Travel bucket list idea:
Shakespeare at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom (UK)
Last updated: 08 February, 2024
There has been a theatre in Stratford dedicated to Shakespeare’s works since 1873, when the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened its doors on the site of what is now the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Director Peter Hall formed the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1961, and for four decades it has housed the world’s pre-eminent productions of Shakespeare’s plays, with actors from Laurence Olivier to Judy Dench.
Logistics
Price from: £30
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Duration: 2-3 hours
Getting there & doing it
Stratford is 2-2.5 hours from London by train, depending on the time between connecting trains at Leamington Spa. The theatre is a 20-minute walk (or easy taxi hop) from the station. The RSC lies right on the banks of the River Avon, a few minutes’ walk from the centre of town.
Tickets are predictably like gold dust, so it’s worth booking as soon as new shows are announced, or as far ahead of your trip as you can.
The theatre’s Rooftop Restaurant is a great spot for a pre or post-theatre meal, with views across the city.
When to do it
Productions run throughout the year – getting tickets in winter can be easier, as the RSC is a big draw for overseas tourists in the summer months.
