Shakespeare’s Way - South to North
A walking holiday along Shakespeare’s Way from London in the South to Stratford-upon-Avon in the North
We also offer these routes from North to South. For more information on walking these routes in the opposite direction, click here.
The reverse version of the Shakespeare’s Way starts in London and follows the route that Shakespeare may have taken on his travels between The Globe Theatre in London and his home in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in Southwark, London, is a reconstruction of the original Elizabethan Theatre that stood on a site just a few hundred feet away. It may be possible to take a tour of the building, or catch a performance on the historic stage, before you follow in The Bard’s footsteps as you cross London on your own journey to Stratford-upon-Avon. The highlights of the trail through London include the views of St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, before you cross under Lambeth Bridge and glimpse the impressive Houses of Parliament.
When the trail arrives at Kew, where there is a wonderful Palace and Gardens, there may be time to enjoy the regal settings as you experience the former home of King George III and his family.
The trail soon leads away from the busy capital city of London and visits the old town of Iver, before continuing along the Gran Union Canal. When the trail passes through Burnham Beeches, the ancient trees that rest within enchanting woodland are sure to capture your imagination and will spur you on your way to the riverside town of Marlow.
Visiting the villages of Chalgrove, Stadhampton and Pishill, the trail takes in the best of the Chilterns, with charming wooded valleys, delightful chocolate-box cottages and links to literature at every turn.
Soon, the sight of the River Cherwell, busy with its famous Oxford Punts, comes into view and there are a wealth of attractions to enjoy, from the wonderful ‘Painted Room,’ said to have housed Shakespeare on visits to his friend, John Davenant at the Crown Inn and one of the oldest libraries in Europe, the Bodeleian Library.
Out of Oxford, the trail visits the cemetery in the little village of Bladon, where the statesman, Sir Winston Churchill, is buried. Close by, Capability Brown’s landscaped gardens accompany the trail through the grounds of the fabulous Blenheim Palace.
Near to Chipping Norton, the trail visits the fascinating megalithic Rollright Stones and then enters the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, where the scenery consists of pleasing rolling fields and pretty villages.
On reaching the River Stour, the trail passes through the villages of Shipston-on-Stour and Alderminster, before continuing to Stratford-upon-Avon. Here, the five Shakespearean houses are a must-see, before you conclude your walk by paying your respects to the world famous playwright at his resting place at Holy Trinity Church.
The Shakespeare's Way was devised to support Stratford-upon-Avon’s Shakespeare Hospice. For every person booked onto the Shakespeare’s Way walking holiday, Contours Walking Holidays will donate £5 to the Shakespeare Hospice.
Holiday Highlights
- Crossing the changing scenery through the Cotswold, the Chilterns and through London as you trace the journey of William Shakespeare from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London to his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Visiting the delightful palaces and Gardens at Kew Palace and Blenheim Palace.
- Exploring the charming villages of Chalgrove, Stadhampton, Shipston-on-Stour and Alderminster.
Shakespeare’s Way - South to North
| Total Distance | 146 miles (233.5 km) |
| Start and Finish | London to Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Availability | All Year |
| Tour Code | Itinerary | Tour Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHW1(R) | 11 nights, 10 days walking | £855 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| SHW2(R) | 12 nights, 11 days walking | £940 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| SHW3(R) | 13 nights, 12 days walking | £1010 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| SHW4(R) | 14 nights, 13 days walking | £1100 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| SHW5(R) | 16 nights, 15 days walking | £1250 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| Our prices are based upon two people sharing a room. If you are walking on your own, or are part of a group, but require a room of your own, the following charges apply: | |||||
| Solo Walker Supplement: | £30 per person / per night | ||||
| Single Supplement: | £18 per person / per night | ||||
| You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops. For each extra night add £60 per person. All of our prices are in British pounds (£). Use our currency converter to convert British pounds (£) to your country’s currency. | |||||
| The price that you pay includes accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, door to door luggage transfers for every day of your tour, maps, guidebooks and a tour pack detailing specific information about your holiday. | |||||
Don’t have the time for the complete walk?
We also offer The Shakespeare’s Way in two sections, giving those with less time the opportunity to complete the trail in stages.
- Shakespeare’s Way - London Section
- Shakespeare’s Way - Chilterns Section
- Shakespeare’s Way - Cotswolds Section
Shakespeare’s Way - London Section - South to North
| Total Distance | 50 miles (80 km) |
| Start and Finish | London to Marlow |
| Availability | All Year |
The London section of the Shakespeare’s Way in reverse starts at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in Southwark and follows the route that The Bard may have taken through London to Marlow as he journeyed between his home in Stratford-upon-Avon and his workplace in London. The trail takes in the famous sights and sounds of England’s busy Capital, before following the River Thames and wonderful riverside scenery to Marlow.
Leaving the iconic reconstruction of The Globe Theatre, the trail leads beneath the Millennium Bridge and continues towards the South Bank, taking in views of St Paul’s Cathedral and Big Ben, before passing beneath Lambeth Bridge, where there are impressive views of the Houses of Parliament. With the London Eye popping in and out of view, the trail soon arrives at Kew, where the World Heritage Site of Kew Gardens and Kew Palace serve to astonish with stunningly tendered gardens and a wonderful merchant’s home that became the royal home of George III and his family.
The trail continues along the route of the River Thames until Brentford and joins the Grand Union Canal until the trail leaves the hustle and bustle of London and enters the town of Iver, which has a long history dating back to the Stone Age.
As the trail enters the enchanting woodlands of Burnham Beeches, it is easy to imagine that the ancient trees, some as old as eight hundred years, may have witnessed the Bard making his journey from The Globe to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Leaving the river, the trail moves across heathland through Buckinghamshire and soon arrives in the little town of Marlow, where there is much of literary interest to enjoy, including the home of Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Here, the attractive Georgian town offers a peaceful end to this section of Shakespeare’s Way, where it is possible to explore an elegant Victorian church and rest your tired feet on the banks of the River Thames.
The Shakespeare Hospice is an independent charity that provides End of Life support to people with life limiting illnesses. The Shakespeare’s Way Walk was established to support the charity by raising funds on their behalf. In support of this cause, Contours Walking Holidays will donate £5 for every person who books this tour.
Holiday Highlights
- Experiencing the sights and sounds of England’s busy Capital city, including the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.
- Enjoying a tour and a performance during the theatrical season at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in Southwark.
- Following in the footsteps of The Bard over beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside on route to Marlow.
| Tour Code | Itinerary | Tour Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHWL1(R) | 4 nights, 3 days walking | £340 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| SHWL2(R) | 5 nights, 4 days walking | £425 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| Our prices are based upon two people sharing a room. If you are walking on your own, or are part of a group, but require a room of your own, the following charges apply: | |||||
| Solo Walker Supplement: | £30 per person / per night | ||||
| Single Supplement: | £18 per person / per night | ||||
| You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops. For each extra night add £60 per person. All of our prices are in British pounds (£). Use our currency converter to convert British pounds (£) to your country’s currency. | |||||
| The price that you pay includes accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, door to door luggage transfers for every day of your tour, maps, guidebooks and a tour pack detailing specific information about your holiday. | |||||
Shakespeare’s Way - Chilterns Section - South to North
| Total Distance | 38 miles (61 km) |
| Start and Finish | Marlow to Oxford |
| Availability | All Year |
The Chilterns section of Shakespeare’s Way starts in the riverside town of Marlow in the South and crosses the Chiltern Hills through beautiful towns and villages to the famous University City of Oxford, North of the Chilterns.
The little town of Marlow rests on the River Thames and provides much of literary interest, including the home of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein and her husband, the Romantic Poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Soon, the trail passes through a series of picturesque villages, including Chalgrove, Stadhampton and Pishill, as it takes in the chalk escarpment of the Chiltern Hills. The trail revisits the River Thames at Sandford-on-Thames, where the pretty Norman church of St Andrew and the site of the old Knights Templar House, indicate a long and fascinating history. Here, the River Thames claimed the life of author, J.M Barrie’s adopted son and the inspiration for Peter Pan.
Following the line of the River Thames, the trail crosses the boundary into the wonderful old city of Oxford, taking in the sights of Punts on the River Cherwell, the Oxford College Boathouses and Christ Church Meadows, overlooked by the spectacular college of Christ Church, where author Charles Dodgson taught and took inspiration for his book, Alice in Wonderland.
Wandering through the delightful streets of Oxford, there is the opportunity to visit the many colleges of England’s oldest University, as well as Oxford Castle and ‘The Painted Room,’ the hidden remains of a sixteenth century house that contains wonderful examples of wall paintings. Shakespeare himself was said to have stayed here when visiting his friend, John Davenant on his way from London to Stratford-upon-Avon. This charming section of Shakespeare’s Way captures the finest chocolate-box villages in the Chilterns.
The Shakespeare Hospice is dedicated to providing care to people with life limiting illnesses. The Shakespeare’s Way was devised to raise funds for this charity and as such, Contours Walking Holidays will donate £5 to the Shakespeare Hospice for every person booked on this walk.
Holiday Highlights
- Delighting in literary interest as you follow Shakespeare’s footsteps as well as visiting the home of Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley in Marlow.
- Admiring the chocolate-box Chiltern villages of Chalgrove, Stadhampton and Pishill.
- Exploring Oxford University’s thirty eight colleges, historic grounds and the hidden gem of ‘The Painted Room.’
| Tour Code | Itinerary | Tour Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHWCT1(R) | 4 nights, 3 days walking | £315 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| SHWCT2(R) | 5 nights, 4 days walking | £400 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| Our prices are based upon two people sharing a room. If you are walking on your own, or are part of a group, but require a room of your own, the following charges apply: | |||||
| Solo Walker Supplement: | £30 per person / per night | ||||
| Single Supplement: | £18 per person / per night | ||||
| You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops. For each extra night add £48 per person. All of our prices are in British pounds (£). Use our currency converter to convert British pounds (£) to your country’s currency. | |||||
| The price that you pay includes accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, door to door luggage transfers for every day of your tour, maps, guidebooks and a tour pack detailing specific information about your holiday. | |||||
Shakespeare’s Way - Cotswolds Section - South to North
| Total Distance | 58 miles (93 km) |
| Start and Finish | Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Availability | All Year |
The Cotswolds section of the Shakespeare’s Way in reverse, starts in the magnificent city of Oxford and continues along the route that Shakespeare may have taken on his way home to Stratford-upon-Avon from his workplace in London. The trail takes in the fine Cotswold countryside and enjoys a variety of attractions, from a stately home to Neolithic stones and finally, Shakespeare’s delightful home in Stratford-upon-Avon.
With its famous university, the city of Oxford is a wonderful place to start this section of Shakespeare’s Way as it teems with fascinating locations, including the Oxford University’s colleges, Oxford Castle, Botanic Gardens and The Bodleian Library, one of Europe’s oldest and most beautiful libraries.
Soon, the trail enters the Cotswolds section of the Shakespeare’s Way and passes through Bladon, the resting place of Sir Winston Churchill, before arriving in the lovely town of Woodstock on the edge of Blenheim Park. Capability Brown’s wonderful landscaping offsets the splendour of Blenheim Palace perfectly and is sure to make an impression as you proceed through peaceful valleys and charming woodland on the way to Enstone, where the nearby Neolithic tomb of Hoar Stone can be found.
Ascending to the highest town in Oxfordshire, Chipping Norton, the trail passes close to the intriguing Rollright Stones, a megalithic complex rich with tales of Witches, Kings and Knights turned to stone. The trail then enjoys the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty characterised by rolling fields and chocolate-box villages.
Past the village of Long Compton, which was once rife with tales of witchcraft, the trail reaches the River Stour and visits the lovely villages of Shipston-on-Stour and Alderminster, before following the River Avon for the final walk to the lovely town of Stratford-upon-Avon. A wealth of attractions associated with Shakespeare conclude this walk, from the burial place of the Bard at Holy Trinity Church, the Swan Theatre , the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the five houses linked to Shakespeare, including his birthplace and the delightful cottage of his wife, Anne Hathaway.
Contours Walking Holidays make a donation of £5.00 for every person booked on the Shakespeare Way Walking Holiday, which was developed to raise funds for the Shakespeare Hospice.
Holiday Highlights
- Exploring the sights and sounds of Oxford, including the University Colleges, Bodleian Library and Botanic Gardens.
- Wandering through the grounds of Blenheim Park and admiring the regal Blenheim Palace.
- Visiting the intriguing ‘Hoar Stone’ near Enstone and the mysterious ‘Rollright Stones’ near Chipping Norton.
| Tour Code | Itinerary | Tour Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHWCO1(R) | 5 nights, 4 days walking | £360 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| SHWCO2(R) | 6 nights, 5 days walking | £440 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| SHWCO3(R) | 8 nights, 7 days walking | £585 per person | More Information | Book Online | |
| Our prices are based upon two people sharing a room. If you are walking on your own, or are part of a group, but require a room of your own, the following charges apply: | |||||
| Solo Walker Supplement: | £30 per person / per night | ||||
| Single Supplement: | £18 per person / per night | ||||
| You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops. For each extra night add £48 per person. All of our prices are in British pounds (£). Use our currency converter to convert British pounds (£) to your country’s currency. | |||||
| The price that you pay includes accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, door to door luggage transfers for every day of your tour, maps, guidebooks and a tour pack detailing specific information about your holiday. | |||||
