Visit the grave of William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon to pay your respects at the final resting place of England’s greatest playwright and Stratford’s most famous son.
Find out how to visit the grave of William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Visit the grave of William Shakespeare
Holy Trinity Church, Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6BG
To visit the grave of William Shakespeare you need only walk along the banks of the river from Stratford-upon-Avon town centre to Holy Trinity Church, where the Bard was baptised in 1564, where he worshipped, and where, ultimately, he was laid to rest in 1616.
Approach the church via an avenue of lime trees. The church is a sight in itself, with a history in its current limestone, cross-shaped form going back to 1210. A wooden church would have stood on the site as early as 845.
Enter through the small opening of the huge 15th-century doors, where a ‘sanctuary knocker’ hangs (fugitives could request sanctuary at the church) and see highlights such as the Clopton Chapel and a medieval font. They are bathed in a fractured multi-coloured light that shines through the beautiful stained-glass windows.
To visit the grave of William Shakespeare a small donation is requested for entry to the Chancel. It is here that the Bard is buried alongside wife Anne and other members of the family, including daughter Susanna and her husband John Hall, who owned nearby Hall’s Croft.
The grave is roped off but you can stand at the foot of the burial spot and read the inscription in the stone, which appears to be a warning scribed by the man himself for anyone “that moves my bones”.
Nearby, the Misericords (a sort of early flip-down seat to help infirm or elderly priests) are carved with all kinds of visual messages, so do take the time to have a look.
Location of the grave of William Shakespeare
Holy Trinity Church, where you can visit the grave of William Shakespeare, is on the banks of the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon’s Old Town.
It’s a half-mile, 10-minute walk from the town centre.
To park nearby, look for on-street parking along Southern Lane and Trinity Close.
The grave of William Shakespeare opening times
Holy Trinity Church, where you can visit the grave of William Shakespeare, is generally open every Sunday 12.30pm-5pm and Monday-Sat 9am-6pm (summer), 9am-5pm (spring and autumn) and 9am-4pm (winter).
As a working church, these hours are subject to change for services.
The grave of William Shakespeare price
It costs nothing to enter Holy Trinity Church but a donation of £3 is requested to visit the grave of William Shakespeare in the Chancel. It’s £2 for seniors and students. If you join the Stratford Town Walk, which calls in at Holy Trinity Church as part of its informative tour of Stratford-upon-Avon, a discounted entry of £2 is offered.
The Stratfordblog verdict
It is unusual to be able to so closely follow the footsteps of a person so famous, yet here, in Stratford-upon-Avon, we can trace the life of William Shakespeare from cradle – at his birthplace in Henley Street, to grave, here at Holy Trinity Church.
And following in those footsteps couldn’t be easier (find out how on the Stratfordblog guide to buying a pass for the Shakespeare Family Homes).
As a final resting place for the Bard, and a final stop on your journey through his life, Holy Trinity Church could not be a lovelier, more peaceful place to reflect on what you’ve seen, heard and learned in Stratford-upon-Avon.
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Information correct at date of publication