You can feel the weight of history when you walk along Stratford-upon-Avon’s High Street. Timber-framed Tudor houses still line medieval thoroughfares, while the lasting legacy of The Bard, the market town’s most famous son, follows you everywhere.
Located on the beautiful banks of the River Avon, this is the hometown of Shakespeare. Visit Shakespeare’s birthplace on Henley Street and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Shottery. Enjoy long riverside strolls or hikes into The Cotswolds, and of course, save afternoons for a matinee and evenings for a night at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
With so much to see and do, you’ll want a nice hotel room to rest up in at the end of a long day. Luckily, Stratford-upon-Avon is home to all sorts of heritage hotels, riverside retreats, and luxurious country manors. So many, in fact, that you might have a hard time choosing the perfect one. So, we’ve created a list of the 10 best places to stay in Stratford-upon-Avon for you!
- Short on time and don’t want to read the whole article? Here are our top 3 picks!
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Where to Stay in Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare’s hometown is one of the UK’s most popular destinations, and you’ll find that the best hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon offer the finest comforts, luxuries, and amenities right on the northern edge of The Cotswolds.
Pick a boutique hotel in the town center – along Chapel Lane, Chapel Street, High Street, or Bridge Street – and you’ll be within walking distance of famous sights like the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Shakespeare’s Birthplace. On the opposite side of the River Avon, you can stay in riverside hotels or grand country manors, yet you’ll still be able to walk into town.
Further afield, there are beautiful boutique hotels in villages like Shottery – where Anne Hathaway lived – and Billesley, where you can escape the town and enjoy the countryside. Many of the hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon are without a doubt packed with heritage, but take with a pinch of salt the many claims you’ll hear that associate these hotels with The Bard!
The 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon, England
1. Hotel Indigo – Stratford-upon-Avon
One of the best boutique hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon, Hotel Indigo offers four-star comforts on Chapel Street, right in the heart of the town. This unique hotel transports you through centuries of history, with 96 luxury rooms spread throughout three distinct historical epochs.
The Tudor Rooms are located within the restored timber frames of a 16th-century house, where you’ll have views of Shakespeare’s New Place (where The Bard spent much of his life) from the restored windows.
The Georgian Townhouse rooms offer all the grace and pomp of the Regency period, while the Contemporary Rooms provide suave surroundings in a colorful, modern setting. Regardless of which wing you reside in, you’ll love the Hypnos beds, Egyptian cotton linens, and quirky artwork.
In The Woodsman, Executive Chef Mike Robinson serves up delectable “field-to-fork” dishes, including wild cuts of boar and deer, which are hand-delivered by a professional huntsman.
2. Hotel du Vin Stratford-upon-Avon
The Hotel du Vin is not only one of the best luxury hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon, but this beautiful boutique retreat is home to one of the town’s best bistros. You’ll be staying in a Georgian townhouse with a history dating back to 1798 and with updated rooms featuring modern drench showers, handsprung mattresses, and king-size beds.
The most luxurious rooms feature roll-top bathtubs and balconies, but let’s be honest, you’re here for the food and the wine. Start with a glass of bubbly on the Lanson Champagne Terrace before taking a seat in Bistro du Vin, where a five-course tasting menu includes French classics like chicken liver parfait and beef bourguignon.
All courses are Sommelier-paired with carefully selected vintages from the hotel’s impressive wine cellar.
3. The White Swan Hotel
If you’ve always wanted to spend the night in a classic British pub, then The White Swan Hotel is one of the best places to stay in Stratford-upon-Avon. This place has been serving pints and pies to weary travelers since 1560, and little has changed in the last five centuries.
The wooden floors still creak underfoot, fireplaces are caked with the soot of centuries past, and the timber frames have a thousand stories to tell. The pub’s 41 bedrooms feature genuine 16th-century period features, alongside atmospheric additions like four-poster beds and antique furnishings.
Modern comforts mix with history, too, and you’ll have a comfy night’s sleep on a pocket-sprung mattress and find luxury Bramley toiletries in the bathrooms. Down in the pub below, you’ll be served a hearty Full English Breakfast in the morning, Fuller’s ales flow all day, and seasonal British classics are served into the evening.
4. Burnside Hotel
You’ll find the Burnside Hotel on Church Lane in Shottery, where you’ll be staying on the opposite side of the brook to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. One of the best Stratford-upon-Avon hotels, there are 24 luxury rooms within a restored 19th-century country house.
Enjoy the peace of Shottery with woodland views from boutique rooms that have retained original features like timber beams but which are upgraded with the finest L’Occitane toiletries and the best luxury linens. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner are all served at the Burnside Restaurant, which is particularly acclaimed for its Thursday Curry Nights.
5. The Arden Hotel Stratford
Perfectly located opposite the Swan Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Arden Hotel is one of our favorite boutique hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon. With 45 luxury rooms set within a historic building with close ties to Shakespeare (local legend has it that he composed sonnets in the garden), you can enjoy afternoon tea in the brasserie before attending a matinee in the theater.
Luxury rooms are quaint and colorful, with king-size beds, walk-in showers, deep bathtubs, and luxury toiletries by ESPA. No.44 Brasserie on the Waterside serves breakfast, lunch, and a three-course pre-theater dinner menu that includes roasted cod, samphire, and Jerusalem artichoke risotto.
6. DoubleTree by Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon
One of the coolest hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon, the DoubleTree by Hilton offers four-star luxury in a spacious property in the town center. You’re just a short stroll from the train station, but with the extensive gardens, you’ll feel as if you’re staying in the countryside.
Rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton feature plush beds and modern amenities, but with their mock Tudor decor and color schemes, they’re clearly inspired by the town’s heritage. Quill’s serves bistro-style favorites, including pork belly and wild mushroom ravioli, and you can dine in the restaurant or just order room service.
7. Macdonald Alveston Manor Hotel & Spa
Enjoy the lavish lifestyle of a country lady or gent with a stay at the Macdonald Alveston Manor Hotel & Spa. One of the most unique hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon, this beautiful spa hotel is set within the extensive grounds of a historic manor house dating to the 16th century.
Built during Shakespeare’s day, you’ll love the mock Tudor facade and the extensive grounds that are just a short stroll from the banks of the River Avon. The 113 luxury rooms are spread across either the historic or modern wing, with the best featuring four-poster beds and antique furnishings.
It’s said that “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was first performed in the garden here, and you can embrace the theatrical history with an afternoon tea on the terrace. The spa, with its indoor pool and Elemis treatments, is the height of modernity, while the Manor Restaurant serves a hearty pre-theater menu of Scottish ribeye steaks, wild hake, and braised beef bavette.
8. Swan’s Nest Hotel
Stay in the refined surroundings of a refurbished Georgian townhouse when you book a boutique room at the Swan’s Nest Hotel. One of the most unique Stratford-upon-Avon hotels, the best luxury rooms offer views of the River Avon from your waterside location.
The building might date to the 18th century, but the rooms are modern, with king-size beds, luxury toiletries, and monsoon showers. The oldest part of the Swan’s Nest Hotel is The Bear, a historic pub that opened in 1662 and still serves local cask ales and British classics to this day.
9. The Welcombe Golf & Spa Hotel
Relax and unwind at the Welcombe Golf & Spa Hotel, where 85 lavish rooms – the best featuring four-poster beds and Jacobean furniture – are found within a Grade-II-listed property on the edge of the town.
Home to an 18-hole golf course and lovely, landscaped grounds, you’ll love enjoying the spa’s heated indoor swimming pool, sauna, and steam rooms. Enjoy afternoon tea in the Italian gardens and a dinner of pub favorites like chicken tikka masala and fish and chips in the Trevelyan Restaurant & Bar.
10. The Billesley Manor Hotel
Escape the town with a stay at The Billesley Manor Hotel, a 16th-century manor house surrounded by no less than 11 acres of landscaped grounds, gardens, and countryside. One of the best luxury hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon, the estate claims to have hosted William Shakespeare in 1599 and, in the process, inspired the play “As You Like It.”
The hotel’s tagline is now “Luxury As You Like It,” and you will love how modern comforts merge with antique furnishings in the boutique rooms. The Topiary Garden is a hundred years old, while the Billesley Spa offers contemporary ESPA treatments around a heated indoor pool, sauna, and steam room.
Foodies will be spoiled here, with ingredients sourced fresh from the on-site herb gardens and local suppliers in The Cotswolds. The Stuart Restaurant serves pork belly, venison, and 10-ounce steaks, while the Great Hall Bar & Lounge offers club sandwiches, sharing boards, and cocktails.
