3 Day Itinerary for visiting Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon

Here is the itinerary I followed for visiting Shakespeare’s England. The trip was a bucket list vacation for me and I was able to see all the things that I longed to see. Walking in the footsteps of William Shakespeare was a moment that will stay with me forever.

For a complete list of places to see, things to do, where to eat, and where to stay in Shakespeare’s England, click here.

Day 1:
My son and I arrived at The Crowne Plaza in Stratford-upon-Avon in the morning. Crowne Plaza is at a perfect location. It’s within walking distance to the town, lovely pubs, and many of Shakespeare’s tourist stops.

Address: Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YR, United Kingdom

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Henley St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QW, UK
Hours: daily 10 – 5

Visitors can walk through the rooms where William Shakespeare’s imagination began. See where he was born, slept, and played with his siblings. Guides share what Shakespeare’s early life was like and the history of the home.

Shakespeare’s Grave: Holy Trinity Church

1 Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BG, United Kingdom

Hours: Sunday 1-3
Monday through Saturday 10– 4

My son and I walked from Shakespeare’s Birthplace to Holy Trinity Church, the final resting place of William Shakespeare. He is buried behind the altar. Holy Trinity Church is the oldest building in Stratford-upon-Avon and dates back to 1210. On the wall near Shakespeare’s grave are his baptismal records and burial records. Anne Hathaway is buried next to him.

Shakespeare’s New Place

22 Chapel St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6EP, United Kingdom

Hours: Daily 10 – 5

A villain in the Shakespeare story tore down the original home, but it has since been rebuilt to resemble the home where William and Anne raised their daughter. Shakespeare loved Stratford-upon-Avon and never took up residence in London. This was his home location that made caused him to take the 4-day journey to and from London. The home is a museum dedicated to Shakespeare’s life. While we were there, the First Folio was on display.

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

22 Cottage Ln, Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9HH, United Kingdom
Hours: 10am – 5pm daily.

A Hathaway lived in the cottage for over 400 years. The home is set amidst a beautiful garden that should be taken in before entering the cottage. The cottage has undergone some changes over the years, but people can walk in the room where Shakespeare asked the Hathaways for her hand in marriage. William and Anne lived in the home briefly.

Walking in Shakespeare’s Footsteps: A Father and Son Story

Day 2

Warwick Castle

Warwick CV34 4QU, United Kingdom

Hours: Daily 10– 4

Warwick Castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068. A stone building replaced the wooden structure in the 12th century. It is possible for visitors to spend an entire day at the castle. There are a plethora of activities in and around the castle. There’s a maze that shares the history of the castle, as well as reenactments, demonstrations, archery, sword fighting, and much more. There are also many places to grab a bite to eat on the castle grounds.

The Shakespeare Distillery

Unit A Drayton Manor Dr, Drayton, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9RQ, United Kingdom
Hours: Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10 – 5
Sunday: 10 – 4

We didn’t have time for a tasting nor did we have time to book an experience, but I love visiting distilleries, so we stopped by. I had the gin at the hotel bar and I enjoyed my drink, so I bought a few bottles at the distillery. An employee gave me a quick tour of the distillery while we were there, and I wished I had more time for one of their experiences.

If you can’t make it out to the distillery, you can purchase Shakespeare Distillery spirts at their store in town.

Hooray’s Gelato

27-28 High St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6AU, United Kingdom
Hours: Sunday 11-5
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11-6
Friday and Saturday 11-9

Hooray’s is family owned and has a wide variety of gelato and ice cream. It was a welcomed stop for my son and I. The employees couldn’t have been more friendly and we enjoyed our gelato while our weary feet dangled from a stool. If you’re traveling with kids, Hooray’s is a must stop. Actually, even if you’re traveling without kids, it is a must stop.

Garrick Inn

25 High St, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6AU, United Kingdom

After a long day of being a tourist, I stopped by the Garrick Inn for a pint. It is a lovely old pub, where legend says Shakespeare used to go to the location for a drink.

Day 3

Our final day touring Shakespeare’s hometown. I woke up in the morning wishing I had at least one more day. Stratford-upon-Avon couldn’t be lovelier. It was be a perfect town without the Shakespeare aspect of the town’s rich history. I mentioned often to my son that I would love to live there.

Magic Alley

1st Floor, Bell Ct, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6EX, United Kingdom
Hours: Daily 10-5

Magic Alley is great for kids who have been a good sport about seeing all the Shakespeare sites with their parents. Magic Alley is not only a store with fun and unique gifts, there is also an activity where visitors can solve The Crime of the Missing Dragon Egg. Make sure you purchase tickets ahead of time because they sell out in advance. Solving the crime is a bit like an escape room, where you gather clues in one room and move on to the next. At the end, you must show your booklet to an employee to see if you’ve solved the crime.

Kenilworth Castle

Castle Green, Kenilworth CV8 1NG, United Kingdom
Hours: Daily 10-5

Kenilworth Castle is about a 25-minute drive from Stratford-upon-Avon. The castle was founded in the 1120s and changed hands often during its rich history. Queen Elizabeth visited the castle and at one point stayed for 19 straight days. The owner made lavish attempts to woo her, but was turned down. Visitors can walk into the remains of the portion of the castle that was built for her stay.

There are also many activities surrounding Kenilworth’s remains for kids to learn about life at the castle.

The next time I visit Stratford-upon-Avon, I’m going to add an additional day or two to visit The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Shakespeare’s Schoolroom, Mary Arden’s Farm, and Hall’s Croft.

Lastly: As you can see, most of the sites close by 4 or 5. Start your day early so you can see everything you want. Street parking can be scarce, so plan on parking your car at the hotel and walk from there when you can. Make sure you’re wearing good walking shoes. Your step count will be high. The town has a lot of family-owned restaurants, pubs, and stores to explore. Bring along an umbrella and rain jacket. It rained off and on while we were visiting, which one can expect while visiting the UK.