The Royal Shakespeare Theatre with its brick tower, seen across Bancroft Gardens in Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford & Warwickshire

Shakespeare's home town, Warwick and Kenilworth castles and the spa town of Leamington

Four Warwickshire towns within a few miles of each other: Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born and buried and the Royal Shakespeare Company performs; Warwick, the county town, with its castle above the Avon; Royal Leamington Spa, with its Pump Rooms and riverside parks; and Kenilworth, with the ruins of its castle.

Each town has a railway station, and the official tourism site, Shakespeare's England, covers all four together. Stratford needs a day or two on its own; Warwick and Leamington adjoin each other, and Kenilworth makes a half-day trip.

Shakespeare1564 to 1616Born in Stratford, baptised and buried at Holy Trinity Church; three of his family homes are open to visitors
Stratford to WarwickAbout 8 milesStratford lies about 8 miles (13 km) south-west of Warwick
Railway stationsAll four townsStratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth stations are step-free to all platforms, according to National Rail
By road from LondonUnder 2 hoursStratford is a short drive from junction 15 of the M40, according to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Areas

4 places to begin

Each area has its own mini guide with 44 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.

16 sights · 38 places to eat

Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's birthplace, his family homes and the Royal Shakespeare Company beside the Avon

Open the mini guide →

13 sights · 23 places to eat

Warwick

Warwickshire's county town, with its castle above the Avon and medieval streets

Open the mini guide →

9 sights · 30 places to eat

Royal Leamington Spa

A spa town of parks along the River Leam, the Royal Pump Rooms and the Parade

Open the mini guide →

6 sights · 14 places to eat

Kenilworth

A market town with the ruins of Kenilworth Castle and the open space of Abbey Fields

Open the mini guide →

Sights

Highlights across Stratford & Warwickshire

A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's Birthplace

Restored 16th-century half-timbered house where Shakespeare is believed to have been born in 1564, now a museum run by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Warwick

Warwick Castle

Castle above the Avon begun by William the Conqueror in 1068 and rebuilt in stone; now a ticketed attraction with towers and shows.

Royal Leamington Spa

Royal Pump Rooms

Former spa baths on the Parade, now home to the free Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, the library and visitor information.

Kenilworth

Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden

Largely ruined English Heritage castle, founded after 1066 and turned into a Tudor palace, with a recreated Elizabethan garden.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's New Place

Site of Shakespeare's last home, where he died in 1616. The house was pulled down in 1759; gardens now mark the plot.

Warwick

Collegiate Church of St Mary

Grade I listed parish church just east of the market place, a member of the Major Churches Network.

Royal Leamington Spa

Jephson Gardens

Formal gardens and lawns between the Parade and the River Leam, with floral displays, cafés and the Jephson Memorial.

Kenilworth

Abbey Fields

Park of 68 acres in the centre of town, once farmland of St Mary's Abbey, with the abbey ruins and its sandstone gatehouse.

Photos

1 / 12

Itineraries

Plan your days

Short routes that stitch the areas together.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon

1 day

Shakespeare's Stratford

Shakespeare's Birthplace — start on Henley Street
New Place and the Guild Chapel — walk down to Chapel Street and Church Street
Holy Trinity Church — Shakespeare's grave by the river
Royal Shakespeare Theatre — an evening performance on Waterside

1 day

Two castles

Warwick Castle — the castle in the morning
Lord Leycester and the Market Place — lunch in the old town
Kenilworth Castle — the ruins and the Elizabethan garden
Abbey Fields — a walk to St Nicholas Church

Royal Pump Room Gardens, Royal Leamington Spa

Half day

Spa town and riverside parks

Royal Pump Rooms — the free art gallery and museum
Jephson Gardens — gardens beside the Leam
The Parade — lunch or dinner nearby

Getting there

Arriving in Stratford & Warwickshire

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth all have railway stations, and the towns are close enough to visit together. Always check the operators for current times, fares and disruption.

Train to Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon station is about a ten-minute walk from the town centre. West Midlands Railway runs trains from Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton, and Chiltern Railways sells journeys from London Marylebone with a change at Leamington Spa.

Train to Warwick, Leamington and Kenilworth

Warwick and Leamington Spa are on the Chiltern Main Line between London Marylebone and Birmingham; Chiltern says Warwick station is about 15 minutes' walk from the castle. Kenilworth station is on the Coventry to Leamington line.

By coach and bus

National Express coaches serve Stratford-upon-Avon, according to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Warwickshire County Council lists the local bus routes between the towns.

By car

Stratford is a short drive from junction 15 of the M40, close to the M42 and M6, and under two hours by road from London, according to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. A Park & Ride is signposted from the A46.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust: getting here →

Journey times and fares change; check the operator before you travel.

Walk each town

The sights in each town centre are within walking distance of each other. Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Shottery is about a mile west of Stratford town centre.

Between the towns

Trains link Stratford with Leamington Spa, and Leamington with Warwick and Kenilworth. Warwick and Leamington adjoin each other.

National Rail: Leamington Spa →

Local buses

Warwickshire County Council publishes the bus routes around Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding towns.

Council: buses →

Best time to go

Stratford & Warwickshire through the year

The towns work all year. The houses, theatres and museums are indoors, while the parks, gardens and castle grounds are at their best in the warmer months.

SpringMarch to May

Gardens at the Shakespeare houses, Hill Close and the Leamington parks begin to flower, before the summer crowds.

SummerJune to August

Long evenings by the Avon and the Leam; the busiest time in Stratford and at Warwick Castle, so book ahead.

AutumnSeptember to November

Quieter streets once the summer school holidays end, and good light on the timber-framed houses.

WinterDecember to February

Short days suit the museums, theatres and pubs; check winter opening at the castles and gardens.

Day trips

Beyond the city

Ideas for a day away from Stratford & Warwickshire. Check the operators for times and tickets.

The red-brick front of Charlecote House at the end of a gravel path

National Trust

Charlecote Park

A 16th-century country house in a deer park on the Avon, about 4 miles east of Stratford.

National Trust: Charlecote Park →

National Trust

Baddesley Clinton

A moated manor house in the Forest of Arden, about 8 miles north-west of Warwick.

National Trust: Baddesley Clinton →

Art gallery

Compton Verney

An art gallery in an 18th-century mansion set in parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, south-east of Stratford.

comptonverney.org.uk →

Arlington Row, a terrace of Cotswold stone cottages at Bibury

Britlens guide

The Cotswolds

Stratford sits at the northern edge of the Cotswolds; our Cotswolds guide covers the stone villages to the south.

Cotswolds guide →

FAQ

Good to know before you go

How many days do I need?

Give Stratford-upon-Avon one or two days for the Shakespeare houses, Holy Trinity Church and a play. Add a day for Warwick and Leamington Spa, and half a day for Kenilworth.

Can I visit Stratford-upon-Avon as a day trip from London?

Yes. Chiltern Railways sells journeys from London Marylebone with a change at Leamington Spa, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust says the town is under two hours from London by road.

Which Shakespeare houses can I visit?

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust opens Shakespeare's Birthplace, Shakespeare's New Place and Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Hall's Croft and Mary Arden's Farm are now learning centres for schools; check the trust's site for any tours.

Where is Shakespeare buried?

In Holy Trinity Church, the parish church by the Avon at the southern end of the town, where he was also baptised.

How do I get from the station to Warwick Castle?

Warwick station is about 15 minutes' walk from the castle and town centre, according to Chiltern Railways.

Are Warwick Castle and Kenilworth Castle run by the same people?

No. Kenilworth Castle is a largely ruined castle cared for by English Heritage. Warwick Castle is a ticketed attraction with its own website, warwick-castle.com.

Nearby places