Stratford is a stunning town full of Victorian architecture, excellent local shops and restaurants, and an impressive arts scene. Parts of the city will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Europe. You’ll love strolling through downtown and taking in the sights. Here are some things you need to do while you’re visiting Stratford:
You’ll love exploring the beautiful city of Stratford. Get your camera ready because the downtown core is full of stunning buildings. My favourite street was York Street, with its brick buildings and beautiful storefronts. Walk over to City Hall, and you’ll find lots of colourful chairs to take a moment and take in the sights. Keep an eye out for the big “HOPE” sign that’s part of Lights on Stratford, a fun winter festival full of light and artistic displays.
The Shakespearean Gardens is a beautiful park. Stepping into these gardens will make you feel like you’ve stepped right into one of Shakespeare’s plays. When the garden was first created, it only featured plants in Shakespeare’s works. Today it is home to a more diverse range of plants. but still maintains the same beautiful look and feel.
From the Shakespearean Gardens, continue along the Avon River towards Confederation Park. Keep an eye out for the majestic swans on your walk. If you’re visiting in the Spring, you might be able to catch the Swan Parade, where the community walks with the swans as they make their way from their winter house, back to the Avon River.
In Confederation Park, make sure to admire the artwork on the bridge and enjoy the waterfall in the summer.
Along the Avon River, make sure to make a stop at Tom Patterson Island at night to see it illuminated with twinkle lights. There are lots of picnic tables if you want to bring takeout here. The lights stay up all year but are part of Lights on Stratford.
This spot needs to be on your Stratford itinerary. Mercer Kitchen & Beer Hall has a great atmosphere with its beautiful chandeliers and twinkle lights.
The food was phenomenal. Every single bite was so flavourful. I recommend getting The Godzilla Platter for a mix of items, including steam buns, sushi, fried chicken, dumplings, and more. We were blown away by how well each item was prepared and tasted. Paired with their craft cocktails and good company, it’s the perfect dinner in Stratford.
Choose sweet, savoury, or both with Stratford’s Food Trails. Purchase tickets at Destination Stratford (47 Downie Street) and redeem them at participating businesses.
Choose between over 22 different stops with the Stratford Chocolate Trail. From an iced mocha latte to truffles, there are plenty of delicious bites along this trail to satisfy your sweet tooth. Some of my favourite stops were Livery Yard, Macleod’s Scottish Shop, and Thomas Rheo Chocolates.
Enjoy savoury bites on Stratford’s Bacon & Ale Trail. This trail will bring you to 16 stops to enjoy delicious bites and brews. Enjoy items like a flight of small-batch seasonal beers and two styles of artisan bacon paired with 6oz. local craft beer at Mercer Kitchen & Beer Hall.
There’s no shortage of places to enjoy the arts in Stratford. The city is well known for Stratford Festival, which has been happening for over 70 years. Stratford Festival is the perfect spot to catch world-class theatre and music. You can enjoy everything from classic Shakespeare or modern interpretations, musicals and more. Below is a photo of Tom Patterson Theatre, where you can watch many of the shows. The theatre was named after Tom Patterson, who set out to establish a six-week Shakespeare Festival in Stratford in 1952, and the festival is still happening many decades later.
On your walk to Confederation Park you can also stop at Gallery Stratford. This free gallery and sculpture park has changing exhibits featuring Canadian contemporary artists.
Inside the stunning Victorian buildings, you’ll find a mix of fantastic local businesses. Stroll the town and take some time to pop into the ones that catch your eye. Some recommendations:
After busy days of exploring, you’ll want somewhere nearby to call home for your trip.
You’ll find the Best Western Plus Arden Park Hotel just minutes from downtown. You’ll have no problem falling asleep in their comfy beds. The hotel has amenities you can enjoy, like their pool. There is a restaurant downstairs if you’re interested in an easy meal or room service. We had breakfast here, and the staff was so friendly. It was the perfect place to call home for the weekend.
Another option is Mercer Hotel, part of Best Western® Hotels & Resorts’ BW Premier Collection. Not only does this boutique hotel have stunning rooms, but it’s also home to one of Stratford’s best restaurants, Mercer Kitchen & Beer Hall (mentioned above). Each room is beautifully decorated, and you can also choose rooms with a fireplace or jacuzzi. This hotel is right in the heart of downtown.
I hope this helped spark some ideas of things to do in Stratford. You’re sure to have an amazing time exploring this stunning city.
Julia Weber, also known as Little Miss Ottawa, is a Canadian travel blogger who loves finding adventures at home and abroad. Check out her blog here.