|
Hall's Croft - Stratford-upon-Avon - a watercolor by John Davis ©
|
Welcome to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Here you will find hundreds of pages of information on: accommodation, eating out, drinking and relaxing, romantic breaks, theatres, places to visit - Shakespeare's houses and the beautiful Stratford-upon-Avon with its parks and gardens on the banks of the river Avon. Come visit Stratford-upon-Avon and enjoy our lovely town.
Stratford-upon-Avon Victorian Christmas Market 2026
The countdown to the most enchanting event of the year has begun ! The Stratford-upon-Avon Victorian Christmas Market is back, and it's bigger
and more magical than ever. The historic streets of Stratford-upon-Avon will, once again, be transformed into a festive wonderland, offering
an unparalleled holiday experience for visitors of all ages. Why not join us on the following dates (guide dates at the moment):
- Thursday 3rd December (12pm to 8pm)
- Friday 4th December (10am to 8pm)
- Saturday 5th December (10am to 8pm)
- Sunday 6th December (10am to 5pm)
The RSC theatre has a very busy schedule for their Spring/Sumer 2026 season with programmes by
Shakespeare and other authors:
Spring 2026 (January - April, 2026):
- The BFG - Roald Dahl
– All is But Fantasy
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
- Henry V
- The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
- Driftwood
Plus Summer 2026 Programme:
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
- The Tempest
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
– The Cherry Orchard
If you are planning to visit Stratford plan early especially during special occasions.
See our What's On programme for more details as they become available.
For the current theatre schedule showing at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) which has programmes from Spring to Summer 2026.
Stratford-upon-Avon has a very rich and varied programme of events and activities see our What's On for 2026 throughout the year: theatres, arts, music in the parks, river racing, river cruising, walks along the river or simply relax and take in the atmosphere that is Shakespeare's Stratford.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre Schedule for Spring 2026 to Summer 2026:
Roald Dahl
One extraordinary night, a young orphan named Sophie is snatched by a giant and taken far away to Giant Country.
Gather your chiddlers to see Roald Dahl’s unforgettable story come to life this winter.
Tom Wells’ magical new adaptation is directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director Daniel Evans.
Shakespeare’s most iconic characters take the mic, and centre stage, like never before.
Lady Macbeth, Juliet, Emilia, and Richard III step into the spotlight, challenging the stories that shaped them, in this high-voltage fusion of rock, pop, soul, and gospel, created by award-winning artist, writer, and composer Whitney White.
Enjoy these two performances back-to-back on a single day, across two separate days (in any order), or simply as standalone plays for an equally breathtaking experience.
Richy Hughes and Tim Sutton.
A bold and uplifting new musical telling the true story of a boy who hopes to defy expectations to produce the gift of power and give hope for tomorrow.
‘This story shall the good man teach his son…’
From a rebellious, carefree young man to the King of England. Overnight. And now this new king has an eye on the throne of France.
A reckless insult from the French Dauphin offers the perfect excuse for Henry V to declare war. But there’s a human price to pay for his pursuit of power and thousands could die at Agincourt.
Henry must unite his country, defeat the French, and prove himself worthy of the crown of England. Does he have what it takes?
Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey directs Alfred Enoch as Shakespeare’s Henry V.
'This city’s sick. You need me. Arturo Ui.'
A small-time crook with big boss ambitions.
While the Great Depression inflicts hardship across the nation, Chicago’s underworld festers with sex, scandal, violence and corruption. It’s the perfect storm for a schemer like Ui, his reputation as hot as hell.
'dis is my home. My whole life. My history here. And de only future I go have is here.'
As colonial Trinidad advances towards political independence, a downtown Port of Spain gentlemen’s club becomes entangled in a different kind of custody battle.
'But this rough magic I here abjure.'
On a remote island, an exiled Duke prepares to perform his swansong, his great act of revenge. Kenneth Branagh takes the role of Prospero in Shakespeare’s final play, a meditation on art, power and freedom, directed by Sir Richard Eyre.
Prospero summons his magical gifts into a devastating sea storm which hurls a ship’s crew onto the island – among them his usurping brother. With supernatural islanders as unwilling agents of his scheme and the castaways spellbound, Prospero’s plot advances. Old scores must be settled; his daughter Miranda must find love. But as his vision unfolds, a different ending emerges – one of forgiveness, love, compassion. And with it, the chance to renounce his magic forever.
'The course of true love never did run smooth.'
Desperate to escape their unhappy fates, young lovers Demetrius, Lysander, Helena and Hermia flee Athens for the moonlit woods. There – along with a band of amateur actors – they fall under the spell of mischievous fairy Puck and tumble into a dream world where illusion and reality are hilariously confused.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the RSC’s first co-production with Unicorn Theatre, the UK’s leading children’s theatre. Unicorn's Artistic Director Rachel Bagshaw and Associate Director Robin Belfield co-direct this fresh retelling of Shakespeare’s classic comedy exploring unrequited love, self-discovery and seeing the world anew.
A feast of magic and mayhem for everyone aged 7 and above.
Helen Hunt and Kenneth Branagh play Ranyevskaya and Lopakhin, giants at war over a cherished estate. Madame Ranyevskaya returns from five years in Paris to find her house crumbling under the weight of debt and memory and her beloved cherry orchard under threat. Attempting to mend her extravagance, Lopakhin, the son of a serf, has mortgaged the estate and now wants to sell it off.
Beyond the orchard, people are starving and the aristocracy is in decline. As auction day approaches the household begins to panic. In this collision of past and future, it’s dangerous to stand still when the world demands change.
RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey directs Laura Wade’s vital new version of Anton Chekhov’s great final play, tragic and comic in equal measure, set in a world tilting towards revolution.
New MAD (Mechanical Art and Design) Museum now Open in Stratford-upon-Avon:
New Tourist Office for Stratford-upon-Avon:
Stratford-on-Avon District Council in partnership with Stratford-upon-Avon College recently opened a ‘Welcome to Stratford-upon-Avon' new tourist office at Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon. They will include sales of tickets to local venues and provide an important information facility for visitors and tourists. Telephone: 01789 264 293.
Festivals and Events in Stratford-upon-Avon 2026
Stratford-upon-Avon is a wonderful place to enjoy throughout the year.
Programme of Events for 2026 (will be updated with dates as soon as advised):
- Stratford Victorian Christmas Market (tba Dec 2026)
- Dragon Boat Race (22 Sept 2026)
- The River Festival (tba July 2026)
- Stratford Literary Festival (1 - 5 May 2026)
- Festival of Motoring (tba 2026)
- Stratford Food Festival (tba Sept 2026)
- Stratford Races (from 13 March - 2 November 2026)
- Stratford Fringe Festival (June)
- Rotary Shakespeare Marathon and Half Marathon (21 April 2026)
- Sunday Bandstand Concerts (Summer)
- Stratford Mop (the town becomes a Fairground in October)
- Christmas Lights and Christmas Shopping.
William Shakespeare's Birthplace Parade Stratford-upon-Avon - photo by QuinSolve©
Stratford is a delightful town which can easily be walked around and explored on foot or using the hop-on, hop-off bus service operated by the Shakespeare Trust, who manage the five Shakespeare Houses in and around Stratford..
For accommodation choices in Stratford-upon-Avon:
SECURE ONLINE BOOKING B&Bs / Guesthouses in Stratford upon Avon B&Bs / Guesthouses out of Stratford upon Avon Hotels in Stratford upon Avon Hotels out of Stratford upon Avon Private Houses in Stratford upon Avon Private Houses out of Stratford upon Avon Pubs & Country Inns Farms & Country Houses Self-Catering Apartments & Cottages Country Houses outside Stratford upon Avon Holiday Parks + Camping + Caravanning Late Availability in Stratford upon Avon