Stratford

Stratford, Ontario, is a theatre town about 150 km west of Toronto, home to the Stratford Festival, one of North America's best-known classical theatre companies. VIA Rail Corridor trains run from Union Station to Stratford station at 101 Shakespeare St in about 2 to 2.25 hours, with fares of roughly CAD 30 to 55 one way when booked in advance at viarail.ca. Departures are only a few per day, so the return time needs to be planned around the theatre schedule. Drivers take Highway 401 and then Highway 7/8, a drive of about 2 hours, and the festival also lists seasonal bus packages on stratfordfestival.ca.

The festival is the centre of the town, staging Shakespeare alongside musicals and contemporary plays in several theatres from spring to autumn. Tickets start at about CAD 40. Beyond the theatres, the Avon River runs through the town centre, where swans glide beneath willow trees and paths link the parks to the downtown. Ontario Street and the surrounding blocks hold boutiques, chocolate shops and restaurants, and the town is well regarded for farm-to-table dining drawing on nearby farms.

A typical day starts with a late-morning arrival and a walk along the river and Confederation Park. Lunch fits on one of the downtown streets, with the early afternoon left for browsing shops or visiting a gallery. A matinee performance suits the afternoon and avoids a late return, though visitors planning an evening show should check the last train carefully. Ordering dinner before an evening performance is common, as many restaurants offer pre-theatre menus.

The best season runs from May to October, when the festival is fully in session and the riverside is at its most pleasant. Weekends sell out early, so weekday matinees are easier to secure. In winter, the festival is dark, and the town is much quieter.

The downtown is compact and flat, so everything from the station to the theatres can be covered in about 20 to 30 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride, and no car is required for the trip.