Rome Toolkit 
Paris Toolkit Stratford-upon-Avon & Warwick Castle
Make an informed visit either independently or by tour
Stratford is situated about 80 miles north-west of Central London. It is just about within the range of a day trip but is best appreciated with a longer stay overnight if you want a thorough visit of all the Shakespeare attractions on offer.
About 15 minutes east of Stratford is Warwick Castle, close to the M40 motorway junction from London for Stratford.
Both Warwick Castle & Stratford have daily day tours from London, most tours the two are combined. Both Warwick & Stratford have frequent trains from London's Marylebone Station if you prefer an independent visit.
Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon houses & buildings
There are five houses in or near Stratford-upon-Avon connected with William Shakespeare and his family.
There is also Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) that perform plays.
The Shakespearean properties offer a unique experience of the Stratford world in which the famous dramatist and poet was born, lived and died.
Open all year round, these 16th-century houses feature rare period furnishings and domestic items. Aspects of Tudor life, are on display, all set in attractive gardens and grounds.
Stratford-upon-Avon - the town
Shakespeare may dominate any visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, but there are worthwhile things to see and besides Shakespeare. This page looks at those things to see and do in Stratford-upon-Avon that are not connected to Shakespeare.
Stratford-upon-Avon (Getting away from the bard for a brief period) - more details
Warwick Castle
About 15 minutes east of Stratford is Warwick Castle, close to the M40 motorway junction from London for Stratford. Most coach tours to Warwick also combine a visit to Stratford.
Warwick Castle although an authentic castle with great historical interest is less like a museum and more like a medieval entertainment. As such, it's one of the best castles in the UK to take your kids.
Stratford-upon-Avon hop-on, hop-off bus - getting around Stratford independently
Like so many tourist towns and cities, a hop on, hop off open top sightseeing bus operates in Stratford.
At Stratford it is particularly useful as a couple of Shakespeare attractions, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Mary Arden's House are well outside walking distance from the town centre.
The bus has ticketing options which includes admissions to the Shakespeare properties. The main starting point of the buses is by the bridge next to the main Tourist Information Centre. For independent visitors there is also a stop very close to the train station.
There are 12 stops including all 5 Shakespeare properties, Holy Trinity Church and the RSC theatres.
You can also purchase a ticket that combines the Ho Ho service with a river cruise on the River Avon.
Frequencies are broadly every 30 minutes with increased frequencies, every 15/20 minutes at the peak times in summer and weekends. During the summer months live guides are available, at other times audio guides are provided (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, German and Kid's Commentary).
Getting to Stratford-upon-Avon & Warwick from London
By train
Direct trains to Stratford run from London's Marylebone station taking approximately 135 minutes to do the journey, a long time on the train for a day trip. Trains to Warwick are much more frequent and take around 45 minutes less. You can travel between Stratford and Warwick on the same line.
London - Stratford or Warwick Train timetables & fares
By bus
The bus service between London and Stratford-upon-Avon or Warwick start at London's Victoria Coach Station. Bus is normally significantly cheaper and slower than the more popular rail service. Services take 3 hours plus and frequencies are just a few each day both ways, though technically its still possible to do a day trip.
National Express Tickets & timetables
Tours from London
There is a good range of day tours daily from London to Stratford. All will combine Stratford with visits to either nearby Warwick Castle, Oxford or the Cotswolds.
MOST POPULAR TOURS FROM LONDON 2024
VISITING STONEHENGE AND/OR WINDSOR AND/OR BATH
| Stonehenge Morning Half Day Tour - from £65 |
| Windsor Castle Windsor Morning & Afternoon Tours - from £70 |
| Windsor, Bath & Stonehenge (inc Lunch, no adm Roman Baths) - from £99 |
| Windsor, Bath & Stonehenge (no Lunch, inc adm Roman Baths) - from £92 |
| Windsor, Stonehenge & Salisbury - from £85 |
| Windsor & Bath Day Tour - from £85 |
| Windsor, Bath & Stonehenge (Small Group - Max 16 people) - from £156.60 |
| Stonehenge & Bath (Stonehenge admission only) - 3.5 hrs in Bath - from £88 |
| Stonehenge & Bath (Stonehenge & Baths adm) - 3.5 hrs in Bath - from £116 |
| Stonehenge & Bath (Stonehenge & Jane Austen Centre) - 3.5 hrs in Bath - from £118 |
| Stonehenge & Windsor (featuring extended time at Windsor) - from £85 |
| Stonehenge & Avebury - from £114 |
| Windsor, Stonehenge & Oxford - from £79 |
| Stratford, Cotswolds, Bath & Stonehenge - from £128 |
| Stonehenge, Glastonbury & Avebury (Small Group) - from £156.60 |
| Bath, Cotswolds, Stonehenge & Avebury (Small Group) - from £156.60 |
VISITING COTSWOLDS AND/OR OXFORD AND/OR STRATFORD AND/OR WARWICK
| Oxford, Stratford & Warwick Castle - from £74 |
| Oxford, Cotswolds & County pub lunch (Small Group) - from £156.60 |
| Stratford & Cotswolds (inc Anne Hathaway’s) - from £85 |
| Full-day Cotswolds only Tour (Small Group) - from £127 |
| In-depth Cotswolds Only Tour + Lunch - from £127 |
| Blenheim Palace, Downton Abbey Village & Cotswolds Tour - from £72 |
| Stratford, Cotswolds, Bath & Stonehenge - from £128 |
| Windsor, Stonehenge & Oxford - from £79 |
| Oxford & Cambridge Tour (May-Sep only) - from £97 |
| Downton Abbey & Blenheim Palace (Small Group) - £156.60 |
VISITING CANTERBURY, LEEDS CASTLE & DOVER
| Small group Leeds Castle, Dover & Canterbury with river cruise - from £149 |
| Dover Castle, White Cliffs & Canterbury - from £125 |
| Canterbury, Dover & Kent Villages - £139 |
SPECIAL THEME TOURS
| Stonehenge Special Access (Walk Among Stones) Tours |
| Downton Abbey + Highclere Castle Tours |
| Harry Potter Tours |
| London Rock Tour |
DAY TOURS BY TRAIN TO LIVERPOOL, PARIS & SCOTLAND
| Beatles Liverpool Day Tour - £198 |
| Day Trip to Paris - from £259 |
| Day Trip to Edinburgh - from £225 |
2 TO 12 DAY TOURS COVERING GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND, PARIS & AMSTERDAM
| 2-day Windsor, Stonehenge, Bath & Oxford - from £349 |
| 3-day Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Bath & SW - from £275 |
| 5-day Peak District, Wales & Yorkshire- from £425 |
| 2-day private Stonehenge, Bath, Cotswolds & Oxford - from £650 |
| Budget 3 days in Paris - from £289 (not currently available) |
| Luxury 2 & 3 days in Paris - from £399 (not currently available) |
| 2-day Edinburgh - from £312 |
| 3-day Edinburgh & Scotland Weekend - from £379 (not currently available) |
| 3-day Edinburgh & Scotland Anytime - from £999 |
| 6-12-day tours of Great Britain and Ireland - from £1425 |
