_Spotlight on: Living in Stratford upon Avon

When people think of Stratford-upon-Avon it’s usually in connection with its famous son, William Shakespeare. Of course the town is steeped in history and culture, but for me Stratford-upon-Avon is not just a place of pilgrimage, but a flourishing market town with many 21st century amenities. 

The town has always been a fashionable location for Warwickshire buyers and continues to be a popular choice in today’s market. 

The 'real' Stratford 

When I think of the 'real' Stratford upon Avon, I first think of the stretch of river linking the Royal Shakespeare Theatre with Holy Trinity Church, the final resting place of 'The Bard' himself.

In the summer, there are canal and rowing boats bobbing up and down the river Avon, people taking the riverside walk along the disused tramway, daytrippers lounging in deckchairs on Bancroft Gardens and music drifting across from the bandstand.

Some of the less well-known Shakespeare sites, such as Hall's Croft and the recently renovated gardens at New Place, are charmingly unspoilt and well worth a visit. 

Eating, drinking and shopping

While Stratford is keen to celebrate its favourite son, you never feel as if you’re walking through a museum. The town has a vibrancy to it with many independent shops, popular high street stores, bars and gastro pubs.

There are some wonderful independent restaurants on Sheep Street including The Vintner, The Oppo and Loxleys – all serving modern British cuisine. I’d also recommend a trip to The Townhouse on Church Street which is a great place for an early evening drink in the piano bar, where students from the grammar school opposite can be found tinkling the ivories. 

 The town has a vibrancy to it with many independent shops, popular high street stores, bars and gastro pubs.

Who lives there? 

The town has always been a fashionable location for Warwickshire buyers and continues to be a popular choice in today’s market. Downsizers from across Warwickshire and further afield are attracted by the town’s range of convenient amenities.

They are often looking for properties within walking distance of the town centre. The other main buyers are families attracted to Stratford-upon-Avon’s highly rated schools and range of family homes available – both period and contemporary. 

What are the properties like? 

What I love about Stratford upon Avon is its varied housing, with property to suit most requirements. Welcombe Road, Avenue Road, Maidenhead Road and St Gregory's Road all feature substantial detached Edwardian and Victorian houses in leafy surroundings, which are ideal for families.

The Banbury Road and Tiddington Road, on either the riverside or golf-course side, have some wonderful individual homes too. In Old Town, West Street and Bull Street provide lovely period terraces and are especially popular because they are walkable from town.

On Mill Lane, just beyond Holy Trinity, both Avonside and Lucy's Mill combine stylish apartment living with sensational views of the river Avon and are popular with downsizers. On the other side of town, the village of Shottery, (which was good enough for Anne Hathaway!) has a variety of pretty, thatched cottages. 

Recreation and culture

If you have a love for performing arts, Stratford is the ideal location for you, being the home of the Royal Shakespeare Company. You can experience a wide variety of productions from the great works of Shakespeare to other classic and contemporary writers in the Swan and the main RSC theatre. 

There are a number of annual festivals including the poetry, literary, food and music festivals. I particular enjoy the river festival which takes places every summer and has a fantastic carnival atmosphere.

The town has a resident orchestra (The Orchestra of the Swan), and there are Shakespeare Birthday celebrations in April. There is arthouse cinema, as well as an Everyman Cinema at the newly developed Bell Court in the centre of town, a racecourse and some good golf clubs including The Welcombe. 

Some of the less well-known Shakespeare sites, such as Hall's Croft and the recently renovated gardens at New Place, are charmingly unspoilt and well worth a visit. 

Schools

Stratford upon Avon has two of the highest-achieving state schools in Warwickshire, which makes it popular with parents. For boys, there is King Edward VI Grammar School, whose old boys include Bill Shakespeare! For girls, there is Stratford upon Avon Grammar School in nearby Shottery. There is a highly rated prep school in the centre of Old Town and The Croft Prep School, on the outskirts of town. 

Transport

Birmingham is easily accessible from Stratford upon Avon via the M40 motorway, taking around an hour. The train station has good rail links to Birmingham in about an hour and to London, with up to seven direct trains a day to London Marylebone. Birmingham airport is 18 miles to the north-west, with scheduled flights to many national and international destinations.

Samantha Holton is a Senior Negotiator and Town Centre Specialist in our Stratford upon Avon office. Call us for an informal chat about selling or buying in the town. We’d love to help you.