Christmas Breaks in Stratford-upon-Avon - Christmas Lights and Markets. 5 Star Gold Award self catering
A Christmas Break in Stratford-upon-Avon is a magical experience. Stratford-upon-Avon’s spectacular Christmas Lights, from Thursday 25 November 2021, create a wonderful atmosphere for Christmas shopping and a variety of festive events. Enjoy Late Night Festive Shopping at town centre Christmas Markets with stalls offering a variety of tempting gift ideas, music and a Street Food Court – in Bridge Street on Thursday 25 November, 2, 16 and 23 December from 11am to 7pm. Stratford-upon-Avon’s famous Victorian Christmas Market takes place over 4 days from Thursday 9 December until Sunday 12 December 2021. Enjoy great Christmas shopping at interesting small independent shops and galleries, as well as high street names. Discover Stratford’s amazing choice of excellent restaurants with tempting seasonal menus to suit all tastes, bars, coffee shops, pubs and tearooms – perfect for enjoying a festive meal or drink. Enjoy fine dining at Michelin starred Salt, or Lambs, located in a beautiful beamed 16th century house, the Royal Shakespeare’s Rooftop Restaurant, or Sorrento, a family-run Italian restaurant. Enjoy afternoon tea at The Fourteas 1940s themed tearoom or Bensons in Henley Street. For more details go to Stratford restaurants.
Stay at Heritage Mews - holiday cottage in Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon
We are offering Festive Short Breaks, with the cottage beautifully decorated for Christmas from 25 November 2021, with a complimentary festive welcome tray and sparkling wine awaiting you on your arrival.
Extremely well-equipped, comfortably furnished and with controllable central heating, Heritage Mews is perfect for a festive winter break. Enjoy the convenience of private off-street parking (for two cars) and explore this beautiful riverside town on foot.
The historic town centre, with its many excellent restaurants, shops, Shakespeare attractions, beautiful riverside setting and world famous Royal Shakespeare Theatre is 5 to 10 minutes’ stroll away.
Explore Stratford’s picturesque streets lined with beautifully preserved half-timbered buildings, taking in the wonderful festive atmosphere. The Christmas Lights cover all the main town centre streets. Visit Shakespeare’s Birthplace and walk the interesting “Historic Spine” from his Birthplace to his grave in Holy Trinity Church.
Enjoy peaceful circular riverside walks, starting a few minutes from Heritage Mews. For those interested in the town’s history follow the Riverside Heritage Trail. Enjoy festive events in nearby towns and villages, including Christmas at Warwick Castle, Blenheim Palace’s Illuminated Light Trail and Christmas Markets in the beautiful Cotswold villages of Chipping Campden, Moreton-in-Marsh and Broadway – details below.
Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas dates and Things to do
Stratford-upon-Avon Christmas Lights will be switched in November 2022 (date tbc).There will be late night shopping in the town centre and on Waterside Christmas Markets with a Street Food Court from 12 noon until 8pm, with stalls selling seasonal gifts, fine foods, arts & crafts, delicious street food and drinks – around the final week of November and throughout December up until Christmas. There are also regular weekend markets with a Christmas theme – Charter Market on Fridays (food, clothing, gifts), Urban Mix Market on Saturdays (home produced food, flowers, vintage, fine art & more) and Upmarket on Sundays (unusual products, art, street food). The town’s Christmas Lights stay on until the early hours of 6 January.
Stratford’s award-winning guided Town Walk takes place any time every day, including Christmas Day. Shakespeare Distillery, Stratford’s independent artisan spirits producer, offers guided Tours with Gin Tasting and a Gin School where you can distill, bottle and label your very own gin to take home with you – an original idea for Christmas gifts.
From Heritage Mews you can enjoy the delightful riverside walk into town and to the theatres past nearby Holy Trinity Church (where you can visit Shakespeare’s grave in the chancel) and along the riverside footpath past an old pedestrian chain ferry, the last of its kind in Britain, and the famous Dirty Duck pub. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre are less than a ten minute stroll from the cottage. There are peaceful riverside walks through nearby gardens and parkland, and Avon Valley footpaths leading out into glorious Warwickshire countryside. You can hire a rowing boat or motor launch to explore over three miles of tranquil river, or enjoy a River Avon sightseeing cruise aboard an original Edwardian pleasure launch. Cross the river by ferry or walk across the old Tramway Bridge to visit the Butterfly Farm. Or just relax by the river in the Bancroft Gardens or at a waterside coffee shop or cafe.
“Lovely home & garden and a perfect location for visiting National Trust properties!”
- Christmas Markets and Indoor Food Fayre at Hatton Shopping Village: 13 & 14 November 2021: a multitude of fantastic festive gifts to buy, and then wander inside for some delicious festive food. Also 'Try before you Buy' at the Festive Farm Shop. Plus Christmas Markets every Saturday and Sunday from 20 November to 19 December.
- Christmas at Warwick Castle: from 27 November 2021 to 3 January 2022, experience the magic of Christmas at the Castle with a Christmas Lights trail with thousands of sparkling lights illuminating the spectacular grounds and gardens, a fantastic ice rink in the grounds and a dazzling 20ft high Christmas tree gracing the majestic Great Hall.
- Christmas Lights, Markets and Late Night Festive Shopping in nearby beautiful Cotswold villages: in Broadway, the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds', on Friday 26 November and 3 December 2021, enjoy late night shopping with Christmas Lights, carols, street entertainment and great independent shops and eateries.
- Famous Moreton in Marsh Christmas Market takes place on Saturday 27 November 2021 (to be confirmed) from 9am, with Christmas Lights providing festive cheer in the town centre.
- Enjoy Chipping Campden Christmas Market on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December 2021, with enticing stalls selling a variety of arts and crafts and unique gifts in the Market Square, Upper High Street and Town Hall - from 10.30am until 7pm.
- Visit Bourton on the Water in December and see the Christmas Tree in the River.
- Warwickshire Christmas Gift Fair takes place on 27 and 28 November at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth.
- Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market runs from 4 November to 23 December - an easy train journey from Stratford.
- Nearby National Trust properties are decorated for Christmas and hold festive events. Celebrate Christmas at Upton House from 4 to 24 December.
- On New Year's Day enjoy a Guided Walk around the Upton Estate.
- Packwood House celebrates The Twelve Days of Christmas from 4 December to 6 January.
- Baddesley Clinton celebrates Christmas from 4 December to 6 January and offers Christmas lunches throughout December.
- At Charlecote Park the house will be closed for conservation work but the parklands are open every day except 24 and 25 December with festive take-away treats at the Wood Yard Cafe.
- Famous Hidcote garden is open at weekends in November and December.
- Christmas at Blenheim Palace (an hour's drive from Heritage Mews) takes place from 19 November 2021 with the story of The Nutcracker re-imagined within the Palace, an Illuminated Light Trail lighting up the Formal Gardens with an unforgettable festive trail of lights and talented street food vendors offer a variety of tempting food and drink.
- Blenheim Palace Christmas Market: 19 November to 19 December 2021. Enjoy Christmas shopping in style with over 70 designer/maker craft traders housed in wooden chalets in the Great Court.
- Royal Leamington Spa Christmas Market takes place every Sunday from 21 November to 19 December 2021 with 60 stalls offering a wide range of unique gifts, decorations and artisan food and drink, under the twinkling Christmas Lights in the town centre Parade.