Stratford

Stratford is a city in Southwestern Ontario that is internationally known for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, acclaimed for its presentation of Shakespearean, classical and musical theatre. In 2021, it was home to 33,000 people.

Travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport , Kitchener-Waterloo International Airport, or London International Airport will require another mode of transportation to get to Stratford. Stratford Airporter , toll-free: +1-888-549-8602 . Provides shuttle service between Stratford and Toronto Pearson International. 1 person $129, 2 people $169, 3 people $199, 4 $229, 5 $259 . ( updated Jan 2023 )

By taxi Taxis are plentiful and service is available for a flat rate of within Stratford. City Taxi , ☏ +1 519-272-2222 . ( updated Jan 2023 ) Taxi Dispatch Stratford Limited , ☏ +1 519-271-2600 . ( updated Jan 2023 ) Radio Taxi , ☏ +1 519-271-4242 . ( updated Jan 2023 )

🌍 Stratford Festival , toll-free: +1-800-567-1600 . Drawing more than 600,000 visitors each year (before COVID-19), the Stratford Festival is North America's largest classical repertory theatre. While always including some plays of William Shakespeare, the Festival also produces many other classical and contemporary works: the 2023 playbill features 14 plays and musicals. ( updated Jan 2023 ) The Festival runs from April to October at the following theatres: 🌍 Festival Theatre , 55 Queen Street . 🌍 Tom Patterson Theatre , 111 Lakeside Drive . 🌍 Avon Theatre , 99 Downie Street . 🌍 Studio Theatre , 34 George St. East ( corner of George and Waterloo streets, behind the Avon Theatre ). In addition to the play performances, the Festival hosts a wide range of tours and events. Tours run from mid-June to late October. Check the Festival website for more details. Statford Festival tours , toll-free: +1-800-567-1600 . At the Set Changeover Experience, you'll watch the stage crew transform the stage for the evening performance. The guide will explain the process, including technical details. On the Festival Teasures Tour, you'll visit the Festival's costume warehouse stores costumes and props from past productions. It is one of the largest costume warehouses in North America. $15 per person per tour . ( updated Jan 2023 ) Pre- and post-performance discussions , toll-free: +1-800-567-1600 . There are a number of different discussions including Meet the Festival (free discussions with actors and production staff), Talking Theatre (free discussions with Festival staff on selected topics), post-performance discussions (free question and answer sessions with actors after selected performances), pre-show lectures (free lectures on that night's play hosted by a noted academic). ( updated Jan 2023 ) Other attractions include: 🌍 Stratford-Perth Museum , 4275 Huron Rd , ☏ +1 519-393-5311 . Daily 10AM-4PM . A community museum dedicated to the cultural heritage of Stratford and Perth County. Adult $10, senior or student $9, child 12 and under $5, child 5 and under free, family $20 (two adults and two children) . ( updated Jun 2024 ) 🌍 Art In The Park , Lakeside Drive between North and Front Streets , ☏ +1 519-272-0429 . Late May to late Sep: W Sa Su 10AM-5PM (weather permitting) . An outdoor gallery representing the works of regional artists. ( updated Jan 2023 ) 🌍 Gallery Stratford , 54 Romeo Street , ☏ +1 519-271-5271 . Tu-Su noon-5PM . Exhibits of contemporary and historical art. ( updated Jan 2023 ) 🌍 Shakespearean Gardens ( at the Huron Street Bridge, next to the court house ). This garden is modelled after traditional English gardens and includes an herb garden, a rose garden, and a picturesque gazebo. It is the perfect place for a picnic. ( updated Jan 2023 )

The park system around the Avon River : Stroll the shaded path around the lake. There are lots of benches for people-watching and picnicking. There are many swans, ducks and geese to be seen in the city. You can rent a canoe or pedal boat from the York Street Visitors Kiosk, +1-800-561-7926 or +1 519-271-5140. Stratford’s Bacon & Ale Trail , ☏ +1 519-273-7818 . This self-guided tour introduces you to Stratford's pork and brewing history. With each ticket, you get five vouchers for a bacon or ale treat from the participating businesses. Buy tickets at Destination Stratford, 47 Downie Street; Bradshaws, 129 Ontario Street; Small-Mart, 119 Ontario Street; and Werk Shop, 111 Ontario Street. $40 . ( updated Jan 2023 ) Stratford Summer Music Festival , ☏ +1 519-271-2101 , toll-free: +1-800-567-1600 . Stratford Summer Music (July/August) is an annual multi-week concert series set in various outdoor and indoor venues around town. A mix of free and ticketed events are offered. ( updated Jan 2023 ) Stratford is the home town of pop superstar Justin Bieber . The tourism website has an audio guide of places he used to hang out at. The schools are not open for tours, and has no places where he lived.

For a pre-theatre meal, be sure to make a reservation. 🌍 Balzac's Coffee , 149 Ontario St , ☏ +1 519-273-7909 . Daily 7AM-6PM . Coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, pre-made sandwiches, homemade ice cream. ( updated Jan 2023 ) 🌍 Bentley's Inn Bar and Restaurant , 99 Ontario Street , ☏ +1 519-271-1121 . Pub food in a comfortable atmosphere. Good for post-theatre fare. Snacks, salads, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, pizza, steak, wings, shepherd's pie and daily specials. Mains $17-27 . ( updated Jan 2023 ) 🌍 Bijou Restaurant , 105 Erie Street , ☏ +1 519-273-5000 . Th-Sa 4:45-8:30PM . Modern French, with a menu that changes daily. Average $30 . ( updated Jan 2023 ) 🌍 Foster's Inn , 111 Downie Street , toll-free: +1-888-728-5555 . Daily 9AM-9PM . Two doors from the Avon Theatre. The ever-changing daily specials compliment the familiar, adventurous and even exotic menus. Great cuisine, clean crisp decor. Dinner mains from $18 burgers to $44 steaks . ( updated Jan 2023 ) 🌍 Pazzo Pizzeria/Ristorante , 70 Ontario Street , ☏ +1 519-273-6666 . Su Tu-Th 11:30-9PM, F Sa 11:30AM-11PM . Lunch and dinner. Soups, salads, panini, pasta, fish, ribs, veal, duck, lamb. The more casual pizzeria downstairs offers appetizers, thin-crust pizza, pasta and panini. Reservations recommended. Pasta or pizza $19-25 . ( updated Jan 2023 ) 🌍 The Starlight Statford , 64 Wellington St ( downtown ), [email protected] . Su-W 5-11PM, Th 5PM-midnight, F Sa 5PM-1AM . Snack bar. ( updated Apr 2024 )

🌍 Boar's Head Pub , 161 Ontario Street , ☏ +1 519-271-1400 . Tu-Su 11:30AM-9PM . Comfy local pub with a good selection of well-kept beers on tap. Pub food. Live music. ( updated Jan 2023 ) .

There are variety of accommodation options for visitors to Stratford, including a large number of B&Bs. This is a small sampling of what's available, the Stratford Tourism Alliance website has a more complete list. Prices quoted below are for high season, which runs from approximately mid-April to mid-November. Motels and hotels 🌍 The Windsor Hotel , 23 Albert Street , ☏ +1 519-272-2581 , toll-free: +1-866-572-2581 . Centrally located. 35 rooms, including 9 suites and 1 three-bedroom apartment. $90-220 . ( updated Jan 2023 ) 🌍 Best Western Arden Park Hotel , 552 Ontario Street , ☏ +1 519-275-2936 , toll-free: +1-877-788-8818 [... truncated ...]

Startford's downtown core has an eclectic assortment of stores to browse, including bookstores, clothing boutiques, toy stores, and craft stores. Stroll along Ontario, Wellington, and Downie Streets to get an overview. The stores downtown are generally open 7 days a week during the theatre season. Most stores open at 9:30AM and close at 5:30PM, and many stay open until 8PM on Friday evenings. The Theatre Stores, located at the Festival Theatre and the Avon Theatre, +1 519 271-0055 x2320, sell gifts, clothing, books and music related to the current year's Stratford Festival playbill.

From Stratford, visitors can explore other communities and natural attractions in Ontario by road. The region offers scenic drives, provincial and national parks, and charming small towns worth a detour. Check highway conditions and fuel availability before setting out on longer routes, particularly in remote areas.