Stroll and discover the beauty and poetry of Stratford

As you wander the streets you must pop into the shops that make downtown Stratford a unique shopping destination. We thrive on creativity and many of our shops are a magazine stylist’s dream — funky or one-of-a-kind — from that mid-19th century chandelier to the latest in shoes, hats and bags – no Big Box stores allowed in the heritage downtown. Drop by our downtown information centres to pick-up your free parking pass.

Shopping in the heritage downtown brings you along heritage streets and gardens at the height of their bloom. We make it easy for you to appreciate our heritage with pre-recorded guides that you can download here: Heritage Downtown Stroll and Shakespeare Garden Stroll or one of our maps. And don't miss the Bronze Star Tour of Stratford notables from Glenn Gould and Richard Manuel to our newest inductees William Ronald, Dama Bell and William Hutt.

To really see Stratford take a stroll in our neighbourhoods bounding the Avon River, along the streets lined with stately Victorian homes and perfect Ontario cottages, along the Avon River and the public gardens that win us regular accolades from Communities in Bloom.
And don’t forget the curios and antiques found in the shopping mecca of Shakespeare, a 10 minute drive east of Stratford.

You will want to pause quite a few times for a refreshing iced latte on a flower-laden patio, a snack made with organic meats, salads or cheeses brought in that day from farms minutes away in Perth County wetted by a cool pint of Stratford Pilsner. Pick-up an insulated shopping bag to take home unique foods – from the oodles of hand-made chocolates (we have three within one square block), to organic breads to Amish pies, preserves and dairy products. Some even offer special values to entice you to stop by.