How to spend 24 hours in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is well-known for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare but the historic market town has much more to offer to a tourist. If you are visiting the town for a day and need ideas on how to spend 24 hours in one of the most visited destinations in England, then read on.
Begin your day with a tour of the historic homes of William Shakespeare. There are five houses in all and I would recommend visiting them all. You can save money by purchasing the 5 House combo ticket. As you move from one house to another, you get a very informative, first-hand experience of the history of Shakespeare and the place. Based on my experience I would set aside around 2-3 hours to see all the five houses - Shakespeare's Birthplace, Nash's House and New Place, Hall's Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Mary Arden's Farm.
Post the 5 house tour, you could go on a relaxing boat trip on River Avon. There are many tour operators including Avon Boating and Bancroft cruises. We went for a 40 minute boat trip and loved it. It is a lovely way to experience the town.
By this time the sight-seeing would have whetted your appetite. I would recommend a visit to the Arden Hotel, centrally located, right in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon and directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The Arden caters for all dietary requirements - gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. Arden also serve full afternoon teas which are not to be missed.
After a hearty lunch or afternoon tea, spend some time relaxing on the riverside and then walk to the Butterfly Farm. It is the largest tropical butterfly display in the UK and boasts of lovely tropical foliage and over 1,000 free flying butterflies.
You can then visit the MAD museum (which houses kinetic art, automated contraptions and some really quirky gadgets) and/or enjoy a scary insight into the life of Tudors at Tudor's World - The Falstaff's Experience.
Finish the evening in style with an outstanding theatre performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company. For some good food you could head to the Rooftop Restaurant and Bar which is located on the third floor of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Some lovely places to stay in Stratford-upon-Avon include: The Arden Hotel (central location) or the Welcombe Hotel, Spa & Golf Club (a luxury hotel located on the edge of Stratford-upon-Avon, in 157 acres of beautiful grounds and parkland).
While 24 hours are in no way enough to experience and enjoy everything that Stratford-upon-Avon offers, you can surely get a taste of the historic market town on a day trip.
Begin your day with a tour of the historic homes of William Shakespeare. There are five houses in all and I would recommend visiting them all. You can save money by purchasing the 5 House combo ticket. As you move from one house to another, you get a very informative, first-hand experience of the history of Shakespeare and the place. Based on my experience I would set aside around 2-3 hours to see all the five houses - Shakespeare's Birthplace, Nash's House and New Place, Hall's Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Mary Arden's Farm.
Post the 5 house tour, you could go on a relaxing boat trip on River Avon. There are many tour operators including Avon Boating and Bancroft cruises. We went for a 40 minute boat trip and loved it. It is a lovely way to experience the town.
By this time the sight-seeing would have whetted your appetite. I would recommend a visit to the Arden Hotel, centrally located, right in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon and directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The Arden caters for all dietary requirements - gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. Arden also serve full afternoon teas which are not to be missed.
After a hearty lunch or afternoon tea, spend some time relaxing on the riverside and then walk to the Butterfly Farm. It is the largest tropical butterfly display in the UK and boasts of lovely tropical foliage and over 1,000 free flying butterflies.
You can then visit the MAD museum (which houses kinetic art, automated contraptions and some really quirky gadgets) and/or enjoy a scary insight into the life of Tudors at Tudor's World - The Falstaff's Experience.
Finish the evening in style with an outstanding theatre performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company. For some good food you could head to the Rooftop Restaurant and Bar which is located on the third floor of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Some lovely places to stay in Stratford-upon-Avon include: The Arden Hotel (central location) or the Welcombe Hotel, Spa & Golf Club (a luxury hotel located on the edge of Stratford-upon-Avon, in 157 acres of beautiful grounds and parkland).
While 24 hours are in no way enough to experience and enjoy everything that Stratford-upon-Avon offers, you can surely get a taste of the historic market town on a day trip.
Thanks for sharing - I found this useful as I'm planning a trip there this month
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