Stratford on Avon local attractions and events

Mary Arden's Farm at Wilmcote, near Stratford-upon-Avon - childhood home of Shakespeare's mother - visit on the City Sightseeing tour bus

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.
Situated on the banks of the River Avon in the heart of rural Warwickshire, Stratford-upon-Avon is a beautiful market town

steeped in history and culture - an ideal holiday destination at any time of year.

Heritage Mews is within ten minutes walk of the town centre with its rich variety of historic buildings and unique attractions, including Shakespeare’s Birthplace and two other beautifully preserved Shakespeare Houses and Gardens - Nash's House and Hall's Croft in Old Town. You can visit Shakespeare's tomb in Holy Trinity Church, one of England's most beautiful parish churches on the banks of the River Avon – three minutes walk from Heritage Mews. From here you can enjoy the delightful walk into town and to the theatres along the riverside footpath. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a nine or ten minute walk. Nearby is the celebrated "Dirty Duck" inn with a terrace overlooking the river and inside, walls of signed photographs of Shakespearian actors, past and present.

There are delightful walks through parks and gardens along the banks of the River Avon which provides boating, sight-seeing & restaurant cruises. Enjoy a river cruise aboard a traditional Edwardian pleasure launch. Cross the river on an old chain ferry - the last to be built in Britain. Or take a 'City Sightseeing' open-top bus tour of the town and nearby villages - Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Shottery and Mary Arden's House in Wilmcote. Walk across the Old Tramway bridge and visit the Butterfly Farm. There is an award-winning daily guided Town Walk, a Ghost Walk and a lively market every Friday. Explore the nearby 'Greenway' cycle trail - cycles can be hired in town or visit Stratford Leisure Centre with swimming pool and fitness studio.

Enjoy National Hunt horse-racing at Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse, one of the country's leading small racecourses. Stratford Racecourse is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Heritage Mews.

Stratford town centre offers an excellent choice of award-winning restaurants, pubs, bars, bistros, traditional tearooms and cafes. There is also excellent shopping, with a wide variety of interesting independent shops as well as well-known high street names – all within a short walk.

The nearest pub is The New Bulls Head (formerly The West End) in Bull Street, just a couple of minutes' walk away. They offer a varied menu throughout the day and all their food is freshly prepared in their kitchen. The pub serves a variety of real ales and is listed in the CAMRA Good Pub Guide. They also run a small community shop selling fresh bread, milk, newspapers and a range of household products.

You will find a detailed entry for each restaurant displaying their special offer or discount. Just phone the restaurant to book, mention the 'Gastro Card' and confirm the offer. Show the card when you arrive at the restaurant. These are just some of the participating restaurants: in Stratford-upon-Avon - Edward Moon's; No 9 Church Street; Essence; Marlowe's Restaurant; No 1 Shakespeare Street; Othello's Bar & Brasserie; Sorrento; The Alveston Manor Restaurant; Benson's Restaurant & Henley Tea Rooms. In Warwickshire and the Cotswolds - award winning The Howard Arms at Ilmington and The Bell at Alderminster; The Fox & Goose Country Inn at Armscote; The King's Head at Bledington; Kings Arms at Mickleton; The Granville at Barford; The Curry Republic in Henley-in-Arden and many more. (Please note: our Gastro Card is available solely for use by guests while staying at Heritage Mews. Failure to leave the card in the property when you vacate may incur a £40 replacement charge.)

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a ten minute riverside stroll from Heritage Mews. Open seven days a week, the RST is a fascinating building spanning three distinct architectural eras: the Victorian, art deco and the modern. There are daily Theatre Tours, a stunning Rooftop Restaurant, a riverside walkway and Riverside Cafe and a 36 metre high Theatre Tower, from which you can enjoy panoramic views of the Warwickshire countryside and Shakespeare's home town. The Royal Shakespeare Company's Summer 2013 Season includes The Winter's Tale, Hamlet, As You Like It and All's Well That Ends Well.

Events in and near Stratford-upon-Avon ~

20 & 21 April 2013: SHAKESPEARE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS - unique celebrations in Stratford-upon-Avon with a grand procession of international and civic dignitaries, actors and school children from Shakespeare's Birthplace to Holy Trinity Church to lay floral tributes on his grave. Street entertainment with strolling players, musicians, Morris Dancers, a brass band and the Ceremony of Unfurling the Flags of the Nations. Events organised by the Royal Shakespeare Company and a birthday performance in the RST.

21 April to 4 May 2013: Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival - a series of talks, workshops and events, including Lunch with the Fabulous Baker Brothers on 24 April at The Arden Hotel, Waterside; a talk by television presenter, Kate Humble, on 26 April; broadcaster, Gavin Hewitt, on 27 April; Monty Don on 28 April; and Michael Palin on 2 May. For the full programme of events check out the Literary Festival website.

4 to 6 May 2013: May Celebrations at Mary Arden's Farm, Wilmcote: tradional May Day festivities with crowning of the May King and Queen, falconry displays, have-a-go archery, Morris dancing, a Tudor feast and more.

31 May 2013: Robert Dover's Cotswold 'Olimpick' Games, Chipping Campden: dating from 1612 - rustic sports, marching bands, cannon fire, displays, and in the evening, a torchlit procession and fireworks.

30 June to 04 August 2013: Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival.

6 & 7 July 2013: River Festival Stratford-upon-Avon - a weekend of free family fun in Stratford-upon-Avon with music, narrow boats on the River Avon, craft and food stalls, charity stalls, illuminated boat parade and spectacular fireworks.

19 May, 23 June, 21 July & 25 August 2013: Tudor Fun Days at Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe: romantic ruins, award winning gardens, one thousand years of fascinating history - falconry, have-a-go archery, Tudor characters, circus workshops and more,

26 & 27 July 2013: The Comedy of Errors at Mary Arden's Farm, Wilmcote: a family friendly adaptation by Oddsocks Productions.

24 to 26 August 2013: Stow-on-the-Wold Cotswold Festival of Food, Fashion and Fun: www.stowcotswoldfestival.com

14 & 15 September 2013: Stratford upon Avon Food Festival - this year located on Stratford race course -an opportunity to taste and buy an extraordinary range of great tasting food, with celebrity baker, Paul Hollywood, as the headline act.

From 21 November 2013: Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Lights - late night shopping, town centre markets every Sunday (in addition to Friday charter markets and Saturday speciality markets), the Shakespeare Houses dressed for Christmas, plus special events - details available later in 2013.

26 & 27 April 2014: 450th Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations: http://www.shakespearesbirthday.org.uk/

Heritage Mews is ideally located for exploring the scenic Cotswold Hills and South Warwickshire countryside. Within a short drive are the beautiful Cotswold villages of Chipping Campden and Broadway; internationally renowned Hidcote Manor Garden; Moreton-in-Marsh with its famous Tuesday market, and nearby Batsford Arboretum; Warwick, with its antique shops and magnificent medieval Warwick Castle; Kenilworth Castle (English Heritage); and a number of National Trust houses and gardens, including Charlecote Park, Baddesley Clinton (now open 7 days a week throughout the year), Upton House and Coughton Court. You can enjoy leisurely drives through country lanes and rolling countryside, with many delightful villages to explore and excellent traditional country pubs.