Road Trip Toronto to Stratford – Shakespeare Festival
Toronto
Stratford
150
km
2h
drive
All seasons
season
The Itinerary
Stratford is a small southwestern Ontario city of roughly 33,000 people that reinvented itself around a theatre festival. The Stratford Festival opened in 1953 in a tent on the banks of the Avon River, and has grown into the largest classical repertory theatre operation in North America, running from about April to October across four venues including the Festival Theatre and its thrust stage. The town leaned into the name it already had, complete with an Avon River and a Shakespearean street plan.
From Toronto the drive is about 150 km, most easily by Highway 401 west to Kitchener and then Highway 7/8 through Shakespeare village into Stratford. The Avon runs through the middle of town, edged by parkland, footbridges and formal gardens, with the resident swans put out onto the water each spring in a small parade that locals turn out for. Downtown is compact and walkable, packed with bistros, galleries and antique shops within a few blocks of the theatres.
Stratford has also become a serious food destination, anchored by the Stratford Chefs School and its training restaurants, and stitched together by self-guided routes past cheesemakers, chocolatiers and craft brewers. Justin Bieber grew up here, and the tourism office maintains a Bieber Trail of childhood landmarks that draws a steady stream of visitors. Matinee days and shoulder-season weekends in spring and autumn are the easiest times to get tickets and a table. The town is quiet in winter, when most of the theatres are dark.
From Toronto the drive is about 150 km, most easily by Highway 401 west to Kitchener and then Highway 7/8 through Shakespeare village into Stratford. The Avon runs through the middle of town, edged by parkland, footbridges and formal gardens, with the resident swans put out onto the water each spring in a small parade that locals turn out for. Downtown is compact and walkable, packed with bistros, galleries and antique shops within a few blocks of the theatres.
Stratford has also become a serious food destination, anchored by the Stratford Chefs School and its training restaurants, and stitched together by self-guided routes past cheesemakers, chocolatiers and craft brewers. Justin Bieber grew up here, and the tourism office maintains a Bieber Trail of childhood landmarks that draws a steady stream of visitors. Matinee days and shoulder-season weekends in spring and autumn are the easiest times to get tickets and a table. The town is quiet in winter, when most of the theatres are dark.
Points of Interest
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✦
Stratford FestivalThe largest Shakespearean festival in North America, April to October.
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Avon RiverRiver with swans, gondolas, footbridges and gardens.
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Stratford Chefs SchoolRenowned cooking school with its own training restaurants.
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✦
Bieber TrailSelf-guided tour of Justin Bieber's childhood haunts.
Protected areas along the route
🌿
Guelph District Crown Lands
General Use Area
🌿
TRILLIUM WOODS PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Bronte Creek Provincial Park Deletion
Public lands
🌿
BRONTE CREEK PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Bronte Creek Provincial Park Addition
Recommended Provincial Park
🌿
Hullett
Provincial Wildlife Area
🌿
HOLLAND LANDING PRAIRIE PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
DARLINGTON PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
FORKS OF THE CREDIT PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Aylmer District Crown Lands
General Use Area
🌿
Luther Marsh
Provincial Wildlife Area
🌿
Alton Grange
General Use Area
Take this route offline
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Try PDF Export How geo-referenced PDF maps workPractical info
- Departure Toronto
- Destination Stratford
- Distance 150 km
- Duration 2h
- Category Medium (100–250 km)
- Best season All seasons
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