Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Stratford-upon-Avon?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Stratford-upon-Avon?
Most people spend one to two days in Stratford-upon-Avon during their visit. The park-filled town offers amazing highlights such as the theatre, the small town charm, the historic old town, and the cuisine.
Stratford-Upon-Avon is famous among literary enthusiasts as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The town is filled with history, but visitors will also enjoy the walking paths along the river, and the riverfront activities that include boating and a ferris wheel. Also make sure you check out a Shakespeare play while you're in town at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Do you have one or two days to visit Stratford-upon-Avon? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Stratford-upon-Avon?
Stratford-upon-Avon isn't a particularly popular town for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to take in a show, take in the local charm, learn about the history of the town, and dine out at amazing restaurants. To truly savor all that the town boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for one to two days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the town. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
How to spend a day in Stratford-upon-Avon
The small-town atmosphere of Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the main reasons that visitors come here. Spend at least part of your day exploring the town to see the many sights and attractions. The town has a lovely town center that you can wander around. There are also nice foot paths outside of town that run along the river.
A few tour suggestions include:
- The Sinister Side of Shakespeare's Stratford Walking Tour ($13)
- Dark History Walking Tour in Warwick ($15)
- Daily Stratford Upon Avon Town Walking Tour with Local Guide ($17)
Don't miss an evening at the theater while in town. Whether it's a musical, opera, ballet, or a famous Broadway-style production, Stratford-upon-Avon is known for its wide range of shows. Shakespeare enthusiasts must check out a Shakespeare play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. There are often tickets available the day of for a reduced price.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Fun City Scavenger Hunt in Coventry by Operation City Quest ($11)
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Stratford-upon-Avon?
Many visitors spend a weekend in Stratford-upon-Avon, as this is a good amount of time to see the park-filled town's major attractions such as the theatre, the small town charm, and the historic old town. If you have a weekend here, we have a few suggestions of things to do below.
How to spend 2 days in Stratford-upon-Avon
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Stratford-upon-Avon will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the town.
Perhaps the most famous place in Stratford-upon-Avon is Shakespeare's Birthplace, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. The town center has a few nice restaurants including seafood, Italian food, Indian food, and cafes where you can enjoy high tea.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Guided Tour & Tasting ($34)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Stratford-upon-Avon, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.