Places to stay in Stratford-upon-Avon

Five free things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's Birthplace

This restored 16th-century half-timbered house on Henley Street is believed to be where William Shakespeare was born in 1564. Now a small museum and popular visitor attraction, it is a must-see for any literature lovers.

Church of the Holy Trinity

Known simply by many as Shakespeare's Church, this stunning Grade I-listed building is famed as the place of baptism and burial of William Shakespeare, and attracts as many as 200,000 tourists each year.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Sculpture Trail

This twelve-roomed farmhouse is where Shakespeare's wife lived as a child, and is in nearby Shottery, just one mile west of Stratford. Set in extensive gardens, it is hard to find a more stereotypical beautiful English cottage elsewhere in the UK.

Bancroft Gardens

The Bancroft Gardens start at Waterside and run to the River Avon, and are best seen during the summer months as there are a regular large number of street performers demonstrating their skills to the public on the lawns.

Stratford Mop Fair

Each year on October 12th - unless it is a Sunday, when it is brought forward a day - Stratford hosts one of the largest mop fairs in the country. Traditionally for employment, this centuries-old gathering is now a fun fair for all ages.

The popular tourist destination of Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon is the southernmost district of Warwickshire and offers some of the UK's most beautiful rolling countryside, as well as countless opportunities for walking, mountain biking and orienteering, among other activities.

Lying at the centre of the region is the market town and civil parish of Stratford-upon-Avon, and is a popular tourist destination owing to its association with playwright and poet William Shakespeare. Around three million visitors head to the bard's birthplace, heading to a wide variety of things to see and do.