Image credits: Holly Barber
Walk Details
The historic market town of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire is probably best known for being the birthplace of the world renowned playwright William Shakespeare. Located alongside the River Avon, the town is a hotspot for tourists because of the Bard.
Our walk today starts and finishes at a car park located close to the River Avon, on the A439 (Warwick Road). From here we follow the footpath down to the river, turning right and following the path as it takes us alongside the river and into town.
As we approach the town, we come to the Bancroft Gardens located directly in front of the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) main house theatre. In here you can find an RSC shop (the perfect place to pick up a Shakespearean themed souvenir) and a cafe. You can also, for a fee, join one of their backstage tours if you are keen to learn more about life in a theatre.
Following the path along Waterside, we pass the Swan Theatre, another RSC venue, on our left and the Dirty Duck/Black Swan pub on the right (make sure you look at both sides of the pub sign!). Waterside becomes Southern Lane, and then we make a left on to Trinity Close. Ahead of us we see Holy Trinity Church – the final resting place of William Shakespeare. You are welcome to step inside the church, for a fee, to see his grave and pay your respects.
From the church we head up College Lane before turning right on to College Street. As we reach the end of the road, we see Hall’s Croft in front of us. This is where Shakespeare’s daughter, Susanna Hall lived with her husband, physician John Hall, from 1613-1616. At the time of writing it is going through a major conservation project.
A left takes us on to Old Town and then a right takes us on to Church Street, passing some Alms Houses and New Place – this is the site of Shakespeare’s final home in Stratford and where he died in 1616. The original building was demolished in 1702 but the foundations remain. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust maintains the gardens here.
We continue on to High Street, cross over Bridge Street and take a left on to Henley Street where we come to Shakespeare’s birthplace on the right hand side. For a fee you can visit his birthplace and learn more about the man voted as one of the most influential figures of the last millennium.
From here we cut across to Wood Street, down on to Bridge Street and back to the Bankcroft Gardens. From here we might enjoy one of the street theatre entertainers who often perform or grab an ice cream from one of the barges in the canal basin. When we’re ready we then retrace our steps back along the river and back to where we left our car.
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