The Arden Hotel
Why we like it: A 45-room hotel on Waterside, directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, with a restaurant, afternoon tea and parking.
Duration1 night
From London2 h by train or car
Best timeApril – October
TheatreBook the performance
Budget€220–360 pp
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for leaving Marylebone mid-morning, doing the houses in the centre in the afternoon, seeing an RSC performance in the evening and spending the next morning on the river and Anne Hathaway's cottage before the train back. Check the RSC listings first and choose the day according to the performance.
Day 1
- 111:00Train from Marylebone
Chiltern Railways, about two hours with a change at Leamington Spa. Leave your bag at The Arden Hotel, opposite the theatre.
- 214:00Birthplace and New Place
The timber-framed house on Henley Street and, on the same ticket, the New Place gardens. Buy a timed ticket.
- 317:00Tea at The Fourteas
Fifty metres from the theatre, an afternoon tea to keep you going until dinner.
- 419:15Royal Shakespeare Company performance
You cross the road from the hotel. If there is no performance that day, take the one-hour guided tour in the afternoon.
Day 2
- 110:00Boat on the Avon or the grave
From Easter to autumn, half an hour by boat from Bancroft Gardens; out of season, Holy Trinity Church.
- 211:30Anne Hathaway's Cottage
A thirty-five-minute walk through meadows to Shottery; £5 with the Birthplace ticket.
- 315:00Train back
Taxi to the station and train to Marylebone.
In a day from London, Stratford leaves out the best part: seeing Shakespeare performed in his own town by the company that bears his name. Evening performances finish when there are no comfortable trains left, so this getaway sleeps opposite the theatre. One day for the houses and the performance; the next morning, for the river and Anne Hathaway's farm.
What does it cost?
| What | How much | Note |
|---|---|---|
| London–Stratford return train | Variable | Cheaper if you book a specific time |
| Birthplace with New Place | £25 online | Timed entry, valid for a year |
| Anne Hathaway's Cottage | £5 | Bought with the Birthplace |
| Shakespeare's grave | £5 | Chancel of the church |
| Boat on the Avon | £12 | Easter to autumn |
| RSC performance | Variable | Book in advance |
Where to stay
The Arden Hotel is right opposite the theatre and has parking: you come out of the performance and you are at your room. If you are travelling with children or looking for a good price, the Premier Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Central is five minutes from the Birthplace.
And by car?
Along the M40, less than two hours from London. With a car you can stretch the morning of the second day towards the villages of the northern Cotswolds, such as Chipping Campden, half an hour away.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Stratford-upon-Avon, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Stratford-upon-Avon
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Fly to London and take a train or drive to Stratford
Stratford-upon-Avon has no flights from Spain: you fly to London, with direct flights from almost every Spanish airport, and carry on by train from Marylebone, about two hours, or by hire car along the M40, in under two hours. Birmingham, about 40 minutes by car, also has direct flights from some Spanish cities. Once there, you can explore the centre on foot.
- Getting thereLondon Heathrow (LHR), the most…
- Getting aroundOn foot around the centre…
- Where to stayThe Arden Hotel, opposite the…
- ServicesStratford-upon-Avon station, trains from Marylebone
Getting there
- London Heathrow (LHR), the most convenient if you are continuing by car along the M40
- London Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN): train into central London and then on to Marylebone
- Birmingham (BHX), the nearest gateway if you find a direct flight
- From London Marylebone, Chiltern Railways in about two hours, almost always with a change at Leamington Spa
Getting around
- On foot around the centre; to Anne Hathaway's, 30 minutes on foot
- A hire car at the airport if you want to carry on to the Cotswolds
Where to stay
- The Arden Hotel, opposite the theatre, with parking
- Premier Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Central, beside the Birthplace
Services
- Stratford-upon-Avon station, trains from Marylebone
- Town-centre car parks and park and ride
Train from Marylebone and Shakespeare on foot
Stratford is small and everything Shakespearean is within walking distance: from the station it is ten minutes to the Birthplace, fifteen to the theatre and half an hour to Anne Hathaway's house along a path between meadows. The train from Marylebone takes about two hours, so a single day falls short: with one night you can see the houses, the river and an RSC performance.
110–190 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayThe Arden Hotel, opposite the…
- Getting aroundChiltern Railways from London Marylebone…
- Where to eatThe Dirty Duck, the actors'…
- ServicesStratford-upon-Avon station
Where to stay
- The Arden Hotel, opposite the theatre
- Premier Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Central, five minutes from the Birthplace
Getting around
- Chiltern Railways from London Marylebone, about two hours with a change at Leamington Spa
- On foot around the whole centre and along the Shottery path
Where to eat
- The Dirty Duck, the actors' pub, with a terrace over the river
- The Fourteas, afternoon tea beside the theatre
Services
- Stratford-upon-Avon station
Along the M40, with the Cotswolds next door
By car, Stratford is less than two hours from central London along the M40, and a car lets you do something the train does not: carry on to the villages of the northern Cotswolds, such as Chipping Campden, half an hour away. In the centre, leave the car in a car park or at the park and ride and get around on foot.
120–200 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayThe Arden Hotel, with its…
- Getting aroundM40 to junction 15, then…
- Where to eatThe Dirty Duck, beside the…
- ServicesTown-centre car parks and park…
Where to stay
- The Arden Hotel, with its own parking opposite the theatre
- Premier Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Central, with public car parks nearby
Getting around
- M40 to junction 15, then the A46
- Park and ride signposted from the A46
- Cottage Lane car park for Anne Hathaway
Where to eat
- The Dirty Duck, beside the river
- The Fourteas, on Sheep Street
Services
- Town-centre car parks and park and ride
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingwithout a carif you're driving
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Premier Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Central
Why we like it: A chain hotel on Payton Street, beside the canal and five minutes on foot from the Birthplace, with family rooms, air conditioning and a restaurant.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Stratford-upon-Avon
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.
The Fourteas
What to order: the Ivor Novello afternoon tea, with homemade scones, cream and strawberry jam.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Check the listings first
Choose the night according to the RSC performance.
- 2Book the hotel with the performance
On opening nights it fills up.
- 3Buy the houses together
You save on Anne Hathaway's.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to stay the night in Stratford?
To see a performance, yes: it finishes too late to return by train.
Where to stay near the theatre?
The Arden Hotel, right opposite.
Are there boats in winter?
No; swap the boat for the church and his grave.