3.30pm)
Entrance Fee: £19.50 (adult); £9.75 (child), £15.60 (concessions)

BUDGET TIP: If you’re planning to cram as much Shakespeare as possible into your Stratford-Upon-Avon weekend, the Shakespeare’s Story ticket gives you access to Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (open seasonally & located outside of town) and Shakespeare’s New Place (open seasonally) for £26 (adults), £13 (children) or £20.80 (concessions). Total savings: £7.50 if you visit both attractions in town, £22 if you visit all three sites!

Shakespeare Trail: Visit Shakespeare’s grave

From birthplace to final resting place, Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church is where you’ll find Shakespeare’s grave, including an inscribed curse upon anyone who moves his bones! Shakespeare died on his birthday, April 23^rd 1616, at the age of 52. His family members, including his wife and daughter, are also buried alongside him here.

Opening Times: Sat 10am-5pm; Sunday 1-3.30pm (check their website for up-to-date opening hours as these can vary)
Entrance Fee: Free, but there’s a requested donation of £4 for visiting the grave

Shakespeare Trail: Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company

Stratford-upon-Avon is home to one of Britain’s biggest theatre companies, the Royal Shakespeare Company. The building itself is free to enter, and you get free access to the tower viewing platform, with panoramic views over Stratford-upon-Avon.

You can also book a 60 minute guided tour for £13.50 to learn more about the building and company’s history (booking advised!).

If you’re looking for an evening activity during your weekend break, the RSC put on critically-acclaimed performances of both Shakespeare and non-Shakespeare plays in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre spaces at RSC HQ. Ticket prices start at just £10 – head to the RSC What’s On page for listings.

The RSC Building is home to the RSC Rooftop Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, offering delicious British food in a relaxed setting, with gorgeous views of Stratford-upon-Avon as you dine and drink.

Shakespeare Trail: Shakespeare’s New Place

If you’re imagining Willy Shakespeare saying to his mates “come round and visit my new place!” right now, don’t worry, I was too. William bought the house for around £120, and lived here with his family until his death. The house was rebuilt in the late 17th century, then the rebuilt house was demolished in 1759. It wasn’t until 1876 that the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust acquired the site, and turned it into an exhibition site and landscaped garden.

Opening Times: Open seasonally (from 16 March 2024) – Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
Entrance Fee: £14 (adult); £7.25 (child); £11.60 (concession) – included in the Shakespeare’s Story Ticket

Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall

Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall was opened in 2016, on the 400th anniversary of his death, to give visitors an insight into Shakespeare’s early days of schooling. The immersive and authentic experience follows in the footsteps of the playwright’s early days, where his love for literature and theatre began.

Opening Times: Mon-Sun 11am-5pm
Entrance Fee: £12.50 (adult); £8 (child); £11 (concession)

World of Wizards: Magic Alley

If you’re a fan of the wizarding world, Magic Alley is a must-visit. Because, quite obviously, this shop, attraction and cafe is all about all things magical…which is why it was pretty much the first stop on our Stratford-upon-Avon itinerary.

Magic Alley primarily based around the Chronicles of Wizard’s Thatch series of books by Dave Matthews, with some Harry Potter, Shakespeare and Dr Who references too.

As we moved around the rooms, we had a quiz sheet to fill out, and there are a range of interactive things to do, like trying on some snazzy robes and writing a letter to be sent via ‘owl post’. At the end we were presented with our Wizarding Certificates and Broomstick License. You can also enjoy a butterbeer in the cafe (I actually liked it better than the HP Studio Tour version…)

Opening Times: Mon-Sun 11am-5pm
Entrance Fee: £12.50 (adult); £8 (child); £11 (concession)

Stratford upon Avon River Walking

Originally we’d looked at hiring a rowing boat on the River Avon, but because the sun was out in force, the queue was massive. Instead, we strolled around the riverside area – which was way busier than I’d expected for a West Midlands market town. Obviously the sun had brought out the crowds – although with the gorgeous views, it wasn’t surprising!

Go back in time at Tudor World

Remember the Horrible Histories books? The Terrible Tudors was my favourite. I even had the Smelly Old History scratch and sniff book for the Tudor times, because I was the coolest of kids.

Turns out, Tudor World does pretty well in replicating the sights and smells of Tudor days gone by. With exhibits including a typical bedroom, life at sea and what happened when the plague doctor paid a visit, it’s a fun, interactive little spot.

Budget Travel Tip: We used DaysOutGuide to get two-for-one entry to Tudor World and Shakespeare’s Full Story with our rail tickets – saving us £30.50 on the price of the two attractions for both of us. If you’re travelling in the UK by train and want to save money visiting attractions, it’s kinda a no-brainer.

The MAD Museum

Stratford-upon-Avon’s Mechanical Art and Design Museum is filled with interactive exhbits celebrating all things mechanical design. With lots of buttons to press and levers to pull, it’s the antithesis to stuffy museums with ‘do not touch’ sign. Kids and adults alike can play with mechanical birds, sand art, moving sculptures and much more, while learning about how the exhibits were created.

Opening Times: Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5.30pm (maintenence day closures are listed on the website)
Entrance Fee: £8.50 (adult); £6 (child – under 5s free); £7 (concessions)

Stratford Butterfly Farm

The UK’s largest tropical butterfly farm is home to hundreds of fluttering insects from all over the world, mostly bred at the farm. The large greenhouse is landscaped with ponds, waterfalls and tropical plants. Visitors can walk among the butterflies, while learning about their life cycles and behaviours.

Opening Times: Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5.30pm (maintenence day closures are listed on the website)
Entrance Fee: £7.25 (adult); £6.75 (concessions)

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Shakespeare’s wife, not the actress. Anne Hathaway married William Shakespeare in 1582, and this is where she lived her life prior to their marriage. The home tells the stories of thirteen generations of the Hathaway family, with original furniture and personal artifacts on display. It’s a five-minute drive from the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon, or half an hour’s walk. Local bus routes 29 and 19 also take you most of the way.

Opening Times: Open seasonally (from 10 Feb 2024) – Mon-Sun 10am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
Entrance Fee: £14.50 (adult); £7.25 (child); £11.60 (concession) – included in the Shakespeare’s Story Ticket

Shopping in Stratford upon Avon

For a relatively small town, Stratford upon Avon has plenty of shopping opportunities. Of course, there are your big high street names: New Look, Accessorize and Waterstones – but it’s the smaller, independent shops that really caught my eye.

Henley Street, where you’ll also find Shakespeare’s Birthplace, is a good bet for more unique and unusual shopping – alongside the expected novelty gift shops and plenty of Harry Potter memorabilia. The Stratford Sweet Shop has walls lined with colourful sugary treats in cutesy jars – and the obligatory box of fudge or tin of biscuits for the office snack table.

Festive obsessives can get their fix in the Nutcracker Christmas Shop – because yep, it’s open all year round! Away from the brick and mortar shops, we stumbled across the Saturday Market on Airfield, which sells produce, clothing, homewares and gifts.

Where to eat and drink in Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon offers plenty for foodie visitors, from historical pubs serving tradtitional British cuisine, to Mediterranean and other international delights.

El Greco (££)

I’d been recommended El Greco by a few people over on Twitter, so we headed there for a meze-style late lunch.

The sun was still shining, so we took a table outside – the perfect way to enjoy our mixed meze. I’m always a sucker for pitta bread dipped in taramasalata, and the generous portion provided enough for some serious scooping.

Some parts of the meze impressed a little more than others – namely, the spinach and cream cheese parcels, lamb kofte and halloumi – but overall, it was a delicious, fresh tasting meze, perfectly enjoyed in the springtime sunshine.

The Old Thatch Tavern (££)

Before making our way to our hotel for the night, we popped into Stratford upon Avon’s well-known Old Thatch Tavern for a pint. It’s pretty small inside, but we grabbed a table near the door and soaked up the timbered charms of this cosy little inn. The Old Thatch Tavern also serves a menu of traditional pub classics, including vegan and vegetarian options.

Wildwood (££)

As it was Mother’s Day, all the local restaurants seemed super busy at lunchtime – but we managed to get ourselves a table at Wildwood, lured in by the promise of pizza. I’m always lured in by the promise of pizza.

We started with some arancini balls that had a gorgeous consistency and plenty of warming cheese; as well as some of the best calimari I’ve had in a while.

Of course, I had to tuck into some birthday weekend pizza! The Italian smoked ham & rocket pizza was inspiringly fresh, with a generous amount of topping, a thin base with a just-crisp-enough crust and a rich tomato sauce.

The Garrick Inn (££)

With an hour to kill before our train back to London after our Stratford upon Avon weekend break, one final drink was in order – and where better to go than to the oldest pub in Stratford, The Garrick Inn, for a pint of ‘Shakesbeer’? This olde-worldy pub has plenty of original features, and a relaxed vibe.

More places to eat and drink in Stratford-upon-Avon

Deli Cafe (£) – cheap and cheerful full English breakfasts and sandwiches (vegan & veggie options available)
The Kingfisher (£) – fish and chips takeaway & restaurant
Honey Blue (£-££) – cafe serving brunch and the most popular hot chocolate in Stratford-upon-Avon
Plantarium (££) – fully vegan cafe and restaurant serving breakfast and lunch
Turquoise Kitchen (££) – Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine
RSC Rooftop Restaurant (££) – fixed price pre-theatre menu and afternoon tea with panoramic views over the town
Lambs (££-£££) – high quality dishes in a picturesque historic building
Loxley’s Wine Bar and Restaurant (££-£££) – European and British dishes
The Woodsman (£££) – British grill and restaurant with locally sourced ingredients
Salt (££££) – One Michelin star restaurant with set menus

Where to Stay for a weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon

Whether you’re looking for a casual bead and breakfast or a historic hotel, there’s plenty of accommodation options ideal for a short break in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Hallmark Welcombe Hotel, Stratford

*complimentary stay*

Usually when I’m shooting off on a UK city break, I’ll lay my head down in affordable, no-frills accommodation. But for my pre-birthday weekend, MyHotelBreak got in touch asking if I’d like to experience a stay in one of their carefully selected UK hotels for a staycation. I decided on the Hallmark Welcombe Hotel, just outside of Stratford upon Avon in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside.

The Hallmark Hotel The Welcombe, originally built in 1866, caught my eye, with its traditional Jacobean style build, and stunning gardens.

As we were celebrating, the hotel gave us a lovely upgrade to one of their four poster suites, and I felt like a Tudor QUEEN sleeping in the glorious, curtained bed.

After chilling out in the room for a bit, we headed down for our included meal. Dinner service was unfortunately quite slow, but the food itself was enjoyable – particularly the whole baked camembert we devoured as a starter.

In the morning, we took a stroll into the gorgeous grounds. There’s also a spa and fitness suite that you can take full advantage of during your stay.  

A bed and breakfast package starts at £112 per night for a basic double room. The bed, breakfast and dinner package starts at £146 per night, and includes £35pp towards your evening meal. A room only stay starts at £103 per night. Book your stay with MyHotelBreak.

Other places to stay in Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon Travelodge (£)
Premier Inn – Central & Waterways (£)
The Croft Guesthouse (££)
Quilt & Croissants Guesthouse (££)
Emerald Stays at the Adelphi (££)
The Great William Street Cottage (££-£££) – whole home with 4 single beds, ideal for groups of friends
Ashgrove House (£££)

Getting to Stratford upon Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon is located in the West Midlands of England, on the northern edge of the Cotswolds (although not officially part of the Cotswolds). It has a train station in the centre of town, served by West Midlands Trains and Chiltern Railways.

Journey times to Stratford-upon-Avon by train:
Birmingham Moor Street – from 55mins
London Marylebone – from 2hrs 11mins
Manchester Piccadilly – from 3hrs 5mins

By car: The town centre of Stratford-upon-Avon is around 17mins drive from Junction 15 on the M40.

Summary

A weekend break in Stratford-upon-Avon is a fascinating insight into one of England’s most historical small towns. With great transport links, plenty to do and gorgeous architecture, it’s the perfect location for a UK short break filled with history, culture, and a little bit of magic!