Stratford upon Avon Landmarks and Monuments

(Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, England, UK)

Many locals would agree that although there are countless important landmarks within Stratford upon Avon, it is the American Fountain that forms the focal point of the actual town centre, being located at the corner of both Windsor Street and Rother Street, close to the White Swan Pub.

Other landmarks and past monuments are related to the town's famous bard, William Shakespeare, such as the half-timbered house, Halls Croft. Also a must-see is the Gower Memorial and its statues of fictional Shakespearean characters, the very splendid Harvard House on Guild Street, and the Holy Trinity Church - home to Shakespeare's much-visited burial site.

Almshouses

Address: Chapel Street, Stratford upon Avon, England, UK
Tel: +44 0191 386 8803
The town's famous row of Almshouses was founded at the beginning of the 15th century by the Guild of the Holy Cross for elderly locals. Standing alongside both the Guild Chapel and the King Edward VI Grammar School, the Almshouses are in a good state of repair, following a major renovation project during the mid-1980s.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

American Fountain

Address: 14 Rother Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6LU, England, UK
Built to celebrate and commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, the American Fountain was gifted to Stratford upon Avon by George Childs, an influential journalist from Philadelphia. Known for its dramatic Gothic appearance, the fountain also functions as a rather ornate clock tower and is engraved with a number of quotations from Shakespeare plays.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Gower Memorial

Address: Little Church Street, Bridgefoot, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6QW, England, UK
Tel: +44 01789 293 127
Something for Shakespeare sightseers visiting Stratford upon Avon is the Gower Memorial, which is located within the Bancroft Gardens and was presented to the town in the late 1980s by Lord Ronald Sutherland Gower. This monument depicts William Shakespeare in a seated position, together with some of his most famous characters, including both Hamlet and Lady Macbeth.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Guild Chapel

Address: 41 Guild Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6EP, England, UK
Tel: +44 01789 293 351
The Guild Chapel was established during the 13th century, although rebuilt some 200 years later. Resembling a church more than an actual chapel, this important religious landmark is close to Stratford upon Avon town centre and is home to some very well preserved 16th-century frescoes, which adorn the interior walls. Services are held at the Guild Chapel each Wednesday morning, and again once a month, on the first Saturday of the month.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Hall's Croft

Address: Old Town, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6BG, England, UK
Tel: +44 01789 292 107
An excellent example of a 16th-century house, Hall's Croft has strong connections with the Shakespeare family, being once the home of Dr. John Hall and his wife Susanna, the actual daughter of William Shakespeare himself. Named after the Hall family, Hall's Croft is managed by the town's Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and contains an interesting array of historic medical paraphernalia, as well as a number of 16th-century art works and an attractive walled garden, complete with medicinal herbs.
Open hours: April, May, September and October, daily -11:00 to 17:00; June to August, Monday to Saturday - 09:30 to 17:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00; November to March, daily - 11:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for families and children

Harvard House

Address: 12 Guild Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6AU, England, UK
Tel: +44 01789 204 507
Harvard House is a magnificent white and black Elizabethan town house and perhaps the most ornate landmark of its kind in Stratford upon Avon. Rebuilt following the town's infamous Great Fire in 1594, the Harvard House was formerly owned by the grandparents of the founder of America's acclaimed Harvard University in Cambridge, near Boston. The house and its enormous collection of valuable antiques are now actually owned by Harvard University, although managed on the university's behalf by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 10:30 to 16:30
Admission: free

Holy Trinity Church

Address: Windsor Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6BG, England, UK
Tel: +44 01789 266 316
Ranking amongst the most beautiful of all the parish churches located within the Midlands, the Holy Trinity Church's chancel serves as a particularly notable landmark in Stratford upon Avon, since it is where local playwright William Shakespeare was buried in 1616, two days after his death. The grave itself is fairly subtle and features a simple engraving, while the north wall of the church features a stone half-statue of Shakespeare, with quill in hand.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Town Hall

Address: 35 Sheep Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6EF, England, UK
Stratford Town Hall is slightly out of character when compared to the profusion of surrounding 15th and 16th century buildings, since is was rebuilt and completely remodelled during the latter part of the 18th century, following lasting damage during the Civil War. Visitors to the Town Hall will discover many interesting features worth looking out for, including a statue of William Shakespeare himself.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 16:00
Admission: free