HOW TO GET FROM
LONDON TO STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
AND
CONNECTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
A useful website, which gives detailed travel directions between any two places within the UK is: Transport Direct

The information on this page is intended just to give you an idea of typical ways of getting from London to Stratford-Upon-Avon. A section at the bottom of the page describes routes from Birmingham International Airport, and Heathrow.

Details of times and prices change, so you need to check all the details of current times and prices with your travel agent.

You can get from London to Stratford-Upon-Avon either by car, by train, by scheduled bus service, or by organised tour:

By Car

The M40 Motorway gives easy access to Warwickshire from London. The journey from London up the M40 takes about an hour.

To get detailed traffic directions, for any route within the UK, the best route planner is at The AA.

M40 Motorway
Within Warwickshire, a major trunk road, the A46, links Stratford, Warwick, Kenilworth and Coventry. This photo shows the A46.

The A46 meets the M40 Motorway from London at the Longbridge Island, a major intersection, between Warwick and Stratford.

A46 Trunk Road

By Train

Chiltern Railways operate a direct service from London Marylebone to Stratford.
No changes required.
Journey time is 2hr 19 mins.
Leaves London 8.54, arrives Stratford 11.08. Next service leaves London 10.54.
Price about £30 return. See more details in box at right.

There are detailed time-tables and fares (including services by some other operators going via Birmingham, which are not direct, and require a change), at National Rail.

The Shakespeare Explorer ticket
from Chiltern railways

  • One outward and return journey from London Marylebone to Leamington Spa, Warwick, Warwick Parkway and all intermediate stations to Stratford-upon-Avon.
  • Unlimited travel to and from all stations between Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon (inclusive) for the period of validity.
  • Break of journey at stations between London Marylebone and Leamington Spa when travelling to or from the Rover area - stop off at Bicester Village or other attractions along our route.
  • Valid from London Marylebone at any time. Not valid for return travel to London on trains timed to arrive London Marylebone before 10.00 Mondays to Fridays.
  • 1 Day validity - Adult: £30.00, Child: £15.00, Senior: £22.00
    4 Days validity - Adult: £45.00, Child: £22.50, Senior: £33.00
The Chiltern Railways service comes High Wycombe, Bicester, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Hatton and Wilmcote, through attractive countryside much of the way.

The train station in Stratford is in the centre of the town, near the Market Place.


Stratford Station
Stratford Station

By Bus

By National Express coach service.
Journey time is 3hrs.
Leaves London 8.30, arrives Stratford 11.45.
Returns from Stratford at 17.45.
Price about £18 return.

By Organised Tour

There are many organised 1-day coach tours from London, usually including Oxford, Warwick and Stratford.
Prices usually about £55, which often includes some entrance charges.
But they don't allow much time at each place. Some operators provide the option for an overnight stay in Stratford, returning to London on another day.
Examples: All London Tours.


Connections to International Airports

The nearest international airport to Stratford is Birmingham International. Website: Birmingham International Airport.

Direct flights to Birmingham International from North America only operate from a limited number of destinations, but do include New York, Orlando, and Toronto.

Birmingham International is 26 miles from Stratford, and is (normally) an easy journey down the M40 and A46, by hire car or taxi.

There is a wider selection of international flights into London Heathrow.

To get from Heathrow to Stratford directly you could use a hire car, train, or coach service.

Travelling by car, the journey is 94 miles and should take about 1 hour 40 minutes.

There is no direct rail route between Heathrow and Stratford. The journey planner at Transport Direct shows a variety of routes, all requiring a combination of buses/coaches and trains. The journey time is between 3 and 4 hours.

The National Express coach network provides a coach service from Heathrow to Birmingham, and a coach from Birmingham to Stratford. The total journey time by coach is 5 hours 15 minutes.


Hotels and Guest Houses in Stratford
Accommodation in Surrounding Areas

Stratford-Upon-Avon Tourist Guide
Heart-of-England Main Page
E-mail John Webb