On the edge of the Cotswolds in Warwickshire county lies the merry old market town of Stratford-upon-Avon, known locally as Stratford. What’s the first thing you think of when you hear that name? Of course, it’s almost certainly going to be William Shakespeare, or the home of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Although Stratford is a rather small town with a population of only 30,000, there’s more to it than meets the eye. There are a lot of notable people from Stratford, including Shakespeare, actor Simon Peg from Hot Fuzz, and actor David Bradley, who played the role of Argus Filch in the Harry Potter movies. You may even catch a glimpse of world famous celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay who also resides there.
If you’re visiting Stratford, you absolutely must visit Shakespeare’s birthplace, his school and see a play at one of the 5 theatres in the town. You should try to book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
Apart from being so important in the world of the performing arts, Stratford is also home to the UK’s largest tropical butterfly farm, with several large greenhouses heated to 27 degrees C. Its tropical humidity helps create the perfect environment for butterflies. It’s just perfect for families and nature lovers. There’s also a great kids playground located next to the butterfly farm, a mini golf course and the tranquil river Avon with the occasional narrow boat gliding down it.
Across the river you’ll see the majestic 14th century Holy Trinity Church. It was the place where Shakespeare was baptised, married and buried, and features some truly beautiful stained glass windows. It’s well worth checking out.
If churches, butterflies or Shakespeare plays aren’t your thing, don’t worry. You can miss all that, and have a gander at the truly freaky Mad museum, filled with ‘kinetic art.’ It’s an odd mix of science, technology and creativity, and the only permanent venue of this kind in the UK. There are plenty of lovely restaurants, boat trips, cafes and bars to keep you amused in Stratford too.
2.7 million tourists visit Stratford every year, but the parking situation isn’t as bad as you might expect. We’ve put a comprehensive list together of all of the free or paid parking options to save you the time of trying to find them yourself. You can save yourself between £10 a day, as well as the stress.
Free Parking in Stratford-upon-Avon
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Free, unrestricted residential street parking
You could pay for parking in Stratford, but there are a lot of really convenient free options that we’ve listed below. These addresses include postcodes and distances from Shakespeare’s birthplace. You won’t get any parking tickets, and you’ll save some money on parking meters. We’ve covered the 3 key areas of the city.
Parking on residential streets does demand following any specific street parking rules about entrances, gateways, and not blocking anyone’s car in by parking too close to it. Of course, you shouldn’t blast music out of your car stereo whilst you’re parking, or have loud conversations at night. Make sure there aren’t any double yellow lines, and do remember that parking on a residential street is at your own risk.
North
If you’re heading down south from the Coventry or Birmingham direction, you’ll hit some very convenient residential parking locations which are only a 5 or 10 minute walk to the centre. You’ll pass by the Maybird Shopping Park and the hospittle from the northern direction. Why not stop off for a quick half and a bite to eat in The Old Thatch Tavern? Stratford has a really lovely old feel to it, and the walk to the centre is quite charming.
- Blue Cap Road CV37 6TQ – 0.8 miles
- Justins Avenue CV37 0DE – 0.8 miles
- Blackthorn Road CV37 6TD – 0.8 miles
- Jolyffe Park Rd CV37 6SX – 0.6 miles
- Wharf Road CV37 0AD (light commercial street) – 0.4 miles
- Maybrook Road CV37 0BT – (light commercial street) – 0.4 miles
West
If you’re driving in from Worcester in the west, that’ll work out nicely for seeing the New Palace Gardens, or the Holy Trinity Church. We highly recommend taking a shortcut through the Shottery Fields Play Area on your way to the river. You’ll see plenty of old houses dating back to the Tudor period, and you’ll soak up the vibe of this historic town.
- Hathaway Green Lane CV37 9HX – 1.5 miles
- East Green Drive CV37 9HT – 1.5 miles
- Saint Andrew’s Crescent CV37 9QL – 0.4 miles
- Drayton Avenue CV37 9PB – 1 mile
- Willows Drive North V37 9NH (light commercial street) – 0.4 miles
East
If you’re heading in from the eastern direction, perhaps from Northampton or London from the south east, these addresses will bring you really close to the Recreational Ground. If you want to cross the river to see the Holy Trinity Church up close, there’s a little pedestrian bridge next to the road bridge called Lucy Mill’s Bridge that has a lovely photo opportunity.
- Beech Close CV37 7EA – 0.6 miles
- Keats Road CV37 3JL – 0.8 miles
- Bridgetown Road CV37 7JH– 0.8 miles
- Shelley Road CV37 7JR– 0.8 miles
Overnight/Weekend/Sunday Parking
If you want to park for free overnight or on Sundays, these curb-side parking spots are available. Be sure you pay and display if you’re parked there outside of those free parking times to avoid parking tickets.
- High Street CV37 8EA – 0.1 miles
- Sheep Street CV37 6EE – 0.2 miles
- Ely Street CV37 6LN – 0.1 miles
- Church Street CV37 6HP– 0.3 miles
- Rother Street CV37 6ND – 0.1 miles
Cheapest Paid Car Parks
Not all of us are trying to save money, and some people may want that extra bit of security for their car. Paid parking in Stratford ranges between £4-£9 a day on average. Here’s a concise list of all of your options:
- Free Car Park Stratford CV37 7BD – Free, 1-mile walk to city centre
- Rosebird Centre CV37 7LR – £1.00 for 2 hours
- Stratford Marina Car Park CV37 6YR – £1.50 for 2 hours
- Grove House CV37 6LA – £2.00 for 2 hours
- Rother Street Arthouse Carpark CV37 6PF – £2.00 for 2 hours
- Stratford Market Car Park CV37 6LT – £2.00 for 2 hours
- Bridgeway Multi Storey Car Park 6YX– £2.40 for 2 hours
- Swans Nest Lane Car Park CV37 7LS – £2.40 for 2 hours
- Arden Street Car Park 6NW – £2.40 for 2 hours
Free short-term parking (2h or less)
Are you planning a fly by trip to get a selfie outside one of Shakespeare’s old haunts? Why not use one of these commercial options, but remember, no more than 2 hours to avoid parking tickets.
- Maybird Shopping Park CV37 0HZ
- Tesco Superstore CV37 0UA
- Morrisons Car Park CV37 9BU
Free and Paid Parking Near Popular Stratford-upon-Avon Locations
Free & paid parking near Shakespeare’s Birthplace
