Stratford-upon-Avon is a great destination for families, as there's something for everyone to enjoy.

The main attractions in town are the Shakespeare Properties and The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, which are fascinating tributes to the bard. However, there are many more attractions that aren't Shakespeare oriented, that children and families can enjoy together. The River Avon is a good place for a variety of activities for all ages. Take a pleasant stroll along the walkways or rent a row boat to explore the length of the river on your own. Visitors who would rather sit back and let someone else take the helm, there are cruise boats that give regular tours and evening dinner cruises. Each summer, the River Avon is also the site for the Stratford Races, which can be a little bit crazy, since the races consist of watercraft of all shapes and sizes racing down the river, piloted by both novices and professionals.

Families with younger kids might enjoy The Teddy Bear Museum., which has hundreds of different teddy bears on display, many of which are rare and valuable collectors' items, or the Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm and Jungle Safari.

There are also many different walking tours and bus tours that provide visitors with little-known facts about the area and its former residents.

Try to avoid the times when the Bulldog Bash ( a big bikers festival ) is running (in June every year - check dates) - the town is overrun with hells angel motorcycles - it's probably not dangerous, but it can feel a bit threatening. Check also for the times of the Mop and the Runaway Mop which are funfairs which disrupt shopping, and travel - the kids might like the rides, but the amount of diesel fumes which you have to ingest if you walk around the town is savage (October every year - check dates).

 If you want to have a picnic there is a really nice secluded park just off chapel lane (on the left hand side of the road looking down towards the theatre), my children love this park and it is gated so they've never run out into the road - it's rarely busy. Another nice place for a picnic is the walled garden if you take the footpath from the chain ferry towards Holy Trinity Church, there's a wall on the left with an entrance gap - walk through this to a lovely sloping garden with mature trees leading down to the riversided - it's often very quiet even on bank holiday weekends (as long as the thesps aren't staging an outdoor production there).