Shakespeare’s town and a medieval castle in one day, from your London hotel.
Driver waits at both stops.
- From £620 (≈ $835) · whole car · 10 hours
Licence PHOP950Tripyana’s private Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle tour from London is a chauffeur-driven Mercedes: your driver collects you at your London hotel at 8am, waits at Warwick Castle and in Shakespeare’s town, and brings you back about ten hours later. The fare is £620 for the car, up to three passengers, not per person.
Short notice? Same-day and next-day trips are often possible — book online or message us to confirm a driver.
How does a Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle day trip from London work?
Your chauffeur collects you at 8:00am and drives north-west on the M40. Warwick Castle opens at 10am, so we take the castle first and Shakespeare’s town after lunch.
Castle in the morning, Stratford after lunch
- 08:00Pickup at your London hotel; the M40 through Oxfordshire to junction 15.
- 10:15Warwick Castle gates; the driver drops you as close as the parking team allows.
- 10:30Towers, ramparts, the State Rooms and the live shows, about two and a half hours.
- 13:00Nine miles south to Stratford, 15 minutes; lunch beside the River Avon.
- 14:15Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street, timed entry, about 75 minutes.
- 15:30New Place gardens, then the river bank by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
- 16:00Depart; back at your London hotel around 6pm, inside the ten hours.
The thatched farmhouse at Shottery
The cottage is a 30-minute walk from the town centre, five minutes in the car. Add 45 minutes to the afternoon, or take it instead of New Place.
Skip the castle, add the Cotswolds
Broadway is 16 miles south-west of Stratford. Swap the castle for two Cotswolds villages in the same ten hours, at the same price.
Stratford is 100 miles from Mayfair by the M40, and junction 15 serves both towns. The Birthplace Trust puts the drive at under two hours; we allow an extra quarter-hour for London traffic.
The castle is under two miles from the same junction; that is why both fit one day.
What is there to see in Stratford-upon-Avon and at Warwick Castle?
Two very different places nine miles apart: a market town of Tudor houses, and a castle with over 1,100 years of history.
- Shakespeare’s Birthplace — the half-timbered house on Henley Street where he grew up; timed entry, and the ticket stays valid for 12 months.
- Shakespeare’s New Place — the site of his family home, now gardens; included with every Birthplace ticket.
- Anne Hathaway’s Cottage — the thatched farmhouse at Shottery where the couple courted; a mile out of town, so the car earns its keep.
- The River Avon and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre — the Riverside Café and shop open from 10am; swans, boats and lunch on the bank.
- Warwick Castle — towers, ramparts, the State Rooms and over 15 live shows and attractions in season; children see a real castle, not a museum.
Is Warwick Castle good for children?
Yes. The morning slot suits families, and the shows are what children talk about on the drive home.
- The trebuchet — the castle bills it as one of the largest working siege machines; a giant throw is the moment most children remember.
- Birds of prey — eagles, owls and falcons flying low over the lawns by the river.
- Horrible Histories Maze — a hedge maze with gory tales from the past, a good burst of energy before lunch.
- The Castle Dungeon — actors and dark rooms; the castle recommends it for ages 10 and over, so younger ones can skip it.
Show times change with the season, so check the castle’s daily schedule before you go and tell your driver which show you want to catch. In Stratford, Holy Trinity Church holds Shakespeare’s grave; a small fee is asked to see it, and the chancel is closed to visitors during Sunday morning services.
Watch the day before you book
A short film that follows the day in order: your hotel pickup, the drive up the M40, Warwick Castle's towers and ramparts, lunch by the River Avon, Shakespeare's Birthplace and the river bank by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
What is included in the price of the day?
The car, the chauffeur and every road cost in one written figure; entry tickets are the only extra.
Door-to-door pickup
Any London hotel, apartment or airport terminal; on arrival days the driver meets you inside arrivals with a name board.
Fuel, parking and tolls
Motorway miles and both car parks are ours; nothing to pay on the day.
The driver waits at both stops
Around three hours at the castle and three in Stratford, so walk at your own pace.
Your bags stay in the car
Coats, shopping and the pushchair wait in the boot between the two towns.
Child seats
Fitted on request at no charge; tell us the children’s ages when you book.
Not included
Entry tickets, pre-booked on the two official sites, and meals. Under-3s enter the Birthplace free, under-2s the castle.
How much does a private day trip to Stratford and Warwick Castle cost?
One fixed figure per car for about ten hours; the price depends on the vehicle, not on the number of passengers.
Mercedes E-Class
3 passengers · 2 suitcases
£620(≈ $835)
Mercedes V-Class
7 passengers · 7 suitcases · the family choice
£710(≈ $960)
Mercedes S-Class
3 passengers · rear-seat comfort
£870(≈ $1,150)
Range Rover
4 passengers · the high seat
£980(≈ $1,300)
One fixed price per car for ten hours, fuel, parking and tolls included.
Dollar figures are approximate; you are charged in GBP.
A family of five with a pushchair travels best in the V-Class; seating and boot details are on the Mercedes V-Class page. Couples take the E-Class in the photo at the top.
The day is timed from pickup to the last drop, with waiting included.
Do we need to book tickets in advance, and what do they cost?
Yes, on both official sites, and both are cheaper online than at the gate. We match the pickup time to your Birthplace slot.
- Shakespeare’s Birthplace:adult £25 online (£27 on the door), children 3 to 17 half price, under-3s free. The ticket includes New Place gardens and stays valid for 12 months.
- Anne Hathaway’s Cottage:£5 per adult when added to a Birthplace ticket, or £15 online on its own.
- Warwick Castle:one-day entry from £26 online, £31 on the day; under-2s free. The castle asks visitors to pre-book to be sure of entry.
- Stratford opening hours:Birthplace and Cottage daily 10am to 5pm until 1 November 2026, then 10am to 4pm until 23 December; New Place gardens 11am to 3pm.
- Warwick Castle hours:the gates open at 10am; closing time changes with the season, so we check the official page for your date.
- Prefer a shorter drive?the Oxford day trip is an eight-hour day on the same motorway, in a lower price band.
Can we add the Cotswolds, or end the day in Birmingham or at Heathrow?
All three, because Stratford sits at the northern edge of the Cotswolds and 20 to 25 miles short of Birmingham.
- Broadway16 miles south-west of Stratford, 27 minutes; an hour in the village adds one hour to the day. For the villages further south, book the Cotswolds day trip instead.
- Birminghamstaying in the city? The day can end at your Birmingham hotel instead of London; the London to Birmingham chauffeur page shows how the one-way drive is priced.
- Heathrowflying out that evening? Terminal 5 is 90 miles from Stratford, so the day can end at the airport with the bags already in the boot.
How do I book a Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle day trip from London?
Send us the date and the group
Use the contact form with your date, London pickup address and number of travellers; add your Birthplace time slot if booked.
We confirm the fixed price
We reply by email with the figure for your vehicle class and a written plan for the day.
Confirm and relax
Pay by card, or cash to the driver; instant confirmation from the booking page, and pickup at the agreed time.
Or book online now. Choose the date, a departure between 8:00am and 12:00 noon and your car — the fixed price for the whole car appears before you pay.
Which Shakespeare houses should we choose, and can the day include a play or Kenilworth?
With one afternoon in Stratford, pick the Birthplace first: his story starts there, and two more sites are a short walk away. The rest depends on who travels and how late you want to return.
- Short on time:choose Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street, then New Place gardens next door. Finish at Holy Trinity Church by the river, where Shakespeare is buried.
- A longer afternoon:add Anne Hathaway’s Cottage at Shottery for the thatched farmhouse and its gardens. Hall’s Croft, the house of his daughter Susanna, suits lovers of period rooms; check its opening for your date.
- With children:keep the castle for the morning, while energy is high, and plan a shorter Stratford afternoon by the swans. Pushchair, snacks and spare clothes wait in the boot.
- An evening play:seeing a Royal Shakespeare Company performance means a late return to London. A later finish is arranged on request and shown on your written quote.
- Kenilworth Castle:the red sandstone ruin linked to Elizabeth I lies a few miles north of Warwick. Swap it for one Stratford house, or add it on request.
Tell us your choices when you ask for the quote, and the order of stops goes into the plan we send you by email.
Frequently asked questions about the Stratford and Warwick trip
How far is Stratford-upon-Avon from London by car?
About 100 miles from Mayfair by the M40, just over two hours in normal traffic; the Birthplace Trust’s own guide says under two hours. Warwick Castle is 9 miles on and less than two miles from junction 15. From Heathrow Terminal 5 the town is 90 miles.
Is ten hours enough for both Stratford and Warwick Castle?
Yes, with an 8am start. Allow two and a half hours at the castle, three in Stratford with lunch, and about four and a half hours of driving. Add Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and the day runs to eleven hours, all on the same written quote.
Do you sell tickets for Warwick Castle or Shakespeare’s Birthplace?
No. Both are booked on the official sites, and both cost less online than at the gate. Buy them before the day, send us your Birthplace time slot, and we fix the pickup around it. Our part is the car, the waiting and the return.
Which vehicle suits a family of five?
A Mercedes V-Class at £710 for the day: seven seats, three rows and room for a pushchair. Child seats are fitted at no charge. Couples usually take the E-Class; the S-Class and Range Rover are the executive options.
Can the day end in Birmingham or at Heathrow instead of London?
Yes. Birmingham is 20 to 25 miles beyond Warwick, and Heathrow Terminal 5 is 90 miles from Stratford. Give us the final address when you ask for the quote and we price the day with that ending; the figure is confirmed in writing before you pay.
Where does the driver wait at Warwick Castle?
In the castle car parks. Its own site says the main Stratford Road car park is a 10 to 20-minute uphill walk from the entrance; the smaller Stables car park is next to the gate when spaces allow. A drop-off bay exists for young children and mobility needs, and your driver asks the parking team on arrival.
Is the price per person or per car, and what is it in US dollars?
Per car, return, never per person. The E-Class seats up to three and the V-Class up to seven with seven suitcases; each has one fixed fare for the ten hours, with fuel, tolls and parking included, whether two or seven of you travel. Entry tickets and meals are paid separately. In US dollars that is about $835 for the E-Class and $960 for the V-Class at today’s rate; you are charged in pounds sterling.
Can I cancel, and how do I pay?
Yes. Cancel at least 24 hours before pickup and any card payment is refunded in full; inside 24 hours the fare is charged. Pay by card in the booking form when you book, or choose cash and settle with the driver in pounds sterling on the day.
Is the driver also a tour guide?
No. Your chauffeur is a professional driver, not a licensed tour guide: the job is the drive, the timing and waiting at the castle and the Birthplace while you visit. If you would like a Blue Badge guide with you for the day, our tour guide in London service is booked separately.
Is Stratford-upon-Avon worth visiting for a day?
Yes, especially when paired with Warwick Castle, nine miles away. Shakespeare’s Birthplace, the riverside and the old town fill an afternoon, and the castle fills the morning. By private car the day runs about ten hours from your London hotel, with the driver waiting at both stops.
What is the easiest way to travel to Stratford-upon-Avon from London?
A private car from your hotel: just over two hours up the M40, with no changes and no luggage to carry. Your driver collects you at 8:00am, reaches Warwick Castle soon after it opens at 10am, then takes you on to Stratford for the afternoon.
Can we see an evening play in Stratford and return to London the same night?
Yes, on request. A Royal Shakespeare Company performance ends in the evening, so you reach London late at night. Book your theatre seats first and send us the curtain time. We confirm the longer day in writing before you pay.
Why book your Stratford day with Tripyana?
Stratford and Warwick fit comfortably into one day with your own car and driver. This is what a private car gives you:
- Two towns, one easy daythe car links Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon and waits for you at each stop.
- One fixed price, in writingyou see the full figure before you pay. The price stays the same on the day, and waiting inside your booked time is free.
- Mercedes and Range Rover onlyan S-Class or Range Rover when the arrival matters; a 7-seat V-Class keeps a family or a group together.
- Several cars, one schedulelarger parties travel to one run sheet, with a single contact on your side.
- Child seats at no chargefitted before pickup when you give the children’s ages.
One price for the whole car, London to Warwickshire and back.
Send the date and we reply with the fixed figure and the plan for the day. More destinations are under day trips from London by private car.
Tripyana Ltd is a UK-licensed company — private hire operator licence PHOP950 · Company No. 16308293.