Walking The Shakespeare Way

The Shakespeare Way follows a route that the great poet and playwright may have taken when he left his birthplace, Stratford-on-Avon, for London sometime between 1585 and 1588. We cannot know the exact route that he took but we know that he had connections in Oxford with his friend and inn-keeper, John Davenant, whilst he was of course familiar with the countryside of Warwickshire and probably of the Cotswolds, which feature in Richard II. The Shakespeare Way passes through some beautiful places and beside notable landmarks, including the Rollright Stones, Chipping Norton, Woodstock (close to Blenheim Palace and the burial place of Sir Winston Churchill at Bladon), Oxford, Marlow, Cookham, and Kew, before finishing at the recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Thatre in Southwark, London. The route can be followed in either direction and taken on in sections.

This route has been developed in order to raise funds for the Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford. World Walks will donate £5 to the cause for each booking made.

Itinerary

Any number of nights is possible but for the sake of convenience the route has been divided into 4 sections. The first three are essentially rural, the fourth is initially rural but urban in its latter stages as you walk through West London, following a mixture of river and canal-side path, and street pavements. The first two, in particular, could be combined into a six night package between Stratford and Oxford.

Section 1 – Stratford-on-Avon to Chipping Norton

Day 1: Arrive Stratford-on- Avon for overnight.
Day 2: Stratford to Alderminster (7 miles)
Day 3: Alderminster to Shipston-on-Stour (10 miles)
Day 4: Shipton to Chipping Norton (14 miles)
Day 5: Departure

Section 2 – Chipping Norton to Oxford

Day 1: Arrive Chipping Norton for overnight
Day 2: Chipping Norton to Woodstock (16 miles)
Day 3: Woodstock to Oxford (11 miles)
Day 4: Departure

Section 3 - Oxford to Marlow

Day 1: Arrive Oxford for overnight
Day 2: Oxford to Chiselhampton (10 miles) or Stadhampton (11 miles) or Chalgrove (13 miles)
Day 3: To Cookley Green, Upper Maidensgrove, or Pishill (up to 15 miles)
Day 4: To Hambledon (up to 9 miles) or to Marlow (up to 20 miles)
Day 5: departure or continue to Marlow for overnight

Section 4 – Marlow to London

Day 1: Arrive Marlow for overnight
Day 2: Marlow to Farnham Common (11 miles)
Day 3: Farnham Common to Iver (9 miles)
Day 4: Iver to Kew/Chiswick (14/15 miles)
Day 5: Kew/Chiswick to Southwark (16/15 miles)
Day 6: depart

Details

Price

Section 1:
3 days walking 4 nights B & B: £250 per person based on two people sharing

Section 2:
2 days walking 3 nights B & B £175 per person based on 2 people sharing

Section 3:
3 or 4 days walking 4 or 5 nights  B & B £225 to £250 per person based on 2 people sharing

Section 4:
4 days walking 5 nights B & B £275 per person based on 2 people sharing

Included

Accommodation with breakfast (and private bathrooms where available); luggage transportation on walking days; route instructions.

Not Included

Meals apart from breakfast; transportation (except for luggage on walking days).

Difficulty Of The Walk

Variable but essentially easy to moderate - nothing strenuous if you are able to walk the distances concerned.

Additional Information

Accommodation

B & Bs and inns with private bathrooms

Getting There

In general the starting points can be reached by train or by train and taxi.

What To Take

Comfortable, well aerated clothes in keeping with the season. Always bring a pullover, good walking boots (already worn-in) and several pairs of cotton or wool socks. For your daily needs, you are advised to have a plastic bag to line your day-pack (to protect the contents from rain), rainwear, a sun-hat, sun glasses, sun block, a water bottle, plastic picnic boxes (for transporting your lunches), first-aid kit , camera and film, torch/flashlight.

When To Go

Mid-April to mid-September. Accommodation will be difficult to obtain on UK national holidays unless booked well in advance (and may require an alteration to the programme).

Insurance

We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for whatever reason.