Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon, steeped in history and culture

Discovering Stratford-upon-Avon and Hotel Indigo

Stratford-upon-Avon is a Shakespearean market town steeped in history and culture, and Hotel Indigo Stratford-upon-Avon is perfectly located centrally, providing ease of access to all this architecturally rich town has to offer. Stratford-upon-Avon lies in the heart of the Cotswolds, surrounded by natural beauty, as well as being the home of the greatest playwright and poet in history, William Shakespeare. It boasts a wealth of tourist attractions, fabulous restaurants, museums, and boutiques—plenty to keep you busy for quite some time.

Hotel History and The Tudor Room Suite

The hotel also has an interesting past, with lots of history that the staff are happy to impart. You feel this as you walk through the maze of corridors, hallways, staircases, and nooks and crannies.

We enjoyed hearing the history of this quaint boutique hotel as we were shown to our suite, aptly named The Tudor Room, situated in the original 16th-century part of the hotel, with views of Shakespeare’s New Place, his residential home in later life. The suite was comfortable, if a little quirky, but with stylish and contemporary furnishings, it was an absolute delight. The room included all the usual extras, such as TVs in each area, free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, gorgeous bathroom goodies, gowns, and water. The bathroom was completely luxurious, with a huge waterfall shower and stylish fixtures and fittings. To describe this suite in just a few words: cosy, with a historically authentic atmosphere—we loved it.

We made full use of the suite, spending a few hours relaxing before venturing into town for lunch and some shopping. On our return to our lovely suite and prior to our dinner reservation in The Woodsman, which sits within the building, we enjoyed a couple of room-service cocktails, rested, caught up with some emails, showered, and dressed for dinner.

Dining at The Woodsman Restaurant

The Woodsman has a philosophy of creating a ‘field to fork’ menu designed by Executive Chef Mike Robinson. British, locally sourced, sustainable produce is at the heart of the cuisine here. A large wood-fired oven and charcoal grill is the focal point of the restaurant, where you can watch the chefs prepare the finest British deer, wild boar, beef, and Hebridean lamb—all raised on farms with the highest standards.

We enjoyed the menu; it was really quite exciting, but opted for fish dishes. The fish is sourced from leading Cornish fisheries, the vegetables in the side dishes from Evesham, and the herbs and spices from the restaurant’s kitchen garden, all ensuring superb quality, taste, and freshness. Everything we chose was delicious—a true experience of culinary excellence, with perfect service and stunning presentation.

Breakfast and Checkout

After a peaceful and restful night’s sleep, we looked forward to breakfast and were not disappointed. Pastries, fresh juices, yoghurts, cereals, freshly brewed coffee, and a full English breakfast set us up for a full day of business. We took our time, enjoyed a second coffee, and reluctantly checked out.

Shakespeare’s England Explorer Pass Offer

Our short but sweet stay was sadly not long enough to take advantage of the collaboration the hotel has with Shakespeare’s England, who provide an abundance of local experiences. The hotel offers for £195 a two-night stay that includes an Explorer Pass, granting access to a multitude of excursions:

The five Shakespeare family homes (Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Shakespeare’s New Place, Hall’s Croft, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and Mary Arden’s Farm)
Warwick Castle
Compton Verney
The MAD Museum
British Motor Museum
Shakespeare’s Schoolroom and Guildhall
Avon Boating
The Play’s The Thing Exhibition at Royal Shakespeare Company
Hill Close Gardens
Lord Leycester Hospital
Kenilworth Castle
St Mary Church
Stoneleigh Abbey