In this post, we will explain some of the best reasons to take a day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon to see historic landmarks and locations related to the beloved playwright William Shakespeare.
We will also cover information about how to get here from London, including travel by train, coach and organized bus tour. You can also take our free walking tour.
- Overview
- Organized Bus Tours
- Multiple Destination Tours
- Self-Guided Day Trip
- Stratford-upon-Avon Discounts
- Other London Day Trips
Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
While there are a lot of great reasons to visit this town, the main reason that people come here is to see where William Shakespeare once lived.
Not only is this the site of his birth, but this is also where you will find the famous playwright’s grave.
In addition to all of the attractions related to Shakespeare, there are also several notable sites tied to other historical figures.
Here are a handful of spots you might want to visit in Stratford-upon-Avon:
- Shakespeare’s Birthplace
- Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
- Shakespeare’s New Place
- Royal Shakespeare Theatre
- Holy Trinity Church
- Mary Arden’s Farm
- Old Thatch Tavern
- Butterfly Farm
- MAD Museum
- Hall’s Croft
- And more!
There are also several fun activities available in this town, including ghost tours, hop-on-hop-off bus tours, bike tours and more.
Many of the sites and services listed above are included at a discount with the Shakespeare’s England Explorer Pass.
ORGANIZED BUS TOURS TO STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
There aren’t many organized day trips from London that specifically focus on Stratford.
On the contrary, a majority of the bus tours which include this popular location also provide additional stops at sites such as Oxford, Cotswolds, Stonehenge, and Bath.
Believe it or not, day trips with multiple destinations could actually be cheaper than going on an organized bus tour to Stratford-upon-Avon alone.
If that type of outing sounds preferable, please make sure to read our section devoted to multiple destination tours which include Stratford.
That being said, there are a few tour companies that provide a day trip to only Stratford-upon-Avon, and we will cover them in this section.
Rabbie’s Small Group Tours
This option is about the same price as either a self-guided trip or the cheapest multiple-destination organized bus tour, but it focuses specifically on Stratford and not other locations.
The day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon will include stops at landmarks such as Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, as well as the location of Shakespeare’s birth and burial site.
Ticket prices depend on when they are purchased. You will save the most money if you get them at least 3 months ahead of time.
If you purchase tickets for the week or month of the trip, they will be at their most expensive.
- Tickets (3+ Months in Advance): £55/Adults | £52/Kids
- Tickets (Week/Month of Excursion): £75/Adults | £72/Kids
- Duration: 10 hours
- Availability: Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
- Not Currently Available as of March 2024.
Golden Tours
If you’re looking to experience a bit more than just a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, there is also an organized bus tour that includes admission to sites such as Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and a free lunch.
This opportunity also includes a free lunch and photo stops at Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury and the Cotswolds.
Although tickets are a bit more expensive, they may be worth it if you want to experience more of the town.
- Tickets: £109/Adults | £104/Seniors & Students | £99/Kids
- Availability: Sun, Tue, Thur
- Duration: 10 hours (8:30 am - 6:30 pm)
- Purchase tickets or learn more.
MULTIPLE DESTINATION-ORGANIZED BUS TOURS
A majority of Stratford-upon-Avon day trips from London include additional stops at some of the more popular locations along the way.
These outings typically feature attractions, landmarks, and towns such as the following:
- Warwick Castle
- Stonehenge
- Cotswolds
- Oxford
- Bath
Most of these Stratford day trips are anywhere from 10-12 hours on average, but some of them can actually take several days due to the added locations and activities.
Since these outings can take a lot more time, they are best suited for visitors who will be spending a lot of time in London.
The only problem with this option is that tour companies might spend less time in Stratford-upon-Avon when they’re trying to cover additional stops and landmarks on the same-day trip.
It’s also worth noting that these organized bus tours typically cost at least £80-£100, but there are ways to save money on this activity by using a London tourist pass.
Using one of these services, you could save over 50% on your outing, making it one of the most affordable ways to enjoy a day trip to Stratford.
Make sure to read our discounts section for more details about this opportunity.
For other multiple-destination bus tours, check this list of Stratford-upon-Avon day trips.
SELF-GUIDED STRATFORD-UPON-AVON DAY TRIP
There are a lot of interesting things to see and do in this historic town, but an organized bus tour will follow a very strict itinerary.
Although those services usually give customers some free time, there’s nothing quite like setting your own schedule and exploring the area at your own pace.
If you want to take a self-guided trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, there are several ways to get there either by car, train, or coach. Each option will take about 2-3 hours from London.
You can use our free walking tour as your guide (watch the video below)
TIP: If you need somewhere to store your larger bags in London while on your day trip, there are convenient storage options.
When you purchase your tickets at least a few weeks in advance, train and coach tickets could cost as little as £12-£15 with return.
One of the advantages of an organized bus tour is that they also cover charges at some popular locations in Stratford.
If you’re planning to visit landmarks such as Shakespeare’s birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, or Warwick Castle, you may want to consider getting a tourist pass to save some money.
At £30 for a 1-day pass, it could cost less than £50 total to visit Stratford-upon-Avon and see all of the major sites on a self-guided trip.
Needless to say, this is a great option for anyone working with a budget.
Please read our discount section for more details about this opportunity.
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON DAY TRIP DISCOUNTS
There are a few different discount opportunities to discuss when it comes to Stratford day trips.
This section will cover two different types of tourist passes and how you can use them to save money on your outing.
We will also provide information about additional deals that may be worth considering.
iVenture Card
While most tourist passes focus primarily on attractions in London, this service is the only one that includes a day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon.
This is just one of several activities included on the iVenture Card, which is a flex pass that allows you to pay one flat price for 3, 5, 7, or 10 different attractions.
Although you’ll save the most money per attraction by getting a 10-ticket pass, even the 3-ticket option may be worth it just for this activity.
Here’s an explanation of how much money you could save with the iVenture Card:
- 3 Attraction Flexi Pass: £69/Adults | £59/Children
- Price per attraction: £24/Adults | £20.67/Children
- Stratford Day Trip Price: £79/Adults | £71/Children
As you can see, even if you only use your pass for this one activity, you’ll still save a few pounds on the day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon.
That said, there are several additional attractions you can add to this pass such as the Tower of London, London Zoo, HMS Belfast, and more.
Here’s an example itinerary to show just how much money you could save:
3 Attraction Adult Flexi Pass | £69
- Stratford-upon-Avon Day Trip: £79 value
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour: £34 value
- View from the Shard: £30.95 value
- Total Pass Value: £143.95
- Savings: £74.95 (52% off)
If we’re being honest, the day trips included with this pass are definitely the most valuable service they provide. Everything else they offer is valued at between £15-£30 per ticket.
Unless you’re planning to use the iVenture Card for an organized bus tour to Stratford-upon-Avon or another popular day trip destination, we recommend going with a different tourist pass.
For more details about this and other discount services, make sure to read our post covering London tourist passes.
NOTE: This currently isn't available as of March 2024.
Shakespeare’s England Explorer Pass
If you choose to take a self-guided day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, you may want to consider getting this tourist pass to save a few pounds on some of the most popular activities in town.
This service includes access to 17 notable locations for 1, 2, or 3 consecutive days at one flat price.
As long as you plan to use the pass for at least 5-6 different attractions, you should be able to save some money.
Here are just a few of the attractions you can visit with the Shakespeare’s England Explorer Pass:
- Shakespeare’s Birthplace
- Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
- Shakespeare’s New Place
- Mary Arden’s Farm
- Hill Close Garden
- Warwick Castle
- Avon Boating
- Hall’s Croft
- And more!
Admission to most of these locations is already very affordable, but depending on which activities you choose, you could save up to 45% off regular prices.
Here are the pass options you can choose from:
1-Day Pass: £49/Adults | £32/Children
2-Day Pass: £59/Adults | £36/Children
3-Day Pass: £69/Adults | £42/Children
Ultimately, it won’t make sense to purchase this pass if you take an organized bus tour to Stratford, because your time in this historic town will be based on the itinerary of your chosen tour company.
Some organized day trips also include admission to one or more of these locations, so you may not even need to use this service.
With that being said, anyone who wants to take their time and explore Stratford-upon-Avon at their own pace could benefit from using Shakespeare’s England Explorer Pass to save some money.
Discount Sites
Aside from tourist passes, this is one of the best ways to save money on day trips to Stratford-upon-Avon and/or attractions in the area.
There are several discount sites such as Groupon and Discount London which frequently offer deals on both organized bus tours and various tours/activities in Stratford.
In addition to the discounts they offer to begin with, they also provide coupon codes every now and then which could help you save another 10% - 20% off a variety of local activities.
Make sure to check for banners with coupons at the top and bottom of both sites before making a purchase!
RELATED POSTS:
