The actors' pub beside the theatre
The Dirty Duck (Black Swan)
What to order: a pie or fish and chips on the terrace, with a pint, looking out over the river.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 52.19° N · 1.71° W
Stratford-upon-Avon in a day, from the birthplace to Shakespeare's grave.
Two hours by train from Marylebone to follow Shakespeare's life: the birthplace, New Place, the actors' pub, his grave by the river and Anne Hathaway's farm.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Birmingham fromBarcelona 2 h 15Madrid 2 h 30Valencia 2 h 30Alicante 2 h 45Murcia 2 h 45Palma de Mallorca 2 h 45Málaga 3 hSevilla 3 hFuerteventura 4 h 30Gran Canaria 4 h 30
Part of Stratford-upon-Avon
Add to my trip
Total time12 h
By car2 h 15 each way
Train2 h from Marylebone
Birthplace£25 online
Anne Hathaway£5 with the birthplace
Grave£5
DifficultyEasy
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave London 2 h by train
from Marylebone · change at Leamington Spa
-
1
Shakespeare's Birthplace
timed ticket · £25 online
- 5 min on foot
-
2
Shakespeare's New Place, the house where he died
included in the birthplace ticket
- 10 min on foot
-
3
The Dirty Duck (Black Swan)
terrace over the river
Waterside, CV37 6BA Stratford-upon-Avon · +44 1789 297312
Bar €€Book - 5 min on foot
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4
Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare's grave
the grave · £5 · from 13:00 on Sundays
- 30 min on foot
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5
Anne Hathaway's Cottage
£5 with the birthplace · last entry 15:30 in winter
-
Back home 2 h by train
from Stratford · at Marylebone around 19:30
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Shakespeare's Birthplace
Stratford-upon-Avon is about two hours from London, so the day is long, but it fits the essentials: Shakespeare's life in order, from the house where he was born to the church where he is buried, with his wife's farm as an afternoon stroll. If you can, stay the night: the one-night getaway adds an RSC performance.
The day, hour by hour
7:40 · Train from Marylebone. Chiltern Railways, about two hours, almost always with a change at Leamington Spa. Book in advance.
10:00 · Birthplace. Ten minutes' walk from the station to Henley Street. Timed ticket, £25 online, which includes New Place and makes Anne Hathaway's cheaper.
11:30 · New Place. The gardens where the house in which he died once stood, on Chapel Street.
12:30 · Lunch at The Dirty Duck. The actors' pub, with a terrace over the river, open all day.
14:00 · The grave. Holy Trinity Church, at the end of the river walk. £5 to enter the chancel.
15:00 · Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Thirty-five minutes' walk through meadows to Shottery. In winter, last entry at 15:30: do not dawdle.
17:00 · Back. Taxi or walk to the station and a train to Marylebone.
In boat season
From Easter to October, swap the church for half an hour on a boat on the Avon from Bancroft Gardens: it passes in front of the church anyway. If you have half an hour to spare, tea at The Fourteas.
Time1 h 30
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
The Fourteas
What to order: the Ivor Novello afternoon tea, with homemade scones, cream and strawberry jam.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Stratford-upon-Avon
All year. In winter the houses close at 16:00 and the boats do not run; from Easter to October you can swap the grave for half an hour on a boat on the Avon.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Buy the houses together
Anne Hathaway costs £5 with the birthplace ticket.
- 2Watch the time in winter
The houses close at 16:00.
- 3If you can, stay the night
Four hours of train in one day is tiring.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Stratford in a day from London?
Yes, leaving early; it is a long day, with about two hours of train each way.
Which houses can you visit?
The birthplace, New Place and Anne Hathaway's. Mary Arden's and Hall's Croft are closed to general visits.
Is it open on Sunday?
Yes; the church only from 13:00 to 15:15.
Are there boats in winter?
No, they run from Easter to autumn.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/england/stratford-upon-avon/itineraries/shakespeare-houses-in-a-day
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.