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Trips to Stratford for English, Drama & Performing Arts Students

Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and is unsurprisingly steeped in culture and history. Set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the river Avon, it is one of the most important student group destinations in the UK.

School trips to Stratford upon Avon are an inspired choice because it gives students the chance to visit to the famous Swan Theatre, a modern theatre space based on the design of playhouses in Elizabethan England, as well as Shakespeare's Birthplace and Holy Trinity Church, his actual burial location.

Prices start from£149pp

Sample itinerary

Our sample itinerary provides you with an idea of the visits you can cover during your trip. We can tailor-make an itinerary to support your specific learning outcomes.

Morning Afternoon Evening
1 Executive coach transfer to accommodation Visit some of the Shakespeare's Properties Watch an RSC performance. Evening meal
2 Shakespeare Workshop Behind-the-scenes RSC tour Executive coach travel home
  • 1
  • 2
Morning Executive coach transfer to accommodation
Afternoon Visit some of the Shakespeare's Properties
Evening Watch an RSC performance. Evening meal
Morning Shakespeare Workshop
Afternoon Behind-the-scenes RSC tour
Evening Executive coach travel home

Price Shown includes

  • 1 night’s bed & breakfast accommodation
  • Executive coach transport from & to college & throughout your stay
  • Extensive group travel insurance
  • 1 in 10 free place ratio

The visits shown in the sample itinerary above are not included in your quoted price unless indicated. If you would like to add any of these activities to your quote price, please get in touch.

Price shown is based on 40 paying passengers departing from a selected departure point on selected dates and is subject to availability.


On-tour support

On-tour support includes...

  • Services of a StudyLink City Representative to provide a 24-hour assistance

Additional on-tour support available...

  • Pre-booked meals at great group prices
  • Priority booking service for RSC productions
  • Pre-booked meals at great group prices
  • Services of a Local Guide

Top visits for college groups in Stratford

Royal Shakespeare Company Production

Located on the bank of the River Avon in Shakespeare’s home town, the Royal Shakespeare Company welcomes school groups to experience world renowned productions every day. Furthermore, as there is a requirement in the curriculum for students to study two Shakespeare plays, this is a perfect opportunity to introduce your group to various Shakespeare texts. 

Theatre Workshops

At the YHA Stratford, we can provide popular curriculum-linked workshops such as ‘An Introduction to Shakespeare’, ‘Circus and Clowning’, ‘Improvisation’, ‘Playwriting’, and ‘An Inspector Calls’. Course content can be tailored to meet the needs of your group.

RSC Tower

The 36-metre high tower offers an iconic landmark for the RSC theatres whilst providing fantastic views of Shakespeare’s home town. A lift will take you to the 32-metre high viewing platform. As you descend you will find an exhibition installed on the walls and in the alcoves.

Shakespeare Properties Sessions

Put the spotlight on Shakespeare with an interactive talk that aids the discussion of language use, exploration of literary and historical context, and the discovery of characterisation and stagecraft. Choose from a range of plays for comparison and link your workshop to suit your students’ needs. 

RSC Tours

Go behind-the-scenes to discover more about the theatre-making process. Starting in the foyer, these guided tours explore the public and private areas of the theatre. Learn about the history of the RSC, the theatres and the recent transformation. Theatre tours last up to one hour.

Tudor World

Step back in time and experience a slice of what it was like to lead a Tudor life. Put your feet up in a four-poster bed, see what it would have been like to sit at an Elizabethan dining table and imagine ruling the land by taking your seat on a throne.

Stratford Walks

Take an award-winning guided walk around the historic streets and explore Stratford, its history, attractions and fascinating relationship with Shakespeare. Hear informative and interesting stories of fires, flooding, the plague and mediaeval cures!

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Take a guided visit of up to five of Shakespeare’s properties. Each one offers a unique opportunity to gain an insight into the life and times of William Shakespeare. Your guide will assist your students in forming a picture of Shakespeare’s life and introduce them to the influences on his work. Options include: 

  • Shakespeare’s Birthplace – This is where it all began. William Shakespeare was born and grew up in this house. 
  • Anne Hathaway’s Cottage – Discover the family home of Shakespeare’s wife with its beautiful cottage gardens.
  • Shakespeare’s Church – Complete the story in Stratford with a visit to Shakespeare’s grave at Holy Trinity Church to see his memorial.
  • Shakespeare's New Place – Walk in the Playwright's footsteps, explore a dramatic landscape and meet the man behind the famous works.

Stratford Ghost Walk

On an award winning ghost walk, your group will meander around the streets of Stratford and discover terrible tales and sinister stories of ghosts, witches, murder and misery.

RSC Workshops

Tailored to meet your learning objectives, these half or full day workshops provide students with either a first introduction to, or a deeper study of a chosen plays language, characters and themes. Each workshop is led by RSC Education Associate Practitioners all of whom have first-hand experience of RSC rehearsal room practice, working either as actors, directors or theatre education specialists.

For upper primary groups, our workshops are designed to explore language, character and themes and include the development of written outcomes.

RSC - The Play's The Thing Exhibition

Take a magical journey through 100 years of theatre-making in Stratford-upon-Avon with our new permanent exhibition "The Play's The Thing". Discover rarely-seen treasures from our museum and archive: exquisite costumes, amazing model-boxes and weird and wonderful props. Get hands-on and celebrate the creativity behind the scenes; discover the inspiration behind some of our most acclaimed shows, play Hamlet alongside actor Ewart James Walters, using state-of-the-art gaming technology, try on virtual costumes from our collection and take a photo, dress up in the dressing room and take part in the Quick Change Challenge and many more.


Study themes

  • Music, Media & Community Arts

  • Contemporary Music Theatre