stratford upon avon gin tour

Ever wondered how gin is made? Join us for a fun and informative tour around our working distillery in Stratford upon Avon. You will discover how gin is made, learn about its history, and experience the many different ingredients we use. Followed by a tutored tasting of at least 3 Shakespeare Distillery spirits, finishing with a Gin & Tonic.

Shakespeare Distillery

Shakespeare Distillery is an independent artisan spirit producer based in Stratford-upon-Avon. Established in 2015, everything they produce is in small handcrafted batches, ensuring the best tasting spirits around!

At Shakespeare Distillery they are inspired by the Tudor period – the era in which Shakespeare lived. Thanks to Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries, the Tudor period became a time of great discovery, experimentation and innovation within the world of spirit production as people soon discovered that it could be a very nice recreational drink too – not just a medicine! They aim to recapture this period of innovation by fusing traditional and, in some cases, forgotten ingredients with modern techniques to create exciting new spirits.

The Explorer Pass includes a tour of the distillery.

Distillery Tour

Ever wondered how gin is made? Join Shakespeare Distillery for a fun and informative tour around their working distillery in Stratford-upon-Avon. You will discover how gin is made, learn about its history, and experience the many different ingredients they use. Followed by a tutored tasting of at least 3 Shakespeare Distillery spirits, finishing with a Gin & Tonic.

Duration: Approx. 1 hour 15 mins

The visit includes:

• A Gin and Tonic
• Guided tasting of 3 spirits
• Guided tour
• 10% off distillery shop purchases

Important Information

Children under the age of 8 cannot be admitted to the distillery. Children aged 8-17 years can join a tour with an accompanying adult and will be given a soft drink instead of alcohol.

Tours need to be pre-booked.

Tours run on Wednesday – Friday at 1pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm.

You can check availability by visiting shakespearedistillery.com/tours/

Ticket Prices

Opening hours.

• Included with your Explorer Pass

Booking Information

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Gin Tasting Cruise

• Gin and Tonic to drink, in a souvenir tumbler glass for you to take home *
• Guided tasting of 3 Shakespeare Distillery gin samples
• 60 minute River Avon Cruise
• *Designated drivers may take home a Gin Miniature in place of the Gin & Tonic in the souvenir tumbler glass
• Cancellation Protection
• Accessibility

For more information about accessibility on our experiences and to view our accessibility guides use the links below:

Click here to view Accessibility Guide for Shakespeare Distillery - Drayton Manor Drive

Click here to view  Accessibility Guide for Shakespeare Distillery - Judith's, No 1 High St

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Gin Tasting at Judith’s

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Shakespeare Distillery

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This day is a must for all Gin and Rum Lovers! Set in the 100-year-old Topiary garden we will be hosting a relaxed afternoon with a selection of gin and rum distilleries. (Over 18s only)

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Shakespeare Distillery Tour - 11am Ticket

• Gin & Tonic, plus a guided tasting of 3 spirits
• 10% discount on same day distillery shop purchases
• Guided Tour of the Distillery
• Entry/Admission - Stratford-upon-Avon
• Wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• 48michaelh48 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Rumtastic! Great fun making our own rum, learned lots about rum and enjoyed tasting some. Nice venue. Nice hosts. Nice rum! Highly recommended. Read more Written May 15, 2024
• Global08864402523 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic experience! Such a fantastic distillery. All the staff are so friendly and knowledgeable - they make the experience even more fantastic. The tasting was BRILLIANT - such amazing products - all the rums and gins we tried were so good. Definitely want to come back for the gin school! Read more Written May 13, 2024
• 924wendyss 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Enjoyable and fascinating tour This was a really interesting and enjoyable tour. We learnt about the history of gin in the UK, how gin is made and bottled and then got the chance to sample the produce. Both our guides were knowledgeable and entertaining. We'd strongly recommend this tour Read more Written May 13, 2024
• mattlQ2808FO 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Rum School A brilliant afternoon, well presented, educational and very entertaining. I highly recommend this experience, that is if you like rum. 🙂 Read more Written May 12, 2024
• T5126MTlouisec 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great time had Lovely couple of hours spent learning about the history of gin and how they make it. Tried some gins and had a drink. Only a 10 min taxi ride outside of Stratford town centre. Read more Written May 12, 2024
• richardhW8882XP 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An interesting and informative Tour. A really interesting and informative tour very well run and presented by the enthusiastic staff. We learnt a lot about the process and enjoyed a variety of tastings and a god discount on our purchases at the end of the Tour! I would highly recommend this tour if you have a couple of hours to spare! Read more Written May 10, 2024
• HeliB_11 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great fun! A really interesting and fun couple of hours. Learnt lots from all the team. It’s an impressive set up and they are rightly proud of all they have achieved. Oh and the gin and rum aren’t bad either 😂 Read more Written May 7, 2024
• Celticswordfish 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Gin tasting at Judith's We went on the gin tasting experience at Judith's in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon as part of a day out in the town (rather than the distillery tour which we'd now like to go to another time). It was very informative including various tips on making & drinking your gin drinks - ice, mixers, other additions, proportions - as well as being a lot of fun (special mention to our host/guideTara here) and good value for money. We would highly recommend it. Read more Written May 6, 2024
• 622trudit 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great fun on a girls weekend away! Went with friends on a girls weekend. We all had a fantastic time and really enjoyed the experience from start to finish. The whole team are really good fun, but incredibly knowledgeable too, whilst being sustainable. We were all impressed, left us wanting more, so we're going to back and and do a direct gin experience next time! Read more Written May 6, 2024
• petergE7666JY 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommended tour An absolutely top rate experience. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this fantastic little distillery. Very interesting and informative. And the gins are fabulous. Read more Written May 3, 2024
• G9764APlucyn 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fab tour Absolutely fab tour. We both really enjoyed it. Really lovely staff too especially Catherine, great humour. Perfectly situated down the road from our hotel. Would highly recommend to anyone. Read more Written April 29, 2024
• NicolasRage 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must do for gin lovers My wife and I did the Gin school. The staff were really informative and fun. The gin creating was fascinating and the whole experience was well thought out. They had different tastings that were carried out during the down time which meant the whole day felt really well paced. Would reccomend staying nearby and cabbing in as the cocktails on offer were all delicious, however none alcohol drinks were substituted in for us drivers :) Well worth the money and a rdccomend to all gin lovers Read more Written April 28, 2024
• ClanIrvine 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Gin School - hic!! This was a birthday gift and we had an amazing time. All the staff are knowledgeable (but don’t take themselves too seriously) and gave lots of advice on making our own gin. I’ve never been to a gin or wine experience where we’ve drank so much while making our own drink! Taxi (or walk back to town, as we did) is definitely recommended. Thanks guys, we had a great time and will definitely be back. Read more Written April 27, 2024
• ChristineJ26 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Well worth a visit Extremely interesting and enjoyable visit. Claire, David and Jack made us feel very welcome and explained their individual roles within the production of their gin. The tour was followed by the tastings which we also enjoyed. The gin is really nice…… Well worth a visit. Read more Written April 26, 2024
• pesley15 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Worth a visit! Really good fun! The two guides were really funny whilst still being really knowledgeable, we had a great time. Great fun trying all the gins and rums at the end Read more Written April 23, 2024

More to explore in Stratford-upon-Avon

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Shakespeare Distillery Tour - 11am Ticket provided by Shakespeare Distillery

Office Open 10AM - 4:30PM | Mon - Thurs

BOATING OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 10AM - 4:30PM

Gin Tasting River Cruises

Enjoy an hours cruise on the beautiful Avon through Stratford-upon-Avon. See all the riverside sights including the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare’s burial place, while enjoying a tutored tasting of the craft gins produced by the award winning Shakespeare Distillery, finishing with a glass of Gin & Tonic to toast your captain & crew.

Gin Tasting Cruises Details

We are partnering with the local company Shakespeare Distillery to offer Gin Tasting Cruises to the public.

These cruises will take place every two weeks, on a Saturday starting in April through to October. We will also add trips when demand requires it.

Private Gin Cruises Available on request for larger groups. Please contact the distillery directly.

Shakespeare Distillery will carry out a short talk on Gin whilst providing a tasting of their 3 spirits, as the boat cruises upstream during the first 25 mins of the cruise.

At the end of the tasting, guests will enjoy a Stratford Gin & Tonic (25ml single measure) whilst taking in the remainder of the cruise passing under the bridge and downstream taking in the RSC and church, before returning back to our Boathouse on Swan’s Nest Lane. To mark your Gin Tasting Cruise you get to keep your Gin tumbler from your G&T!

This trip is for over 18s only, and all tickets can be purchased through Shakespeare Distillery’s own website (see link below). Cost is £30.00 per person.

Cruise Dates 2023

• Sat 8 April
• Sat 22 April
• Sat 10 June
• Sat 24 June
• Sat 15 July – 4.30 & 6pm
• Sat 29 July – 4.30 & 6pm
• Sat 12 Aug – 4.30 & 6pm
• Sat 26 Aug – 4.30 & 6pm

Opening Times

(Opening hours may be extended on busier days)

Office Hours

9am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday.

Get In Touch

• Swan’s Nest Boathouse,
• Swan's Nest Lane,
• Stratford-upon-Avon,

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The Arden Hotel, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Arden House, Stratford-Upon-Avon

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Article published on: July 1, 2022

We have teamed up with Shakespeare Distillery to bring you one of the best gin experience packages in Stratford-upon-Avon!  Enjoy a Distillery Tour before your relaxing break at The Arden Hotel in the heart of Shakespeare’s England.

Shakespeare Distillery was founded in 2015 and located only a short distance from The Arden Hotel. If you’re looking for gin experience packages in Stratford-upon-Avon then look no further than this fantastic break. Not only will you get the chance to find out how gin is made but you will also get the opportunity to taste a selection of spirits and a refreshing glass of gin and tonic. The experienced guides from Shakespeare Distillery will take you on a fun and information journey around the working distillery in Stratford-upon-Avon where you will discover how the gin is made, learn about the history of gin and experience all of the different ingredients used to make gin! The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and you will get the chance to come back to The Arden Hotel for a fabulous nights’ stay in one of our boutique bedrooms including a delicious dinner in No44 Brasserie.

Arden Hotel Distillery Tour Package

•  Guided tour around Shakespeare Distillery
• Tasting of 3 spirits
• A gin & tonic
• Overnight accommodation at The Arden Hotel (double occupancy in a superior room)
• Full English breakfast
• Dinner in No44 Brasserie (£30.00 allocation towards dinner per person)

Price from £259.00 per room

If you are an avid gin lover and want the ultimate gin experience book our gin-tastic package today!

Call the hotel on 01789 298682 to book.

T&C’s apply. Package available for stays Wednesday – Sunday.  Subject to availability. 

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More news like this.

Keep up to date with everything that's happening at The Arden Hotel with our latest news articles...

Book direct with us for the best price. Guaranteed.

Shakespeare Distillery Tour - 11am Ticket

• Gin & Tonic, plus a guided tasting of 3 spirits
• 10% discount on same day distillery shop purchases
• Guided Tour of the Distillery
• Entry/Admission - Stratford-upon-Avon
• Wheelchair accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• 48michaelh48 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Rumtastic! Great fun making our own rum, learned lots about rum and enjoyed tasting some. Nice venue. Nice hosts. Nice rum! Highly recommended. Read more Written 15 May 2024
• Global08864402523 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic experience! Such a fantastic distillery. All the staff are so friendly and knowledgeable - they make the experience even more fantastic. The tasting was BRILLIANT - such amazing products - all the rums and gins we tried were so good. Definitely want to come back for the gin school! Read more Written 13 May 2024
• 924wendyss 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Enjoyable and fascinating tour This was a really interesting and enjoyable tour. We learnt about the history of gin in the UK, how gin is made and bottled and then got the chance to sample the produce. Both our guides were knowledgeable and entertaining. We'd strongly recommend this tour Read more Written 13 May 2024
• mattlQ2808FO 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Rum School A brilliant afternoon, well presented, educational and very entertaining. I highly recommend this experience, that is if you like rum. 🙂 Read more Written 12 May 2024
• T5126MTlouisec 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great time had Lovely couple of hours spent learning about the history of gin and how they make it. Tried some gins and had a drink. Only a 10 min taxi ride outside of Stratford town centre. Read more Written 12 May 2024
• richardhW8882XP 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An interesting and informative Tour. A really interesting and informative tour very well run and presented by the enthusiastic staff. We learnt a lot about the process and enjoyed a variety of tastings and a god discount on our purchases at the end of the Tour! I would highly recommend this tour if you have a couple of hours to spare! Read more Written 10 May 2024
• HeliB_11 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great fun! A really interesting and fun couple of hours. Learnt lots from all the team. It’s an impressive set up and they are rightly proud of all they have achieved. Oh and the gin and rum aren’t bad either 😂 Read more Written 7 May 2024
• Celticswordfish 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Gin tasting at Judith's We went on the gin tasting experience at Judith's in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon as part of a day out in the town (rather than the distillery tour which we'd now like to go to another time). It was very informative including various tips on making & drinking your gin drinks - ice, mixers, other additions, proportions - as well as being a lot of fun (special mention to our host/guideTara here) and good value for money. We would highly recommend it. Read more Written 6 May 2024
• 622trudit 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great fun on a girls weekend away! Went with friends on a girls weekend. We all had a fantastic time and really enjoyed the experience from start to finish. The whole team are really good fun, but incredibly knowledgeable too, whilst being sustainable. We were all impressed, left us wanting more, so we're going to back and and do a direct gin experience next time! Read more Written 6 May 2024
• petergE7666JY 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommended tour An absolutely top rate experience. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this fantastic little distillery. Very interesting and informative. And the gins are fabulous. Read more Written 3 May 2024
• G9764APlucyn 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fab tour Absolutely fab tour. We both really enjoyed it. Really lovely staff too especially Catherine, great humour. Perfectly situated down the road from our hotel. Would highly recommend to anyone. Read more Written 29 April 2024
• NicolasRage 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must do for gin lovers My wife and I did the Gin school. The staff were really informative and fun. The gin creating was fascinating and the whole experience was well thought out. They had different tastings that were carried out during the down time which meant the whole day felt really well paced. Would reccomend staying nearby and cabbing in as the cocktails on offer were all delicious, however none alcohol drinks were substituted in for us drivers :) Well worth the money and a rdccomend to all gin lovers Read more Written 28 April 2024
• ClanIrvine 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Gin School - hic!! This was a birthday gift and we had an amazing time. All the staff are knowledgeable (but don’t take themselves too seriously) and gave lots of advice on making our own gin. I’ve never been to a gin or wine experience where we’ve drank so much while making our own drink! Taxi (or walk back to town, as we did) is definitely recommended. Thanks guys, we had a great time and will definitely be back. Read more Written 27 April 2024
• ChristineJ26 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Well worth a visit Extremely interesting and enjoyable visit. Claire, David and Jack made us feel very welcome and explained their individual roles within the production of their gin. The tour was followed by the tastings which we also enjoyed. The gin is really nice…… Well worth a visit. Read more Written 26 April 2024
• pesley15 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Worth a visit! Really good fun! The two guides were really funny whilst still being really knowledgeable, we had a great time. Great fun trying all the gins and rums at the end Read more Written 23 April 2024

More to explore in Stratford-upon-Avon

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Buy it with

Shakespeare Distillery Tour - 11am Ticket provided by Shakespeare Distillery

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The Arden Hotel, Stratford-Upon-Avon

Arden House, Stratford-Upon-Avon

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Gin Experience Package with Shakespeare Distillery

Article published on: January 21, 2020

If you’re looking for a fabulous gin tasting package in Stratford-upon-Avon, then look no further! We have the perfect solution… We have teamed up with our fabulous partner, Shakespeare Distillery , to bring you the ultimate gin tasting package! Enjoy a Distillery Tour before your relaxing break in our boutique guest house.

Not only will you get the chance to find out how gin is made but you will also get the opportunity to taste a selection of spirits and a refreshing glass of gin and tonic. The experienced guides from Shakespeare Distillery will take you on a fun and information journey around the working distillery in Stratford-upon-Avon where you will discover how the gin is made, learn about the history of gin and experience all of the different ingredients used to make gin! The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and you will get the chance to come back to Arden House for a fabulous nights’ stay in a stylish ‘cosy’ room including dinner at our sister property, The Arden Hotel – just a five minute walk away!

Arden House Distillery Tour Package includes :

• Guided informational tour around Shakespeare Distillery with an experienced guide from the distillery!
• Tasting of 3 delicious Shakespeare Distillery spirits
• One gin & tonic
• Overnight accommodation at Arden House (double occupancy in a cosy room )
• Full English breakfast
• Dinner in No44 Brasserie , located at our sister hotel, The Arden Hotel , (£30.00 allocation towards dinner, per person)

Price from £199.00 per night, per room

If you are an avid gin lover and want the ultimate gin tasting experience in Stratford-upon-Avon, book our gin-tastic package today!

Call the hotel on 01789 298682 to book.

T&C’s apply. Package available for stays Wednesday – Sunday.  Subject to availability. 

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More news like this.

Keep up to date with everything that's happening at Arden House with our latest news articles...

Book direct with us for the best price. Guaranteed.

The amazing gin distillery school named 'experience of the year'

A Stratford gin distillery school has won a regional award for being the best visitor experience. Shakespeare Distillery's Gin School has been named ‘Experience of the Year’ in the prestigious West Midlands Tourism Awards.

The independent artisan spirit producer based in Stratford-upon-Avon picked up the top gold award at a ceremony held on March 20 at the Bear Grylls Adventure in Solihull . As a gold winner, Shakespeare Distillery will automatically be entered into the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in June.

In 2020 and 2022 the company won gold and silver in the West Midlands Tourism Awards for their destination distillery experiences. A TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award winner, it was also voted as ‘Stratford’s Top Attraction’ in the Herald Business & Tourism Awards for the past two years running.

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The Spirits Business magazine also placed it in the top 10 UK gin distillery experiences in 2023. The Gin School, which was launched five years ago, enables visitors to try their own hand at being a distiller.

They are able to create their own gin using a miniature copper still and an array of botanicals, alongside expert tuition. After three hours visitors will have distilled, blended, bottled, sealed, and labelled their own unique bottles of gin to take away with them.

Peter Monks, Director at Shakespeare Distillery said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won Gold in the West Midlands Tourism Awards. Winning this award is testament to our brilliant team whom we are so proud of, and who work incredibly hard producing our handcrafted spirits and delivering a five-star visitor experience."

The awards are supported by the West Midlands Growth Company, the regions official destination marketing agency. Pre-pandemic, the tourism sector contributed £13.1 billion to the West Midlands economy, attracting 134 million visitors, and supporting more than 137,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

Shakespeare Distillery, which was founded in 2015 by Simon Picken and Peter Monks, is Stratford-upon-Avon's only working distillery. It produces a series of sprits including their signature Stratford Gin, Jester Rums, and distillery specials.

Shakespeare Distillery also offers daily Tours, Cocktail Masterclasses, and River Avon Gin Tasting Cruises. With the latest addition of a shop, Tasting Rooms, and Rum School nestled in the historic 1 High Street – once the residence of Judith, William Shakespeare’s daughter, and her husband, Thomas Quiney – visitors can immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Shakespearean history while savouring the finest spirits the town has to offer.

For more information about Shakespeare Distillery please visit the website. .

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Review: Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon

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Hotel Indigo Stratford Upon Avon

Located in the united kingdom, style & character, service & facilities, food & drink.

Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon is a boutique gem in Shakespeare’s Hometown, just a stone’s throw from where he was born. Here, history meets contemporary luxury behind a striking black-and-white Tudor facade. This high-end boutique hotel provides a unique and immersive experience, reflecting the rich heritage and culture of this 800-year-old quintessentially English market town in Warwickshire. The town is known for some of the greatest theatres and performances in the world, as well as its quaint streets, wonderful eateries, fascinating museums, and stunning architecture.

We visited in early Spring and had a wonderful stay. We enjoyed the area’s history, walks by the river, delicious Shakespeare Distillery gins, and some of the best dining we’ve ever had at The Woodsman Restaurant.

Situated right in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon, Hotel Indigo offers unparalleled access to the town’s iconic landmarks, including Shakespeare’s birthplace and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, both just a couple of minutes walk from the hotel. Visitors can also enjoy riverside walks, the UK’s largest butterfly farm, and entertainment along the River Avon, all just steps away. The area is surrounded by the picturesque Cotswolds, where you can explore charming streets, delightful cafes and restaurants, and captivating museums, all within easy reach.

The hotel lies just a 2-hour drive from central London via the M40 or 3 hours by train from London Euston or Paddington.

Hotel Indigo emanates charm and sophistication, seamlessly fusing traditional Tudor features in its original historic section – think undulating floorboards and winding staircases – with contemporary elegance in its brand-new wing. This unique blend of 16th-century legacy and modern amenities captures the essence of the town’s heritage while providing all the modern comforts of a boutique retreat. With parts of the building dating back to the 15th century, the hotel exudes a rich history and character, offering guests an unparalleled ambiance that sets it apart from any other hotel in the area.

We stayed in one of the rooms in the historic part of the building and found the uneven, rolling corridors, rich color schemes, and eclectic furniture choices to really add character to our stay.

Guests are treated to impeccable service and a range of facilities designed to enhance your stay, including a small private gym with treadmills, bikes, elliptical cross-trainers, and free weights. The hotel’s new wing offers reading nooks, a library, a beautifully designed executive boardroom, and a charming tea room, and every detail reflects the hotel’s commitment to excellence.

Although the website mentions limited on-site parking, which is charged for at £12.50 per night, we found there was ample parking for all guests when we stayed, in both a reasonably large outdoor and a separate two storey undercover carpark, perhaps in busier times make sure to turn up at check-in time to avoid disappointment. Parking cannot be pre-booked.

The 93 stylish guest rooms at Hotel Indigo are inspired by the history of the local area, each offering a unique blend of boutique comfort and character. There are 76 standard rooms, two accessible rooms, 12 superior rooms, and three suites. Guests can choose from three distinct room designs—Tudor Rooms, Georgian Townhouse, and Contemporary Rooms—each reflecting a different era in the town’s history. Modern amenities such as Nespresso coffee machines, flat-screen TVs, and luxurious bedding ensure a very comfortable stay.

We stayed in a beautiful Tudor Room in the original 16th-century part of the hotel, directly overlooking Shakespeare’s New Place – exquisite gardens and artworks designed to celebrate the family home of William Shakespeare. The room exuded a quirky charm with an eclectic mix of artwork on the walls, a very comfortable Hypnos bed enrobed in luxury Egyptian cotton linens, and furnishings in rich colors complemented by modern amenities like the Nespresso coffee machine and complimentary minibar all tucked away in a Narnia-like wardrobe with the thickest wooden doors I’ve ever seen. Although bijou and almost triangular-in-shape, the spa-inspired bathroom was perfectly formed with a wonderfully powerful rain shower and beautiful fragrant luxury bathroom amenities.

Inside the hotel, you will find The Woodsman Restaurant, which is independent of the hotel and the brainchild of Head Chef Greg Newman and Mike Robinson, whose passion for British produce and sustainable wild food is well renowned. This unique and characterful restaurant and bar within the hotel offered a culinary experience like no other, surrounded by hunting artworks and memorabilia all set around a large hearth at one end and a large wood-fired oven and charcoal grill at the other, where diners can watch the chefs meticulously prepare their food. The restaurant focuses on sustainability and seasonality. Their exquisitely presented dishes are made from locally sourced produce, including British deer, wild boar, Hebridean lamb, and fish from Cornish fisheries, all beautifully complemented by the freshest Evesham vegetables and wild herbs from the kitchen garden.

We enjoyed three delicious à la carte courses accompanied by a delicious French wine; you can also choose a seven-course tasting menu too. The lightly poached chalk stream trout was simply beautiful with its contrasting colors of beetroot, trout caviar, and ponzu. For main, the pave & shoulder of Bathurst estate fallow deer was melt-in-the-mouth, and the ‘dirty mash’ side is not to be missed. Finally, the puddings are an art form and a sensation for the eyes and palate. If you’re staying in Stratford upon Avon, then a meal at The Woodsman Restaurant is truly an absolute must!

The following morning, we enjoyed an extensive breakfast with a variety of hot options alongside a wide range of continental buffet options including cereals, fresh fruits, smoothies, cheeses, and delicious chocolate chip banana cakes all complemented by teas, coffees, and fresh juices. The breakfast room was eccentric, just like the rest of the building, with exposed wood beams and a unique set-up of large wooden farmhouse-style dining tables as well as smaller tables for two.

In the afternoons, The Falcon Tea Room offers an elegant setting for afternoon tea, whilst at night, it transforms into a romantic cocktail bar, offering a lovely, sophisticated ambiance for guests to unwind in.

Whilst in Stratford upon Avon, we also took in a Gin Tour at the Shakespeare Distillery , just a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The distillery blends classic and, occasionally, overlooked ingredients using modern techniques to create exciting new spirits inspired by the Tudor era. Here, you can experience a fun and educational tour of their working distillery, learning the art of gin and rum making from their founder, exploring their history, and sampling three of their delicious gins and rums. Your tour is completed with a delicious complimentary gin & tonic – I have to recommend the rhubarb gin with ginger ale. It was a real taste sensation. The tour is suitable for ages eight and above, and the distillery team couldn’t be more accommodating and helpful. There are soft drink options available, and tour guests can enjoy a 10% discount on their purchases in the shop. The tour costs £19.50 for adults and £12.50 for children eight and over.

With its historic roots, Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon lends an air of authenticity and timeless allure to any retreat in the heart of Shakespeare’s birthplace. From its excellent location and charming accommodations to the truly outstanding dining, every aspect of the hotel reflects the spirit and heritage of Stratford-upon-Avon, and we look forward to our return.

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