Skip to Content

7 Best Things to Do in Stratford, Ontario

7 Best Things to Do in Stratford, Ontario

Looking for fun things to do in Stratford, Ontario?

Stratford is a Shakespeare-loving city with a rich arts and culture scene, and it’s also known for being the hometown of Justin Bieber.

Tourists typically visit for the annual Stratford Festival, but you can totally fit in a bunch of other activities and things to do during your visit!

Whether you’re spending a day or a weekend in Stratford, there are plenty of awesome things you can do during your trip.

Stratford is also home to the Stratford Chefs School, so there are plenty of amazing Stratford restaurants in town!

Here are some of the best and most fun things to do during your visit to Stratford, Ontario!

Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and TikTok – I share a lot more content on those platforms that don’t make it to the blog!


Where to stay in Stratford


Boutique hotels in Stratford

e are a number of beautiful boutique hotels in Stratford that you can stay in during your weekend trip.

Many of them double up as restaurants as well, so you can happily eat and sleep there!

Here are some boutique hotels in Stratford worth staying at:

I usually book my hotels on Expedia to collect points towards free rewards and discounts!

Airbnb

I typically use Airbnb when I’m traveling on a budget, and I have a separate blog post all about how to find the best Airbnbs.

There are plenty of Airbnb options available in downtown Stratford, so you can pretty much walk everywhere!


Fun things to do in Stratford


1. Check out the street art

Stratford may not be a huge city, but you’ll still find some cool street art spruced around town.

It is a hub of arts and culture, after all!

I had a lot of fun walking around and peeping out all the cool artwork hidden around town.

Can you tell how much Stratford loves Shakespeare?

The best things to do in Stratford, Ontario | what to do and where to go in Stratford, Ontario, Canada | Diary of a Toronto Girl
The best things to do in Stratford, Ontario | what to do and where to go in Stratford, Ontario, Canada | Diary of a Toronto Girl

2. Go shopping in downtown Stratford

Downtown Stratford is filled with adorable shops and boutiques for you to shop at if you’re looking for local goods or even souvenirs!

From vintage clothing, to handmade jewelry, to Canadian-made goodies, there are plenty of stores offering cool things you can buy to take home.

Ontario Street is the original main shopping street of Stratford, but you can find cool stores all over downtown!

Here are some of my fave stores in Stratford to shop at:

Grace the Boutique shop | local Ontario boutiques | Diary of a Toronto Girl
Grace the Boutique has all the trendy women’s clothing.
The best things to do in Stratford, Ontario | what to do and where to go in Stratford, Ontario, Canada | Diary of a Toronto Girl
Inside Distill Gallery in Stratford.
The best things to do in Stratford, Ontario | what to do and where to go in Stratford, Ontario, Canada | Diary of a Toronto Girl
La Osa offers handmade jewelry and vintage clothing.
Wills & Prior | local Ontario home decor boutiques | Diary of a Toronto Girl
Wills & Prior has all the home decor you need.
The best things to do in Stratford, Ontario | what to do and where to go in Stratford, Ontario, Canada | Diary of a Toronto Girl
From chill pill bath bombs to poop-themed mugs, you’ll find all kinds of quirky goodies at Got It Made.
Bradshaws | local Ontario family-owned businesses | Diary of a Toronto Girl
Bradshaws is currently owned and operated by a 6th generation of Stratford families!

3. Wander around the cute storefronts

Y’all know my love for Instagrammable spots, and Stratford is filled with plenty of cute and photo-worthy places.

The historic buildings in town are already super cute, but these adorable storefronts make them all the more Instagram-worthy!

Kandy Cakes | Diary of a Toronto Girl
Jenn & Larry's Ice Cream | Diary of a Toronto Girl

4. Explore the beautiful parks in Stratford

Stratford is filled with beautiful parks, and there’s one downtown right along the Avon River.

There’s actually an annual Swan Parade that happens here during the spring, and you might get to meet some friendly birds while you’re here.

This park is especially gorgeous during the fall with the colourful leaves strewn everywhere!

The best things to do in Stratford, Ontario | what to do and where to go in Stratford, Ontario, Canada | Diary of a Toronto Girl

5. Do a Justin Bieber walking tour

As far as I know, there isn’t an actual Justin Bieber walking tour available, but you can still visit the places he grew up in on your own little walking tour.

Check out the Avon Theatre where he used to busk in front of, or stop by his childhood home!

Just remember to be respectful and not creepy, ’cause people actually live here.


6. Eat at one of Stratford’s amazing restaurants

Did you know that Stratford is home to the Stratford Chefs School?

So of course it’s no surprise that there are plenty of incredible and delicious restaurants and places to eat in Stratford.

Whether you’re looking for upscale dining or diner-style vegan eats, there are so many amazing places to eat in Stratford!

I’ve got a blog post all about the best restaurants in Stratford.

The Planet Diner Restaurant in Stratford, Ontario
The Planet Diner is an amazing vegan restaurant in Stratford.

7. Watch a show at the Stratford Festival

As I mentioned before, the Stratford Festival is the main attraction for tourists to visit Stratford.

I watched To Kill a Mockingbird at the Festival Theatre when I visited, and it blew me away.

I didn’t remember much of the book as I read it back in grade 4 – there were so many parts that took me by surprise, and many parts brought me close to tears!

The entire cast did an excellent job, and I’ll definitely be back to watch another show someday.

LOCATION: 55 Queen St, Stratford, ON | Website

The best things to do in Stratford, Ontario | what to do and where to go in Stratford, Ontario, Canada | Diary of a Toronto Girl
The best things to do in Stratford, Ontario | what to do and where to go in Stratford, Ontario, Canada | Diary of a Toronto Girl

Fun things to do in Stratford:

  1. Check out the street art
  2. Go shopping in downtown Stratford
  3. Wander around the cute storefronts
  4. Explore the beautiful parks in Stratford
  5. Do a Justin Bieber walking tour
  6. Eat at one of Stratford’s amazing restaurants
  7. Watch a show at the Stratford Festival

These were some of the best and most fun things to do in Stratford!

I visited during the fall and it was a very peaceful getaway, though I’m sure it gets very busy during the summer months!

During the holidays they also have the Christmas Trail, where you can check out some local Stratford shops.

Have you visited Stratford before? What are some of your favourite fun things to do in this artsy city? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!

If you’re planning a trip to Stratford, check out my other posts:

Be sure to keep up with me on Instagram, TikTokTwitter, Facebook, and Pinterest if you aren’t already!

Feel free to subscribe to my weekly newsletter to get my blog posts delivered straight to your inbox.

Jessica Lam | Toronto lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and travel blogger | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog


Like this post? Pin it for later!


Fun things to do in Stratford, whether you're looking to check out local arts and culture or shop for Canadian-made goodies!

    Sharing is Caring

    Help spread the word. You're awesome for doing it!