Shakespeare’s town and a medieval castle in one day, from your London hotel.
Driver waits at both stops.
- From £620 · whole car · 10 hours
Licence PHOP950A Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle day trip from London by private car runs about ten hours door to door. Allow 2 hours 15 minutes up the M40; the castle is 9 miles from Shakespeare’s town. From £620 for the whole car, entry tickets bought separately. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup.
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.
- 14:30Shakespeare’s Birthplace on Henley Street, timed entry, about 75 minutes.
- 15:45New Place gardens, then the river bank by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
- 16:15Depart; back at your London hotel around 6:15pm, 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.
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; no meter runs while you walk.
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 · 3 suitcases
£620
Mercedes V-Class
7 passengers · 7 suitcases · the family choice
£710
Mercedes S-Class
3 passengers · rear-seat comfort
£870
Range Rover
3 passengers · the high seat
£980
One fixed price per car for ten hours, fuel, parking and tolls included; extra hours from £55 each.
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; every started hour beyond the ten counts as a full hour.
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; your driver’s name and number arrive the evening before.
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.
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, 2 hours 15 minutes 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 4 hours 30 minutes driving. Add Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and the day runs to eleven hours; each extra hour is charged at the hourly rate.
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.
Where do the facts on this page come from?
Opening hours, ticket prices and directions come from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Warwick Castle websites; the café hours from the Royal Shakespeare Company. Checked 11 September 2026.
- Shakespeare Birthplace Trust — house ticket prices
- Shakespeare Birthplace Trust — opening times
- Shakespeare Birthplace Trust — getting here
- Shakespeare’s Birthplace — visitor page
- Warwick Castle — tickets and passes
- Warwick Castle — parking and directions
- Warwick Castle — opening hours
- Royal Shakespeare Company — your visit
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.