The 10 Best Things to Do in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom (UK)

The Attic Theatre is the No.1 fringe theatre in Stratford upon Avon and home to award-winning 'Tread the Boards' Theatre Company. In 2016 we begin the year with Romeo & Juliet, the only Shakespearean play being performed in Stratford during the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. First established in 2009 by Tread the Boards, an award winning theatre Company. This unique, riverside theatre is located in the heart of Shakespeares' birth town. This unique space is housed in a Grade 2 listed 15th century building and seats just 89 people. This makes for a very personal and intimate theatrical experience.

We create theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world. We perform Shakespeare’s plays, as well as works by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and plays by today’s writers. We want as many people as possible to be able to access theatre at its best, so we bring our work to the widest possible audience.

Discover where William Shakespeare was educated and inspired to become the world's greatest playwright. Learn how he spent his early school days and first experienced theatre. Take part in a Tudor lesson with Master Thomas Jenkins and brush up on your Latin! More than just a museum, Schoolroom & Guildhall provides a truly immersive experience for all. Marvel at our medieval wall paintings, dress up Tudor-style, play Tudor games and get messy with quill and ink. Stratford-upon-Avon's Guildhall, in the heart of the town, is a fine example of one of a few remaining medieval Guildhalls in the country. Our knowledgeable, enthusiastic and welcoming guides will share with you the many stories the building has to tell. If you're coming to Stratford don't miss out on what many are saying is the best attraction in town!

Stratford upon Avon is most famous for being the birthplace of poet and play writer William Shakespeare, but why not try something completely outside of the box and visit the towns newest most exciting attraction- The MAD (Mechanical Art & Design) Museum.As soon as you step into this quirky attraction you'll be greeted with whirling robotics, churning clogs, rolling ball circuits, ingenious design and crazy sounds! The MAD Museum does what it says on the tin, showcasing an absolutely MAD assortment of Kinetic Art, Automata and Steampunk contraptions, gadgets and gismos. Venture into an eccentric world of moving art; The MAD Museum is a wonderful place to watch and interact with an astonishing assortment of both modern and old fashioned, yet highly innovative and elaborate machines! For the young ones: Dancing lasers, rolling ball machines, roaring mechanical dinosaur heads and whirligigs all with lots of buttons to press! The MAD Museum offers an exciting visit with an educational bias, relevant to curriculum modules such as Design & Technology and Science. We give children an experience that is worthwhile, educationally beneficial and also a lot of fun!

Mary Arden's Farm is closed for the winter and reopens 10 March 2018. The Farm was the childhood home of Shakespeare's mother. Today you can experience all the sights, sounds and smells of a working Tudor farm, just as it would have been when Shakespeare was a boy. Watch "Tudors" go about their daily routine, see rare breed animals and explore nature trails. There are daily falconry displays and archery at weekends and in school holidays. There is a playground for children from 2 upwards, a picnic area and a cafe. Mary Arden's Farm is a working farm that keeps pace with the season so there is always something new to see and do.The Farm is open seasonally from Easter to the end of October half-term.The Farm is 3 miles from the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon in the village of Wilmcote. There are buses and trains to Wilmcote. The train journey takes 5 minutes and the Farm is a short walk from Wilmcote rail station. It is also a pleasant walk along the canal from the centre of Stratford.

* Please Note: The Coffee Shop stops serving 30 minutes prior to closing. A stunning location and a unique shopping experience! Quality jewellery, scarves, hand bags, cushions, home ware, the list goes on and on... After browsing the showroom, enjoy a cream tea or coffee and cake in the delightful garden room or on the peaceful deck overlooking the historic deer park. Free Parking and only 3 miles from Stratford upon Avon.

Stretching 25 miles from the Birmingham suburbs to the River Avon in Stratford, this scenic waterway passes through enchanting countryside in the very heart of England, cutting through the Forest of Arden and an area rich in Shakespearean history.

The UK's largest tropical butterfly paradise!

Take a scenic ferry trip across the River Avon to the Waterside Gardens by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and recreation grounds. In operation since 1937, and fully rebuilt in 2010 by Avon Boating, 'Malvolio' as it is named has ferried thousands of passengers back and forth over the River Avon. As one of the last remaining hand wound chain Ferries in the country you will get to see a unique angle of the river with views downriver to the Holy Trinity Church and upstream to the RST.