Top 15 Shakespeare Tours in Britain

1.The Sinister Side of Shakespeare’s Stratford Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 547 reviews · 1h 30m · from $16Our pick

Join Joe Rukin, Herald of Mercia, for a 90-minute evening walk through Stratford-upon-Avon. Hear stories of murder, witchcraft, plague, torture, ghosts, and Doctor John Hall while seeing Shakespeare's town from its darker side.

“A great tour round some of the lesser known parts of Stratford. A great mix of historical information and some scary stories. Our guide was really friendly/funny and engaging. This tour is amazing value and very entertaining.”

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2.Shakespeare’s Birthplace Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 476 reviews · 1 day · from $33

Enter Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street, explore John Shakespeare’s glove-making workshop and the rooms where William grew up, then visit the Beyond Words exhibition and see a 1632 Second Folio. Smartphone videos, garden performances, and room guides add context. Allow about 1 to 1.5 hours.

“Excellent my son and I are on holiday from glasgow and decided to come through for the day on a recommendation from our family in Wolverhampton and I'm so glad we did top notch”

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4.Full Day Cotswolds Tour with Shakespeare’s Stratford

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 195 reviews

Travel from London Paddington in a 16-seat minibus with local guide Paul, combining a short stop in Stratford-upon-Avon with Chipping Campden, Snowshill, Bourton-on-the-Water, Bibury, and Arlington Row. Expect country roads, free time, historic villages, and a full but rewarding 10.5-hour day.

“Our guided day trip to the Cotswolds was an unforgettable experience! The tour was well-organized, and our guide Paul was both knowledgeable and friendly, sharing stories and insights throughout the day. Each stop was picturesque and full of charm, from quaint villages to stunning countryside views. It was the perfect balance of sightseeing and free time to explore. Highly recommended for anyone looking to experience the beauty of rural England in a day!”

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5.Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 195 reviews · from $36

Enter Shakespeare’s Globe from the river side for a guided look at its reconstructed Elizabethan playhouse. Guides such as Gerard, Finn, Joe, and Tyler bring the theatre’s story to life, while the exhibition adds costumes, props, displays, and a practical look at Shakespeare’s London.

“Joe was a fantastic tour guide! Kind, engaging, and a lot of fun. This tour is packed full of history and tidbits for only being 45 mins long. Well worth the time and money. My mom and I had a blast. And I am obsessed with the gift shop.”

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6.Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 172 reviews · 11 hours · from $120

Travel from London to Stratford-upon-Avon by air-conditioned coach for an 11-hour Shakespeare day. Visit his Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and New Place, then explore the town or River Avon independently. This is an unescorted trip, so plan your route between attractions.

“The trip exceeded expectations. Oliver, our guide, was sharp and engaging, and Kee handled the drive smoothly. Everything ran on time and felt well thought out. The local guides in Stratford added real value, especially the one at Shakespeare’s School—listening to them was a highlight for me. Would definitely recommend this day out.”

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7.Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall Entrance Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 70 reviews · 1 hour · from $20

Explore Shakespeare's Schoolroom and Guildhall in Stratford-upon-Avon during a one-hour visit. Sit where young William Shakespeare studied, join Master Thomas Jenkins for a Tudor lesson, try quill writing, view rare medieval wall paintings, and dress in period clothing. The experience is in English and wheelchair accessible.

“Het is erg klein met beneden uitleg over de gilde en boven de school. Het leukste onderdeel is de 'les' die we kregen door een leraar uit de tijd van Shakespeare”

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8.Shakespeare Distillery Tour & Tasting (Gin & Rum)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 69 reviews · 1h 15m · from $26

Spend 75 minutes with guides such as Sharon and Dave at Stratford-upon-Avon’s only working distillery. See small-batch gin and rum made, bottled, labelled, and sealed by hand, then taste three spirits and choose gin and tonic or rum with a mixer.

“Fab way to spend a couple of hours informative fun and the tasting was delicious”

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9.Warwickshire: The Explorer Pass by Shakespeare’s England

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 26 reviews · 1 - 3 days · from $62

Build your own Warwickshire itinerary with a 1, 2, or 3-day Explorer Pass. Use the QR code for entry to Warwick Castle, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Kenilworth Castle, museums, a river cruise, butterfly farm, motor museum and selected gin experiences.

“Good pass but more limited choice of attractions than other passes. Gin tasting was fabulous though!”

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10.2-Hour Shakespeare Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 17 reviews · 2 hours · from $22

Meet actor-guide Declan at Blackfriars Underground Station for a two-hour walk through Shakespeare’s London. Learn how the Bard spoke, hear scenes performed along the way, and find quiet lanes, overlooked memorials, a totem pole, and a remarkable monument based on one of his famous monologues.

“Great tour! Our guide had huge knowledge of Shakespeare's history around the corners of London that it would have been impossible to get to know by myself. In addition, great artistic skills for bringing quotes from Shakespeare's plays during the tour! Highly recommended!”

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11.Southwark to Shoreditch Shakespeare Promenade

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 11 reviews · from $21

Follow an actor guide from Mansion House to Shoreditch through Shakespeare’s London. Hear speeches and stories at the Globe, Millennium Bridge, Guildhall, and former playhouse sites, with a 20-minute Barbican break. Small groups of six make this a focused tour for adults and theatre fans.

“Dee was a fabulous Guide...so knowledgeable and talented...made the tour come alive!...I highly recommend this tour. Five star, definately.”

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12.Shakespeare’s London: Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 8 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $33

Walk through Shakespeare’s London with Eddie, a native Londoner and classically trained actor. Over 2.5 hours, you’ll connect Elizabethan theatre sites, St Paul’s, the Barbican, and the Globe with period maps, Shakespeare readings, and a sample of Elizabethan food and drink.

“Eddie was a knowledgeable guide and, as a Londoner, could give us insights into London life today as well as in Shakespeare’s time. We particularly appreciated the period refreshment he offered up partway through the tour! The walk is quite long but Eddie built in rest breaks and took it steady. He included period maps to put everything into context. Unfortunately, we were not able to explore an important relevant church as a service was ongoing (not a Sunday or at an advertised time), which was not Eddie’s fault. This is somewhere we know to revisit on a future trip to London. We love these guided tours because they “join…”

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13.Gin Tasting at Judith’s, Shakespeare Distillery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $19Top rated

Meet at Shakespeare Distillery’s shop in Judith Shakespeare’s former High Street home for a Stratford Gin & Tonic, a one-hour English talk on gin and spirit-making, then three tastings. Adults need photo ID. Soft drinks are available for children and designated drivers.

“One of the most enjoyable few hours! We learned so much about the process and the tasting session was very generous!”

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14.Shakespeare in London Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 3h 15m · from $398

Spend 195 minutes tracing Shakespeare’s South Bank with a private English-speaking guide, visiting Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, old theater sites, Winchester Palace, and the Clink before touring Sam Wanamaker’s Globe. Guide Lesley can tailor the walk to your interests.

“I loved how it accidentally became a private tour. Lesley was an amazing guide and we had a lovely morning and afternoon with her. We also learned SO MUCH! My only complaint, if any, is that it ran a little long. I’ll try to give more open time buffers next time. Otherwise, this was a highlight of our trip and one of the best days in town”

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15.Shakespeare’s New Place Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · from $20

Visit the former site of Shakespeare’s New Place, his Stratford family home from 1597 to 1616. Walk the house footprint, view contemporary artwork, tour Nash’s House exhibitions, and stroll the gardens. The ticket is valid for one day, wheelchair accessible, and cancellable up to 24 hours ahead.

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