Campsites near Stratford-upon-Avon
Pitch in Shakespeare’s birthplace for history and theatre, plus walks along rivers and over hills.
- Stratford-upon-Avon
Popular camping styles for Stratford-upon-Avon
Campsites near Stratford-upon-Avon guide
Overview
This handsome, historic town of timber-framed houses on the River Avon is one of England’s most visited travel destinations thanks to its foremost claim to fame: It was the birthplace of world-renowned bard William Shakespeare. Most visitors come to see Shakespeare’s Birthplace, the house of his wife Anne Hathaway, and the superb Royal Shakespeare Theatre, but you should come for the countryside too. There are bucolic waterways to wander on long-distance paths, plus the postcard-worthy Cotswolds AONB rising to the south. Many camping and caravanning sites sit southwest of town close to the River Avon.
Where to go
River Avon
Also known as “Shakespeare’s Avon” to distinguish it from other British rivers with the same name, this waterway is one of Stratford-upon-Avon’s green gills. It flows through the town centre and much can be walked via the Shakespeare’s Avon Way, Centenary Way, and Coventry Way footpaths, making bucolic routes downriver to Tewkesbury and upriver to Warwick and Coventry. Camp close to the river near Stratford-upon-Avon, Stoneleigh near Coventry, or around Evesham.
Grand Union Canal
Britain’s longest canal passes within nine miles of Stratford-upon-Avon at Warwick, where it meets the River Avon. The long-distance Shakespeare’s Avon Way trail can be walked from Stratford-upon-Avon to join the canal at Hatton Locks. This 137-mile Birmingham-to-London waterway showcases a greener, tranquil side to the big towns it passes, and crosses particularly pretty countryside on the Warwick-to-Solihull stretch. Narrowboat, walk or cycle the towpath, visit canalside pubs, and camp around Hatton with its 21-strong flight of canal locks.
Cotswolds AONB
These low-lying hills undulate south of Stratford-upon-Avon, and are especially famous for their picturesque stone villages. The area is the country’s largest AONB, and the best access from Stratford-upon-Avon is at charming Chipping Campden, 12 miles south, from where you can walk the 102-mile Cotswolds Way following the escarpment southwest to Bath. Chipping Campden has good camping nearby—one site sits on a repurposed bowling green.
When to go
The festival season gets going early in vibrant Stratford-upon-Avon with April’s Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations bringing a bonanza of pageantry and performances to town. October’s Literary Festival is another highlight. As one of England’s most popular destinations, try to avoid the town during school summer holidays and hot summer weekends. Stratford campsites have a longer season than many in the UK, mostly opening mid-March to mid-October.
