Between its historic Victorian charm, lively theatre scene, and inviting small-town ambiance, Stratford stands out as one of the most beautiful small towns in Ontario.
Having grown up in Windsor, I was lucky enough to visit the city numerous times throughout my childhood, with my family visiting frequently during summer holidays. Even now, as an adult, Stratford remains one of my favourite destinations in Southwestern Ontario and makes for a fantastic day trip from London.
From its picturesque outdoor spaces and famous Shakespearean festival to the unique boutique stores and eateries unlike anywhere else in Canada, there are so many things to do in Stratford.
And while it does make for an excellent day trip destination, I personally recommend first time visitors plan a weekend trip to fully immerse in all of the distinct charms of this wondrous destination.
- Catch a Show During the Stratford Festival
- Grab a Coffee at a Local Cafe
- Walk Along the River
- Kayak Along the Avon River
- Take a Stroll Through the Shakespearean Gardens
- Check Out the Local Bars and Restaurants
- Follow the Bacon & Ale Trail
- Follow the Stratford Chocolate Trail
- Admire Public Art at the Gallery Stratford
- Explore Local History at the Stratford Perth Museum
- Take a Walking Tour of Downtown Stratford
- Admire the Lights Tom Patterson Island
- Pay Your Respects at the Stratford Memorial Garden
- Browse Around the Stratford Farmers Market
- Unwind at Illume Wellness Spa
The 15 Best Things to Do in Stratford, Ontario
1. Catch a Show During the Stratford Festival
While Stratford is a beautiful year-round getaway, my favourite time to visit is during the Stratford Festival. An absolute must-visit for any theatre lover, the Stratford Festival is the largest repertory theatre company in North America and holds its breathtaking performances between April and October each year.
During the festival, the town reaches the pinnacle of its charms, with dozens of shows performed across four different venues, including the famous Avon Theatre, the Stratford Festival Theatre, the Tom Patterson Theatre, and the Studio Theatre.
While there is definitely a focus on Shakespearean plays, the Stratford Festival offers a variety of productions to satisfy all tastes, including non-shakespearean performances, musicals, and even original works.
2. Grab a Coffee at a Local Cafe
The best way to start your day in Stratford is at one of the city’s local cafes. But don’t just stop by for a coffee to go.
Be sure to sit down and take your time to fully immerse in the community’s European-esque vibes before beginning your day’s exploration.
Features and Balzac’s Stratford are both staples of the city and feature a great coffee and breakfast menu. However, due to their location in the downtown core, both can become very busy, especially around brunch.
For something a little more low-key, I always like to begin my days in Stratford at Romeo’s Corner Cafe.
Located a little further from the main downtown area near the Stratford Festival Theatre, this welcoming diner offers a slightly quieter setting for beginning your day and a delicious breakfast menu of Shakespearan-inspired dishes.
3. Walk Along the River
Cutting its way through the downtown area, the Avon River is the heart of the Stratford Community. It is simply beautiful.
All visitors need to plan to spend at least some time walking the riverside path that loops its way around the river from the Waterloo Street N bridge to the Lakeside Drive East Leg.
The whole loop spans 3.5 km and takes about 45 minutes to complete. However, if you don’t want to do the whole trail, at least do the short walk from the Memorial Gardens downtown to Tom Patterson Island near the Stratford Festival Theatre.
Even just this short stretch promises plenty of year-round beauty for appreciating the natural allure of the region.
4. Kayak Along the Avon River
The Avon River is particularlay inviting during the summer months. Afterall, with such a beautiful river just steps away, it would be a shame to not get on the water during your stay in the community.
Avon Boat Rentals offers several watercraft rentals for recreational use, including paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes. Available on a first come first serve basis, these waterbound paddle vehicles are the ultimate way to explore the natural serenity of the river.
5. Take a Stroll Through the Shakespearean Gardens
To complete your immersion into the Victorian charms of Stratford, you should next head over to the Shakespearean Gardens. Set along the banks of the Avon River, the gardens are a charming natural space set in the centre of the city that provides a fairy-tale-like setting that matches the dramatic feel of the community.
The beautiful gardens feature plenty of foliage and flowers often mention Shakespearan plays, along with a 65 foot tall chimney that only adds to the over romanticism of the site.
The park has a picnic table and a gazebo, making it the perfect place for a morning stroll or outdoor picnic.
6. Check Out the Local Bars and Restaurants
For being a small town, Stratford boasts quite an impressive food and drink scene, and one of the best things to do in Stratford is to take some time to explore some of its offerings.
There are dozens of fantastic eateries to try. If you are looking for a quick bite, I suggest stopping by the El Cactus Taco Shop for elevated Mexican cuisine prepared by a graduate of the local Stratford Chefs School.
Alternatively, you can reserve a table at Bijou Restaurant for a more elevated experience. This French-inspired bistro boasts a seasonal farm-to-table menu and is often fully booked during the Stratford Festival seasons. So be sure to reserve your table in advance.
To end your culinary tour of the city’s unique flavours, be sure to stop by the Relic Lobby Bar for a few cocktails or head over to the Black Swan Brewing for a fantastic selection of local craft beers.
7. Follow the Bacon & Ale Trail
Speaking of the local food and beer scene, you should definitely check out the Bacon & Ale Trail.
This self-guided tour of the city features stops at 14 different breweries and restaurants, each serving its own unique bacon or ale specialty.
While the stops can be visited independently, I suggest doing it with the official Bacon & Ale Trail. For $40, participants receive five vouchers redeemable at any of the participating venues, allowing you to mix and match the stops to make the perfect tour tailored for you.
8. Follow the Stratford Chocolate Trail
If bacon and beer isn’t your thing, maybe you would prefer to embark on the self-guided Stratford Chocolate Trail instead.
Like the Bacon & Ale Trail, the chocolate trail costs $40 for six vouchers redeemable at 25 different stops throughout the city. However, this tour revolves around all things sweets.
While you are free to choose your own stops along the trail, I personally suggest including a visit to the Boar’s Head Pub for my personal favourite dessert – a gluten-free brownie with fudge sauce, berries & french vanilla ice cream.
9. Admire Public Art at the Gallery Stratford
Opened in 1967, Gallery Stratford is one of the longest-running public art galleries in Ontario and houses a fantastic collection of rotating exhibits that features works by local, national, and international artists.
The best part is that the gallery has no admission fee, making it one of the best free things to do in Stratford.
Guests are welcome to come browse the rotating pieces within the gallery at their own pace, along with a small collection of outdoor pieces found within their scenic gardens.
10. Explore Local History at the Stratford Perth Museum
The Stratford Perth Museum is an essential stop along any tour of the city. Here, you will explore the evolution of the local communities’ artistic, industrial, and commercial culture through a series of permanent and rotating exhibits.
Along with several historical showcases, popular current exhibits include the semi-permanent Justin Bieber: Steps to Stardom. Opened in 2018, this exhibit explores the life and fame of the Stratford-local superstar while working closely with Bieber and his family.
As of the time this article was written, the exhibit is only confirmed to remain in the museum until the end of 2024. So fans should plan their visit soon.
11. Take a Walking Tour of Downtown Stratford
With many of the city’s top attractions being concentrated around the downtown core, a free walking tour is one of the best ways to experience everything the region offers and is one of the best things to do in Stratford.
You can start basically anywhere along your self-guided trail. But for the sake of this post I suggest starting at the Shakespearean Gardens along the river. From there, you stop by the Perth County Courthouse before following the river to the festival gardens or head into town.
In town, you will find charming boutique shops and landmarks such as the Stratford Armory, Stratford City Hall, and Market Square. You should also plan a stop along Downie Street to visit the Avon Theatre and the Stratford Walk of Fame.
12. Admire the Lights Tom Patterson Island
Regardless of how you choose to spend your time in the city, the best way to end your day in Stratford is along an evening walk across Tom Patterson Island.
Between Lights On Stratford during the winter and the Stratford Festival in the summer months, the picturesque island features plenty of illuminated displays for a captivating evening, admiring the lights as they reflect off the soothing waters of the Avon River.
13. Pay Your Respects at the Stratford Memorial Garden
Found at the northern end of Downie Street, the Stratford Memorial Garden is a beautiful outdoor space dedicated to the city’s wartime heroes. While not overly extensive, the park is worth visiting and features several information boards and sculptures that honour the region’s fallen soldiers.
14. Browse Around the Stratford Farmers Market
While not one of the most talked about things to do in Stratford, you would be remiss to visit the city without at least stopping by the Stratford Farmers Market.
Operating since 1855, the market is one of the oldest and longest running farmers markets in Ontario and features 40 full time and part time vendors. A great spot to pick up local produce and goods, the market’s indoor space operates throughout the year and opens its additional outdoor vendors between May and October.
The market is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm from Monday to Friday and from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays, closing on Sundays.
15. Get a Massage
Stratford is a destination where you are going to do a lot of walking. You are going to get sore.
Luckily, Stratford has no shortage of spas within its downtown area, and booking a massage is a great way to end your day exploring this marvelous destination.
Illume Wellness Spa and Sunshine Bliss Sugar Spa are directly downtown, but there are several smaller facilities found all along Ontario St.
