Looking for the best things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon? Experience the charm of Shakespeare’s birthplace by following our free, self-guided Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour. This 1-day route includes an easy-to-follow map of the top historical sites, from Henley Street to the Holy Trinity Church.
Stratford-upon-Avon is forever defined as Shakespeare’s birthplace and a quintessential English destination. If you are wondering about the best things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon, the most efficient way to see them is on foot. Let’s explore this beautiful old English town through my self-guided Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour. As you read along, you will be able to answer this question: Is Stratford-upon-Avon worth visiting?
Best Things to Do in Stratford-upon-Avon: Walking Tour Overview
Stratford is an incredibly walkable town, with centuries of history packed into just a few square miles. This self-guided Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour is designed to hit all the major Shakespearean landmarks in a logical loop. Using the walking tour map below, you can navigate from the bustling Henley Street to the tranquil banks of the River Avon at your own pace, ensuring you see the very best of the town in a single day.
Stratford 1-Day Itinerary at a Glance
- Start: Shakespeare’s Birthplace (Henley Street)
- Morning: High Street timber houses and Harvard House
- Midday: Holy Trinity Church (Shakespeare’s Tomb)
- Afternoon: Riverside walk and Royal Shakespeare Theatre
- Budget: Free to walk; entry fees required for Shakespeare houses and Church sanctuary.
Follow this 1-day Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour map to easily navigate between the town’s top highlights.
With our map in hand, we are ready to start our self-guided Stratford walking tour and take in all of Stratford’s attractions.
1. Shakespeare’s House
Exploring the historic streets of Shakespeare’s birthplace is a must for any visitor.
See my photos from Stratford upon Avon
Henley Street is the ideal place to begin a Stratford upon Avon walking route. We find parking very easily on Windsor Street. From here, it is very easy to get to the heart of town, Henley Street. And this is our starting point for our Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour. On this very old street we are greeted by the famous statue of “The Jester”, a character in Shakespeare’s “As you like it”. A little bit down the street we find the house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564. The entire Henley Street is wonderful, and our eyes are enchanted by the beauty, coziness and historical character of the buildings. Henley Street is one of the main Stratford upon Avon attractions and it is filled with tourists especially during the summer.
2. High Street & Other Old Streets
Old timber houses on High Street in Stratford upon Avon
See my photos from Stratford upon Avon
Our self-guided Stratford walking tour continues on Meer Street. These timber‑framed lanes are the heart of old Stratford upon Avon. At the crossroads of Wood Street and Meer Street we find the American monument, next to the Market Place. It is worth trying the various foods you find there as local foods were among our favorite Stratford upon Avon attractions.
Close to Wood Street we find very old and charming buildings such as: The White Swan Hotel and Old Thatch Tavern, both being built in the 15th-century.
Next, we walk down on High Street (becomes Chapel St and Church St); where the old timber houses make us feel like we just traveled back in time and saw the same things Shakespeare saw.
High Street is the most important street in all English towns. Stratford is no exception, and its own High Street is home to many historical sites such as:
- The Old Bank
- Harvard House: the house of John Harvard, founder of America’s most famous University.
- The Stratford upon Avon Town Hall building.
- The Almshouses on Chapel Street are gorgeous.
- Nash’s House & New Place is the site of Shakespeare home in retirement.
- The Guild Chapel which was built around 1269 as a hospital and at the end of the 15th century extended as a chapel.
- The Falcon Hotel on Church Street is a beautiful old timber house.
3. Holy Trinity Church
The beautiful Holy Trinity Church, the final resting place of the world’s most famous playwright
See my photos from Stratford upon Avon
Our tour of Stratford upon Avon attractions comes near the end of Church Street where we turn left on Old Town street. This is a quiet street, almost solemn, as we approach the place where Shakespeare is buried. On this street you will also find The Hall’s Croft, a Jacobean home of Shakespeare’s daughter.
Soon, our self-guided Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour itinerary brings us to the beautiful Holy Trinity Church, where the most famous playwright of all times and his family are resting. Here we also find the baptism and burial records for William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s tomb is located in the basement of the church, and there is a small fee to pay if you want to visit the family’s tombs. Most one‑day Stratford itineraries include a visit to Holy Trinity Church.
We love sitting down for a while and resting on a bench surrounded by beautiful trees. The church building and churchyard transports us way back in time and we can imagine people attending church in their old “garb”.
However, it’s time to leave this quiet setting and continue our 1-day walking route through Stratford upon Avon.
4. Avon River & Bancroft Gardens
Bancroft Gardens along the River Avon is a great place to rest halfway through your walk.
See my photos from Stratford upon Avon
Since we’re not tied to any organized tours, we can simply stroll and explore Stratford upon Avon. Right behind the church we see The Avon River where of course, many white swans find shelter and a lot of tourists on tour boats enjoy the view of the church and surrounding areas. An enchanted and quiet walk up the river takes us to a delightful park and garden area (Bancroft Gardens). Walking along the Avon River quickly becomes our favorite of Stratford upon Avon attractions.
As we’re walking upriver, the place gets busier since we’re approaching The Royal Shakespeare Company building. We see lots of tourists and on a sunny day we can even see open-air performers.
At this point we also see other theater related buildings: The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Shakespeare Theater and the Swan Theater. If we have extra time, it is worth walking inside and exploring behind-the-scenes acting and costumes at The Royal Shakespeare Theater.
After we take in this quieter place, we continue our self-guided Stratford walking tour attractions by walking up Waterside Street to Sheep Street, where you see more old timber buildings (Golden Bee Pub, Tudor World Museum and The Rose and Crown Pub). From there we got back on High Street and finish our walking route where we started: Henley Street. This charming old street is even busier in the afternoon! We love old small towns, and Stratford upon Avon has been an amazing place to visit.
Common Self-Guided Stratford Walking Tour Questions
Use these short answers to make your self-guided Stratford walking tour easier to plan and enjoy.
Is Stratford walkable?
Yes, very much so. You will have no trouble navigating Stratford on foot even if you have children.
How long does a Stratford walking tour take?
My Stratford upon Avon walking tour itinerary takes about 4 hours at a leisurely pace. So, you can easily add visits to the local old churches and food stops to make it a one-day Stratford walking tour.
Can you see Stratford in one day?
Yes, you can absolutely visit the old part of Stratford in one day.
Where does a Stratford walking tour start?
I like to start at the statue of the Jester on Henley Street.
What is the best Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour itinerary?
A simple loop works best: start on Henley Street at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, continue along High Street and Chapel Street, visit Holy Trinity Church, then finish with a riverside walk toward the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Plan Your Self-Guided Stratford Walking Tour
If you’re planning one day in Stratford-upon-Avon, this self‑guided walking tour fits easily into a relaxed day trip.
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Where to park in Stratford? We found free parking very easily on Windsor Street right by the statue of “The Jester”. It seemed that if we would have come later in the day, finding parking would have become a problem, so if you want to find parking close by, plan to come earlier in the morning.
Driving directions to Stratford. Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, 22 miles southeast of Birmingham and 8 miles southwest of Warwick. We drove to Stratford on the A14 motorway on a sunny Saturday and we had a great time. There are frequent trains from London as well that can take you to Warwick Castle and Stratford.
Is Stratford-upon-Avon Worth Visiting?
We loved our self-guided Stratford-upon-Avon walking tour! This place has so much to offer however, and one day may not be enough for visiting everything. It certainly was not enough for us. We decided to experience the town rather than visit all the historical buildings and museums. So, we limited ourselves to visiting just Holy Trinity church and walking by all the other historical places.
Unfortunately, our kids were tired, and we didn’t get to visit Shakespeare’s home. If you come here however, make sure you don’t miss it. Visiting the old Shakespeare home takes you way back in time to the 15th century!
More England Walking Tours
If you’re exploring more historic English towns, these self‑guided walking tours make great next steps.
- Self-Guided Bath Walking Tour
- Self-Guided Cambridge Walking Tour
- Self-Guided Canterbury Walking Tour
- Self-Guided London Walking Tour
- Self-Guided Oxford Walking Tour
- Self-Guided York Walking Tour
