A Day Trip to Stratford
If you’re a fan of the performing arts, you definitely want to make a day trip to Stratford while you’re visiting London!
Just an hour outside of London is Stratford, a small town with North America’s largest classical repertory theatre company and a passion for Shakespeare. The Stratford Festival runs from April to October, running primarily plays written by William Shakespeare, but also other classic pieces. The troupe is wildly talented, so you don’t want to miss seeing them perform. Plus, this is the theatre where Christopher Walken got his start!
However, there’s so much more to do in Stratford, so we put together an itinerary for a day trip to the beautiful town.
8 AM – The Pulp
Start the day off right with a breakfast bowl from The Pulp. This all-natural whole foods cafe serves up an amazing breakfast – their El Amigo bowl uses spicy flavors from Mexican cuisine to serve a protein-laden breakfast that will give you some great energy. Or try their Snickers smoothie, with banana and peanut butter. You can also get both if you can’t choose – too much breakfast is never a bad thing.
9 AM – Stratford Tourism Alliance
After breakfast, walk down the street to the Stratford Tourism Alliance. There you can purchase a passport for the Chocolate Trail or the Bacon and Ale Trail, which allows you to visit a variety of participating business and sample their wares. As you wander town throughout the day, you can stop at various sites to try delicious food.
9:30 AM – Wee Book And Photo Shop
Next, walk to the Wee Book And Photo Shop, where you can try on historical costumes from the theatre, and get photos to remember your visit. See how you would have looked in Renaissance or Edwardian times. When you’re satisfied with your photos, browse the front area, where you can find a treasure trove of books.
11:30 AM – Downie Street Burgers
You’ll be pretty hungry at this point, so head to Downie Street for the best burgers in town. The maple bacon burger is incredible, particularly with a side of onion rings. Afterwards, you’ll be ready for more fun!
1:00 PM – Downie St and Ontario St
Spend a bit of time wandering down Downie St and Ontario St, exploring Stratford’s unique shops. From books to music, clothes to antiques, there’s all sorts of things to find. In the galleries, you’ll find beautiful pieces of art from local artists.
4:00 PM – Shakespeare Brewing Company
Try some ale or the Classy Cow stout at the Shakespeare Brewing Company. The husband and wife pair who run the brewery learned about beer-making in England, and that training is apparent in their classic flavors and high quality of their products. Use this time to relax for a moment.
5:15 PM – Fellini’s
Dine at Fellini’s, a lovely Italian restaurant in Stratford with amazing food. Their bruschetta is perfectly finished with a touch of goat cheese, and their ribs are so well-cooked that the meat falls off the bone. While it’s early to dine, you’ll forget that as you enjoy the food, and their spectacular service will ensure you make it to the theatre on time.
7:00 PM – Stratford Festival
The show may not start until 8, but you’ll want to get to the theatre early to look around the stunning architecture, get a drink, or possibly wait in lines. Fortunately, there are so many great shows in the works, you’ll definitely have a wonderful play to look forward to. In June, for instance, you can see Othello, Henry VIII, the Merry Wives of Windsor, or Billy Elliott, to name a few.