Exactly How to Get from London to Stratford-upon-Avon (+ cheap options)

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One of the most historic cities in all of the UK is undoubtedly Stratford-upon-Avon.

Home to Shakespeare, including his birthplace and grave, hundreds of thousands of visitors each year flock from London to Stratford-upon-Avon.

But how do you get from London to Stratford-upon-Avon?

That is the real question, as recent years have seen a decrease in direct transit routes despite it being a super popular destination.

The things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon mean that it’s worth figuring out the journey from London to Stratford-upon-Avon, however, as you can see a Shakespeare play, wander along the River Avon, see the church where Shakespeare is buried, tour through his birthplace, and enjoy the walkable and compact area.

In this guide, I’ll talk about the best way to get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London so you can plan your day trip, transfer, or weekend getaway in this charming English town.

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Distance from London to Stratford upon Avon

The actual distance from Stratford upon Avon to London is about 105 miles.

You can see on this map where it is in relation to London, which is to the northwest.

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How to Get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London Using Public Transportation

As always, the best way to get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London is taking public transportation, whether that’s a bus to Stratford-upon-Avon from London or the train from London to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Public transportation is how the UK runs and operates – cities are well connected, and many people use trains and buses to commute and take day trips rather than driving.

Part of this is a culture thing, and part of it is because parking is so hard to find in parts of the UK (and you have to pay for it!), that going via public transportation is often easier and less expensive.

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How to Get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London by Train

Despite the potential for a train change, which I’ll get to in a minute, if you want to know how to travel to Stratford upon Avon from London, my tip would be to take the train.

Not only can you get very cheap tickets from London to Stratford-upon-Avon if you purchase ahead of time (about £8 each way per person, which is a steal!), but it also means you can sit back and enjoy the ride without having to navigate traffic.

You can purchase your tickets online at Omio, and you can see here the different options and how the prices vary by time.

Purchasing them ahead of time will be cheaper than purchasing on the day.

The train time from London to Stratford upon Avon is about 2 hours to 3 hours depending on the route.

The one annoying thing about getting to Stratford upon Avon from London is that many of the routes require you to switch trains.

You can see on the example above which ones do, and if you click on each individual change, it will show you what you are supposed to do.

If you purchase a ticket, it will be valid on both of those lines.

That being said, train is still the best way to get from London to Stratford-upon-Avon, and many of the train stations that the routes change at are basic ones with only a few platforms so you can’t get too lost!

Keep in mind that a “single” ticket is one way, and a “return” ticket is round trip.

Click here to check the cheapest train options for your dates

How to Get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London by Bus

Another option to get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London is by taking the bus (or a coach, as they call them in the UK when it’s a bus that takes you a long distance).

You can purchase tickets via the Omio website, and the buses leave from London Victoria Station to Stratford-upon-Avon direct.

The journey takes about 2 and a half hours, as given on the website, but keep in mind that it’s very possible to get stuck in traffic which could delay your journey.

Prices range from £7 to 10 each way per person if you book in advance, and this is definitely an option, particularly if you’re staying near London Victoria Station.

However, again, keep in mind the potential traffic issues and also any car sickness issues that are in your traveling group – roads in the UK can be quite winding!

There will also be fewer bus options, usually, whereas there are more trains leaving constantly.

Click here to find the cheapest bus options to Stratford for your dates

Driving from London to Stratford upon Avon

For those who already have cars, it is of course possible to drive from London to Stratford-upon-Avon, but I don’t recommend it for London visitors who don’t have a car.

If you don’t have a car in the UK, you’ll want to rent one using Discover Cars for the best comparison prices.

Driving on the opposite side of the road (for most people) can be a difficult adjustment, particularly when you go from larger roads to smaller roads with fewer options for mistakes.

Renting a car can also be a nightmare that you don’t need to deal with as a visitor to London for a simple day trip.

You would need to navigate London traffic, deal with parking when you get to Stratford-upon-Avon, and it’s not worth the hassle!

Taking a Guided Tour from London to Stratford-upon-Avon

The final way to make it to Stratford-upon-Avon from London is to take a guided tour.

I’ve listed a few options below that I recommend if you’re more into being taken around somewhere so you don’t miss the major sights.

Oxford, Stratford, and Cotswolds Day Trip: this day trip from London takes you to three amazing places in the UK – Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and the Cotswolds.

This is a real whirlwind day where you’ll see a lot, but keep in mind that you won’t experience a great amount of time in each place as the purpose of the trip is more for seeing “more” rather than “longer.”

However, if you do want to pack in as much as you can, this is a great option.

Check out this day trip and prices here