Earlier this year, we had an overnight stay in Stratford-upon-Avon. With a seven-year-old, two 40-something-year-olds and two adults who, we’ll diplomatically say, qualify for reduced entry prices at many attractions, our task was to find things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon that would appeal to everyone. Here’s how our weekend panned out.
Day 1
We arrived late morning, and parked up at the Crowne Plaza, our home for the night. The room was clean and comfortable, and we had no complaints about the quality of our sleep. The only issue was the length of the walk to the room. With such vast, winding corridors, we definitely got our steps in over these few days!
From the hotel, it was a short walk to the waterside. Here, we stayed a while to watch the swans and listen to a street performer. After soaking up the sunshine, we headed into the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
A matinee was about to start when we arrived, and the place was bustling. We headed through the foyer, past the gift shop, to the opposite end of the building. Here we discovered a rather large stuffed bear, a decades-old relic from a previous show. Press one of the buttons in front of said bear, and you’ll be treated to a roar: either loud or quiet. It certainly startled some passers-by!
Just beyond the bear, head up the stairs to the first floor and the interactive “The Play’s The Thing” exhibition. Free to enter, it contains items from the RSC collection spanning over 400 years, and there’s something for everyone. From the RSC’s 1623 First Folio to costumes spanning several decades, Shakespeare fans will be in their element. There’s plenty to keep kids entertained too, from boxes to open to a virtual costume try-on.
After a pretty uninspiring lunch at Wildwood (we wouldn’t rush back), we embarked on the 2-mile Stratford-upon-Avon Historic Walk. This circular walk is self-guided (download the PDF here), and covers a vast amount of the town’s history. It’s a great way to cover many of Stratford’s sights in a short time. Keep your eyes peeled for Rosie and Jim in a second-floor window of a Chapel Street building formerly home to The Ragdoll Shop!
After this, we headed back to the hotel for a drink and a bite to eat – and a well-needed rest before day 2.
Day 2
We started our second day the same as any other day: with coffee. I recommend a visit to Josephine’s Café, just a short walk from our hotel. With its quirky decor, incredibly friendly service and delicious drinks (our son recommends the hot chocolate!), it set us up for the morning.
From there, we headed back to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, where we whizzed up in the lift to the top of the Theatre Tower.
Standing at 32m above street level, it’s a great way to get a panoramic view of Stratford-upon-Avon. The tower is free to enter, and open from 12-4pm most days. Bear in mind that bad weather and matinee performances may affect opening times.
It was quite overcast when we visited, but the lovely lady who took us up in the lift told us that on clear days you can see as far as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. Photos on the walls at the top show the tower of the former theatre, which burned down in 1926. It’s a good way to see Stratford from a different viewpoint. Fancy a bit of exercise? Climb the stairs instead of taking the lift!
After a quick stop at the mysterious Magic Alley, we headed for an attraction we chose with the seven-year-old in mind. In reality, we all got a huge amount of enjoyment from the place, and could have stayed there much longer!
The MAD Museum is the UK’s only permanent mechanical art museum. Featuring over 70 exhibits, it’s an automata and kinetic art lover’s dream. From the mesmerisingly clever to the mindbogglingly absurd, there are all sorts of great gadgets to amaze you, and children and adults alike will love the presence of big red buttons to press to bring some of the exhibits to life. Want a glimpse of what the place is all about? Check out my video on TikTok!
Priced at just £8.80 for adults and £6.50 for children (kids five and under go free), The MAD Museum is somewhere you can easily while away a good few hours. My son’s favourite part? The room where kids can make their own creations, using the eye-wateringly expensive wooden Cubaro marble run blocks, a variety of cogs, and even magnetic marble run tracks that they can attach to a metal sheet spanning one wall. Inspired to make your own creations when you get home? Check out their small on-site shop before you leave!
All that button-pushing worked up an appetite. It was off to Red Hot Mamma for lunch: the most intricately and beautifully decorated pizzeria I’ve ever visited. I’m pleased to report that the food was just as beautiful as the decor: you can read my full review here.
The final stop, fuelling us for the long drive home, was The Cookie Cottage. Slightly hidden away on Shrieves Walk, this place is a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth.
As you’d expect from the name, its counters are heaving with temptation in the form of loaded cookies and cookie pies. After much deliberation, we bought a brookie and a cookie dough millionaire slice to enjoy when we got home, and I can confirm that they tasted just as good as they looked. Check out the quirky decor of the place, too!
There’s a huge amount we didn’t get to see during our short trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare’s birthplace (and other Bard-related buildings), the Tudor World museum, a show at the theatre, the Stratford Butterfly Farm, a boat trip along the canal…but that’s no bad thing. It simply means that when we next head back, we still have plenty more of the town to explore!