Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Stratford is a small city on the Avon River in southwestern Ontario, and it has borrowed its theme from Shakespeare: the river, the swans and the theatres all nod to Stratford-upon-Avon in England. Since the first season in 1953, the Stratford Festival has turned a railway town into one of the best-known theatre destinations in North America.
Festival Theatre
Avon Theatre
Tom Patterson Theatre
The Avon River and the swans
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The city has about 33,000 residents and a compact downtown that you can cross on foot. Parks line the Avon River, the streets are full of independent shops, galleries and bakeries, and a theatre or concert is never far away.
The Stratford Festival was founded by local journalist Tom Patterson in 1952, and its first performance, a production of Richard III starring Alec Guinness, took place in 1953 under a canvas tent beside the river.
The Festival Theatre opened in 1957, designed to resemble a huge tent, and its thrust stage was inspired by a Greek amphitheatre and Shakespeare's Globe.
The Avon Theatre is a Stratford Festival venue in the heart of downtown. Photo: Chris Woodrich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Avon Theatre stands in the middle of downtown, first built in 1901 as Theatre Albert and bought by the festival in the 1960s. Today it is a main venue for musicals and large productions.
The Tom Patterson Theatre opened in 2022 on the banks of the Avon River. Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Tom Patterson Theatre sits right on the Avon River and opened in 2022 after a long construction period. Its riverside setting makes it a pleasant place to arrive early for a stroll before the performance.
The swan is the symbol of Stratford, and swans are released on the Avon River each year. Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
The festival offers tours when the season is running, including a set changeover experience and a visit to one of the largest costume warehouses in North America.
The swan is the symbol of Stratford. A pair of mute swans arrived in 1918, and every year twenty-four white swans are released into the river.
The Shakespearean Gardens were created in 1936 beside the Huron Street bridge. Photo: Chris Woodrich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
These gardens, created in 1936 beside the courthouse and the Huron Street bridge, are modelled on traditional English gardens.
Parks line the banks of the Avon River in Stratford. Photo: Chris Woodrich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Queen's Park is a green space above the river, and the local concert band gives free outdoor performances at the bandshell in summer. Bring a blanket and arrive early.
Lakeside Drive runs beside the river and the park system. Photo: Chris Woodrich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Along Lakeside Drive between North and Front streets, regional artists show their work outdoors on selected days from late May to late September, weather permitting. It is a relaxed way to meet local makers and buy a souvenir.
Gallery Stratford on Romeo Street shows contemporary and historical art, and the Stratford-Perth Museum tells the story of the city and the surrounding county. Each takes about an hour.
Ontario Street is one of the main shopping streets in downtown Stratford. Photo: Chris Woodrich, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
These are the main shopping streets, with bookstores, clothing boutiques, toy stores and craft shops. Most stores open daily in the theatre season and some stay open later on Fridays.
Butter tarts are a classic Canadian pastry found in Ontario bakeries. Photo: Laurel L. Russwurm from Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
The self-guided Bacon and Ale Trail introduces visitors to the area's pork and brewing traditions, with vouchers to redeem for treats at participating businesses.
Perth County is farm country, known for mixed farming, dairy and hog production, and that shows on local menus. Look for peameal bacon, the cornmeal-coated back bacon that is a classic of Ontario, often served in a soft roll.
Balzac's Coffee on Ontario Street is a favorite for coffee and pastries. Boar's Head Pub offers good beer and relaxed food, and Bijou and The Old Prune are well-known places for a special dinner.
Popular dishes to try in Stratford
The theatres are close together, so choose a base on foot.
Ontario Street is the most convenient address, with inns, guesthouses and restaurants a short walk from the Festival Theatre and the main shopping area.
Church Street is quiet and residential, lined with heritage houses and bed and breakfasts, and suits couples who want gardens, a full breakfast and a calm evening.
Albert Street is a short walk from downtown and the river, with small hotels and restaurants, and suits travelers who like a quieter side street but still want a walk to the theatres.
Many properties are small, so reserve early for the summer season.
Where to stay in Stratford
The festival runs from spring into autumn, usually from April or May to the end of October or early November, so most businesses are at their busiest in that window. July and August are the liveliest months, with the warmest weather and full theatres.
The Stratford Summer Music series runs in July and August with many free outdoor events. Pride celebrations take place each June.
By car from Toronto, take Highway 401 west to Kitchener, then Highways 7 and 8 to Stratford. From London, drive east on Highway 7.
VIA Rail serves Stratford on the Sarnia to Toronto route. GO Transit also runs limited train service between Toronto and Stratford, with different times on weekdays and weekends, so check the current timetable.
Downtown is compact and walkable. Stratford Transit runs local buses from the terminal on Downie Street, taxis are easy to find, and driving is possible if you pick a place with parking.
Spend the morning at the Shakespearean Gardens and along the Avon River, then browse Ontario and Wellington streets.
Start with coffee and a butter tart, visit Gallery Stratford and the museum, then do the Bacon and Ale Trail. If time allows, finish with a matinee or a summer concert in Queen's Park.
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