Wide and graceful, England’s River Avon is a focal point in Stratford-upon-Avon flowing through its heart past Bancroft Gardens, the RSC Theatres, and Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried. Pleasure boats and swans share the water and you can join them in a number of ways to admire the architecture, stunning gardens, and pretty countryside. Hop aboard an Edwardian passenger launch or an iconic canal barge; go your own way with self-drive, zero-emission electric boats, or canoes or kayaks if you prefer to paddle. Walk beside the Avon or along the South Stratford Canal towpath out into the countryside.
Pen & Parchment, Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YY, UK
Pen & Parchment
Pub
Carluccio's, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BA, UK
Carluccio's
Italian restaurant
Cox's Yard, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Cox's Yard
Restaurant and cafe
Avon Boating Ltd, Swans Nest, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Avon Boating
Boat Hire
Encore Stratford Upon Avon, Bridge Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
The Encore Waterside Dining
Waterside pub
Best Places for Breakfast in Stratford-upon-Avon
Pen and Parchment
This pub opens early to serve English or Big English breakfast – bacon, egg, mushrooms, black pudding, baked beans, toast. Also vegetarian/vegan breakfasts, steak and eggs, Scottish smoked salmon and scrambled egg, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes. Outdoor dining in front of the pub in fine weather.
Best Things To Do in the Morning in Stratford-upon-Avon
Avon Boating
Avon Boating’s traditional Edwardian passenger launches operate half-hour tours departing from Bancroft Gardens, Waterside, travelling downstream past the RSC theatres and Holy Trinity Church. You’ll also travel upstream passing under the medieval Clopton Bridge. Or make your way to Avon Boating’s lovely boathouse across the pedestrian Tramway Bridge to hire self-drive, zero-emission motorboats, self-drive wooden punts or big canoes.
Canal & River Tours
Canal boat river cruises with Canal & River Tours depart from the canal basin at Waterside, where the colourful barges moor on their way around the Avon canal network. A river cruise on board will take you through the lock and lasts around 40 minutes, taking you past some of the town’s most famous landmarks, including the Royal Shakespeare Theatres and Holy Trinity Church.
Best Places for Lunch in Stratford-upon-Avon
Cox's Yard
Rustic riverside restaurant and cafe. The restaurant serves sharing plates, burgers, “What the Flock” Cajun chicken breast with Frank’s buffalo sauce. Also Fish and Chips, BBQ brisket with Boston beans. Cheesecake, brownies and ice-cream, too. The Pantry cafe serves sandwiches, coffee, cakes, pastries.
Best Things To Do in the Afternoon in Stratford-upon-Avon
Hike the towpath along the South Stratford Canal
Peaceful and picturesque, this waterway carries canal boats north to join the North Stratford Canal and the Grand Union Canal. The towpath is a popular walking and cycling route and offers lovely views of the narrowboats, locks and the surrounding countryside. Well-known to locals, it’s a ‘hidden secret’ for visitors to discover.
The canal follows a relatively straight path from Stratford-upon-Avon to Wilmcote starting from Bancroft Basin or the steps near the Red Lion pub opposite. Follow the towpath through the countryside and through the village of Luddington, a halfway point on the way to Wilmcote – stop for refreshments at the Four Alls pub. In Wilmcote you can see the lovely cottage exterior of part of Mary Arden’s Farm, where Shakespeare’s mother grew up. Nearby is the Mary Arden Inn. The walk is just over six and a half miles (10.4 km) for the round trip, starting from the canal basin. Alternatively, catch a train back from Wilmcote to Stratford.
Best Places for Dinner in Stratford-upon-Avon
The Encore Waterside Dining
Stylish, contemporary pub, bar, and restaurant with a buzzy atmosphere, serving up delicious seasonal dishes on its pub food menus. Think pan-fried scallops with fennel, sticky beef dumpling with soy, fresh Italian burrata. Or save the scallops for a main of maple-glazed, slow-cooked pork belly with scallops. Also pizzas, burgers, real ales, cocktails.
No.44 Brasserie on the Waterside
Fresh, contemporary food and flavours are the signatures of this classy brasserie in the Arden Hotel, opposite the RSC theatres. Menus feature plates to share – five to six between two are recommended. The hotel also has a welcoming bar, complimentary parking and electric car chargers.