Shakespeare and Hathaway Tour (Self Guided Audio Walk)

Grab your binoculars and come undercover as you explore the historic market town of Stratford upon Avon on our 2 ½-hour Shakespeare & Hathaway Locations Tour.

In association with SmartGuide – the leading platform for self-guided audio tours – we have an easy-to-use fully guided audio walk of locations in Stratford-Upon Avon from Shakespeare and Hathaway.

The simple-to-use app-based tour will help you follow in the footsteps of Luella Shakespeare, Frank Hathaway and Sebastian as they solve crimes and capture criminals in the great Bard’s hometown. You’ll see some of Stratford upon Avon’s most beautiful and famous landmarks as you hear how Lu and Frank investigate fraud, murder, affairs, death threats, lies, scandals, disappearances and a whole host of other misdemeanors.

Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators has been entertaining audiences since it was first aired in 2018. The lead characters are named after the Elizabethan playwright, William Shakespeare, and his wife, Anne Hathaway. Together they form an unlikely partnership as they comically uncover the secrets of Stratford’s residents. Each episode of this hit daytime drama gives a nod towards William Shakespeare, taking a modern twist on plays such as King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet and others while throwing in a family-friendly ‘Who Dunnit?’ element.

The walking tour starts near The Shakespeare Centre, where you’ll immediately recognise Shakespeare’s Birthplace as just one of Stratford upon Avon’s stunning buildings that can be seen in the show.

As you meander through Stratford upon Avon’s Old Town you’ll pass quaint locations used as the backdrop for Shakespeare and Hathaway’s sleuthing escapades. As the tour progresses, you’ll make your way towards the River Avon, where Gloria scattered her beloved pet’s ashes, and see the spot where Frank and Lu catch their lookie-likies in series 2. You’ll have the chance to stop for a selfie by the statue of ‘Young Will’ as seen when Sebastian’s Ghost Walk punters were hijacked. Behind the statue you can admire one of the highlights of the tour: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The theatre, with its impressive 36-meter-high tower, is instantly recognisable and has featured in multiple episodes throughout the series.

There’ll be additional photo opportunities as you cross over the river to see locations from all three series, around Stratford Recreational Grounds, including the moment when Sebastian dropped the ransom money for the kidnapped multimillionaire dog.

During the tour you’ll see locations where the cast are star-struck, plant tracking devices, pick locks, go undercover and catch bad guys. Naturally, the tour includes some of the show’s best chase scenes where Shakespeare and Hathaway pant and puff as they pursue unlikely villains. Some of these chase scenes include the church where Lu runs after an old lady in an electric wheelchair and you’ll visit the spot where the formidable duo commandeered a swan pedal boat while they attempted to make a citizen’s arrest.

As you walk along the river you’ll pass by the theatre where the catastrophic performance of Juliet & Romeo was performed and where Sebastian’s old RADA friend starred in Hamlet in the finale of series three.

The final stop on the tour is the location where Sebastian posed for photos in the churchyard while dressed as the Bard’s ghost. The tour finishes outside the Holy Trinity Church, which is where William Shakespeare was buried in 1616. After the tour you’ll have the chance to explore the church at your leisure or make your way back along the river towards Stratford upon Avon’s Old Town.

Download the SmartGuide app

Begin your self-guided adventure through the charming market town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Start near the Shakespeare Centre where you’ll see the famous Tudor house known as Shakespeare’s Birthplace, a key landmark featured in the series.

Stratford’s Historic Streets

Wander through the atmospheric streets of Stratford’s Old Town, where many scenes were filmed against a backdrop of historic buildings and charming lanes.

Old Town Filming Locations

As you explore further, your audio guide will highlight spots used for surveillance, undercover work and key investigative moments in the series.

Young Will Statue

Pause at the statue of the young William Shakespeare, a memorable location linked to one of the show’s intriguing cases and a great photo opportunity.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

See the iconic theatre overlooking the River Avon, a landmark that appears throughout the series and reflects the town’s theatrical heritage.

River Avon Riverside

Follow the riverside path where several scenes take place, offering a peaceful contrast to the drama of the investigations.

Stratford Recreation Grounds

Cross the river to explore the recreation grounds, the setting for a memorable ransom drop scene involving a kidnapped dog.

Riverside Chase Locations

Continue along the riverside where multiple chase sequences were filmed as the detectives pursue suspects through open parkland.

The Theatre Performance Location

See the theatre used in episodes featuring a disastrous stage production and another storyline involving a Hamlet performance.

The Swan Pedal Boat Scene

Visit the riverside location where the duo commandeer a swan pedal boat during one of the show’s more light-hearted moments.

Church Chase Scene

Walk to the church featured in a memorable chase scene involving a suspect and an electric wheelchair.

Final Stop – Holy Trinity Church

Finish outside Holy Trinity Church, the burial place of William Shakespeare and a location that appears in the series, providing a fitting end to your tour.

Accommodation Suggestions

If you’re staying overnight, we recommend checking out Booking.com – click here for convenient hotel options.

Travelling to Stratford

Travelling to Stratford by train? Save money by booking your tickets in advance through trainline website.

Is the tour accessible?
– This guided tour is not accessible for wheelchair users or parents with prams or buggies due to the uneven surfaces on the route. British Sign Language is not provided on the tour.

Do children need to be accompanied?
– All people under 18 (i.e. 17 years old and younger) must be accompanied by an adult (aged 18 years or over) on all tours

Is the tour suitable for children?
– Yes as long as they are accompanied by an adult

– Save £££s Booking Direct – Enjoy the guaranteed lowest price when you book directly with us (the direct operator of the tour).

– Hassle-Free Booking Experience – Get excellent customer service with your questions answered quickly and easily by our expert team who know the tours better than anyone.

Focus on your surroundings, not the screen
SmartGuide’s audio tour app uses GPS to play audio automatically, at the right time and place. Just install the app, then download your tour and go to the starting point to begin your walk, drive, cycle, train trip or even boat ride.

Follow a route with turn-by-turn-directions
Tours follow a route from a fixed starting point. This is how we provide turn-by-turn directions. But you can use Resume to pick up a tour from the closest location whenever you like.

Listen as many times as you like
You can listen to your tours as often as you like using the SmartGuide app. Your access to the audio tour doesn’t expire.

Take virtual tours anywhere
You can also listen to tours at home – or anywhere else. Once the tour is download just select each location for the commentary.

Use SmartGuide offline
The SmartGuide app works entirely offline if there’s no data connection, so you don’t have to pay roaming fees. Just download the tour over WiFi before you get started.

Click here to download the SmartGuide app

Please note the Shakespeare & Hathaway Locations Tour does not visit the locations used as the Mucky Mallard or Shakespeare and Hathaway’s offices as they aren’t in Stratford upon Avon.