Post Office: Stratford: N5A 4A0
Number of Homes: Stratford: 142,407
Number of Businesses: Stratford: 1,206
Industry(s): Industry(s): Manufacturing, Education,
Rated:
Reasons: Theatre, Festivals, Relaxing Atmosphere,

Getting There:
Located west of Kitchener, take Hwy. 8 off the 401 to Hwy 7/8 west
follow to Stratford;
Stratford: N43° 22.2', W080° 58.9337'

Map of Stratford
Map of Shakespeare

Stratford is a city to savour, a centre of indoor fantasies and outdoor beauty. Stratford’s creative spirit is evident everywhere, from the stages of the four Stratford Festival theatres to the individuality of the small city’s boutiques and restaurants.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival season runs from April 23 through to November 9, 2008. This acclaimed theatre company presents 15 plays in repertory in four distinct theatres around the city and an outdoor theatre experience that is new for 2008.

Enjoy musicals Cabaret and The Music Man. Select one or more of Shakespeare's finest Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, All's Well That Ends Well, and Love's Labour's Lost. Other selections include Caesar and Cleopatra,a new translation of The Trojan Women, a new English version of Fuente Ovejuna, internationally acclaimed Emilia Galotti, and the double-bill of Krapp's Last Tape and Hughie starring Brian Dennehy. New plays to see are Palmer Park, Moby Dick, and There Reigns Love by Simon Callow. Experience theatre as it once was in Stratford with Shakespeare's Universe (Her Infinite Variety) in the outdoor theatre experience written by Peter Hinton.

Stratford is a city of gardens, from beautiful municipal gardens to the spectacular gardens around the Festival theatre. Walkers will enjoy the lovely walking paths along the Avon, a setting ideal for strolling, and popular for picnicking and people-watching.
Stratford is home to many artists, artisans, musicians and authors, and their work can be found in the local art galleries, shops and boutiques, as well as in riverfront parkland, in Art in the Park. History buffs will enjoy the Stratford Perth Museum. Many Stratford stores – from garden design shops to toy stores to book shops – have been rated among the best in Canada. There are great shopping opportunities downtown, and at all the major entrances to the city.

Stratford is a city for lovers – lovers of theatre, music, art, food, gardens, antiques, architecture, quilts, crafts, coffee, or even extra special ice cream cones. And lovers of . . . well, of that special other person you bring to one of the most enjoyable communities anywhere in the world.

Just east of Stratford, Shakespeare in the summer is a wonderful community to visit. Shakespeare is known crafts, giftware and antiques. Visitors will find unique and treasured gifts in the unique shops, including The Quilt Place.

Shakespeare, Ontario, Canada

Post Office: Shakespeare: N0B 2P0
Number of Homes:
Number of Businesses:
Industry(s):
Rated:
Reasons: Homey atmosphere, Uniqueness

Getting There:
Located West of Kitchener, take Hwy. 8 off the 401 to
Hwy. 7/8 west to Stratford and follow to Shakespeare.
From Stratford, take Hwy 7 east towards Kitchener.
Shakespeare: N43° 22.1774', W080° 50.2214'

Passing through Shakespeare can take a minute, or a day — depending on whether you drive heedlessly through the village, or stop to savour one of the jewels of Visitor country. One thing is sure — everyone who stops and strolls through Shakespeare, will do so again and again — visitors are astonished at the quality and variety of antiques, quilts, crafts, and gourmet delights to be found in the unique shops, and they always — always! — come back.

Summer is the ideal season to visit this town full of treasures. Visitors to theatre in Stratford wisely leave time for a leisurely exploration of the little neighbouring village named for the Bard. This small community has earned its international reputation as an intriguing place to shop; it probably has the highest proportion of antique shops to population anywhere in the province. Antiquing opportunities range from high end emporiums to shops piled deep with potential bargains.

Shakespeare is a town for quilters. It is popular with gourmets. It’s a favourite stop for anglophiles. It’s a village where it is Christmas every day of the year, and where craft lovers and craft makers can lose themselves for days.