Things To Do

Stratford-upon-Avon has something for everyone.
The River Avon, Theatre, Heritage, Shopping, Restaurants, Countryside to name but a few.

The Theatres are home to the 'Royal Shakespeare Company' , Shakespearean productions run throughout most of the year and for up to date information you can visit their web site www.rsc.org.uk

The Shakespeare connection does not end there - there are five properties to visit - Shakespeare's Birthplace is the obvious starting point and is a five minute walk from Hardwick House. Here you will find an exhibition, together with guided tours through the 'Birthplace of William Shakespeare'. In town there is also Nash House and Hall's Croft, which was home of Dr. John Hall who married Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and now houses a fascinating medical exhibition and herb garden. Just one mile out of town in Shottery you can visit Anne Hathaway's Cottage, this was the home of Shakespeare's wife before they were married. Three miles out of town there is  Mary Arden's House and countryside museum, which is a ten minute drive or a 'good walk' along the canal tow path, but with the reward of a tea room and good pub in the village!

Warwick Castle, now owned by the Tussaud group is a magnificent exhibition of Mediaeval England. The castle is open every day (except Christmas day) and is a fifteen minute drive from Stratford-upon-Avon.

The National Trust owns many properties within Warwickshire and the neighbouring counties. 

• Charlecote Park
• Coughton Court
• Snowshill Manor
• Packwood House
• Hidcote Manor Gardens
• + many more

If you are interested in gardens all the National Trust properties already mentioned have stunning gardens and most are open from March-October. The Shakespearean properties all have beautifully maintained gardens and are open all year (except at Christmas). In the town centre you can visit the Elizabethan style knot garden at New place (free entry).  

Within a 30 minute drive you are in the Cotswolds. We suggest that you pay a visit to Chipping Campden and Bourton on the Water, these are two beautiful Cotswold towns. If you prefer to stretch your legs there are some wonderful walks across the Cotswold Hills. If you don't want to take your car,  you can reach the Welcombe Hills within a couple of minutes and head out towards the village of Snitterfield. If you get as far as Snitterfield there is a good general store and an excellent pub, which is open at lunchtimes and in the evenings from 7pm.  Just a couple of hundred yards from Hardwick House you can get onto the canal tow path where you can sit and watch the narrow boats going through the locks or walk one way into the town or the other way to Wilmcote, this is a good 'level' walk and very relaxing.

Stratford-upon-Avon boasts a variety of shops not only the 'usual' ones found in every town but privately owned individual shops, wonderful for shoes and clothes! Most people leave Stratford with many more bags than when they arrive!

After a hard day at leisure what could be better than dinner in one of Stratford's fine restaurants. All tastes are catered for - there are too many to mention we have sampled most and are happy to make recommendations and reservations. So whether you want a good pub or fine restaurant, English, Italian, Thai or Indian Stratford has it all!

We look forward to welcoming you to Hardwick House and to Stratford-upon-Avon.