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This can be booked in advance from the Civic Hall, the Tourist Information Centre or online.
Begin your day with a leisurely breakfast and make your way to Bridgefoot in time to catch an early Guide Friday bus at 10a. (You can hop on and off this bus at any of the stops but you'll have to buy your entrance tickets for Mary Arden's House and for Shakespeare's Birthplace separately.) Relax for the first four stops and enjoy listening to your guided tour: Shakespeare's Birthplace (leave this until last), Nash's House and garden in Chapel Street, Shakespeare's Grammar School and the Theatre. Three miles out of Stratford the bus will stop at Mary Arden's House in Wilmcote, home of Will's mum. You will probably want to spend a couple of hours here at least, as this is a countryside museum and farm with something for everyone. Buy a light lunch from the excellent Druckers and retire to the picnic area to enjoy the view.
Only when you are totally refreshed do you hop on to the bus again (they come every 15 minutes). The next stop is Anne Hathaway's house in the village of Shottery. Only if you are of a strong tourist disposition attempt to 'do' this house as well! Reserve your resources for the next stop at Shakespeare's Birthplace—you are going to stand in the room where he was born. This completes your tour and you should go and rest until it is time for your evening visit to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Walking Tour
Morning 1. The Walk. The day is either Thursday or Saturday and the time is 10:30 in the morning. Meet your guide—the author, actor and director Jonathan Milton—and your fellow walkers at the RSC Swan Theatre on Waterside. The walk and talk will last about two hours and will finish up again at the Swan Theatre.
2. Shakespeare Heritage Trail. Select this walk if you want to go it alone at your own pace. Buy your ticket to visit three of the Shakespeare Houses either at the Shakespeare Centre or at any of the Shakespearean properties. Begin the walk outside of the Shakespeare Centre on Henley Street and follow the directions on the leaflet. As this takes about two or three hours, it will be complete by lunchtime.
Lunch A pub lunch would now seem to be in order. The Dirty Duck is just across the road from the theatre, but if that is full up, try the
Afternoon 1. Active. A leisurely afternoon Boating on the river would seem to be a good idea as you have been on your feet all morning. Go down to the river just by the Boathouse restaurant and hire a boat. If you are in a romantic mood hire a punt or if you have energy to spare then a rowing boat or canoe would be suitable. To enjoy this experience to the full, hire your boat for two hours—the cost is very reasonable.
2. Non-active. Avon Cruises. Go to Bancroft Gardens (just before the theatre) to take a cruise and enjoy a trip on a passenger launch. There is no need to book as this runs continuously every half hour. This leaves you time to take in the Stratford Brass Rubbing Centre on the Avon Bank Gardens. Good fun and you will have some new pictures to frame. 3. Cultural. Book your theatre tour in advance for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Be at the theatre on the Waterside just before 1:30p. This is an exciting tour taking in every aspect of the theatre. It lasts less than an hour so still leaves time for a trip on the river.
Back in town it will be time for tea in the Hathaway Tea Rooms on the High Street.
Evening Book a meal for 9:15p. Out of town, try either Jago in Henley-in-Arden or the King's Head (Aston Cantlow). Of course you can also try one of any of the excellent choices of places to eat in town. For a pre-dinner jaunt, meet at the Country Artists Fountain by the Waterside next to the RSC Theatre where Grimm's Ghostly Tour makes an entertaining finish to the day. After a slow and hair-raising stroll through the town, you will need the comfort of that excellent dinner you booked earlier.
Bike Tours Stratford Bike Hire provides and delivers bicycles in Stratford, Warwickshire, and the Cotswolds. This allows travelers to tour Shakespeare's birthplace in an environmentally friendly way.
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