12 Best Things To Do In Stratford, Canada

1. Get your old painting restored in Koolen Fine Arts

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Housed in one of the prime locations in Stratford, Koolen Fine Arts offers full art restoration and art appraisal services.

If you would like to determine the fair market value of original artwork, you can contact the gallery, which then through its extensive involvement in the international art market, would provide you with a written appraisal.

The gallery is also known for its masterful cleaning and restoration of art objects that have been adversely affected by the inevitable decay caused by the wear and tear of time and age. It is deft in repairing watercolor paintings, drawings, sculptures, and decorative pieces of porcelain and fine wood. If you have a painting at home that has become dull, you can visit the gallery for a retouch from the skilled conservators and craftsmen.

Koolen Fine Arts

Address: 53 Downie St, Stratford, ON N5A 1W5, Canada

Website: Koolen Fine Arts

Opening hours: Tue - Sat; appointments are preferred (closed on Sun & Mon)

2. Buy your favorite tea from the pretty shop of Distinctly Tea Stratford

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Think of a drizzly afternoon when you have put your feet up on the ottoman with a cup of Earl Grey in one hand and a book in the other. Sounds divinely blissful, doesn’t it? Well, what are you waiting for? You can shop for your favorite tea from Distinctly Tea Stratford.

The retail store will impress you with its extensive and lavish range of teas, most of which is blended in Germany. Along with sophisticated Darjeeling tea and flavored green tea, you can also shop for exquisite mugs and tea pots.

Distinctly Tea Stratford

Address: 18 York St, Stratford, ON N5A 1A1, Canada

Website: Distinctly Tea Stratford

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

Price: Starts from 2.25 USD

3. Shop at Festival Marketplace Shopping Centre

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Stratford offers many ways to make your vacation enjoyable, and shopping in the city’s only indoor mall, Festival Marketplace, is one of them. This complex provides a great buying experience and myriads of high-quality products from its 60 stores and services. You will find top brands such as Ardene and Winners within the mall, which are dream spots for fashion enthusiasts. You can shop for home appliances and clothing in Sears, check out the pet stores, and dine at the modern food court on-site. Parking is complimentary.

Festival Marketplace Shopping Centre

Address: 1067 Ontario St, Stratford, ON N5A 6W6, Canada

Website: Festival Marketplace Shopping Centre

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 7pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 5pm

4. See Shakespeare's plays costumes at Stratford Festival Warehouse

See Stratford Festival’s beautiful art, props, and costumes, collected since the invention of the carnival in 1952. It was one of Canada’s first art festivals and was known as the Stratford Shakespearean Festival. During its conception, one-third of the festival’s events were William Shakespeare’s plays, but only three out of fourteen in recent years. The warehouse features over 50,000 items, including shoes and boots, which are added to each year to assist the fair’s artistic directors and producers. Don’t forget to bring your camera along to document the memorable tour.

Stratford Festival Warehouse

Address: 350 Douro St, Stratford, ON N5A 3S7, Canada

Website: Stratford Festival Warehouse

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 4:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

5. Enjoy the city’s great outdoors at Upper Queen's Park Stratford

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Stratford offers great opportunities to spend memorable times outdoors with a park system of more than 60 acres (24.3 hectares). Upper Queen’s Park is a serene part of the park’s plan, overlooking the beautiful Lake Victoria. It covers 6 acres (2.4 hectares) and features picnic spots, shaded green areas, pavilions, and kids’ playgrounds. You can have a quiet time alone with family or even reserve a place for up to 200 people for family reunions, time out with friends, and more.

Upper Queen's Park Stratford

Address: 55 Queen St, Stratford, ON N5A 4M9, Canada

Website: Upper Queen’s Park Stratford

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

6. Relish wild edibles at Puck's Plenty Foraging

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Hiking the great outdoors and admiring the fauna and flora are both fun activities. But how does collecting and sampling some of the wild plants and mushrooms you see during your adventure sound? If this is interesting to you, Puck’s Plenty Foraging has got you covered. Founded in 2010, it has since gained lots of recognition from top magazines and the community for its unique tour concept and contribution to Stratford’s culinary art. Here, you can go trekking and also participate in one of the seven exclusive events they organize yearly. These fairs include hiking for more than an hour and enjoying some of the season’s wild edibles, complete with wines and craft beers from the region of Niagara.

Puck's Plenty Foraging

Address: 96 Birmingham St, Stratford, ON N5A 2S9, Canada

Website: Puck’s Plenty Foraging

Price: 35 USD

7. Appreciate Canada’s outdoors and history at Shakespearean Gardens

Whether you’re planning a romantic vacation or just can’t get enough of the outdoors, Shakespearean Gardens is a must-visit. It’s perched along the stunning Avon River with five other incredible gardens. This small paradise is dotted with more than 60 varieties of shrubs, flowers, and herbs mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. Admire the beautiful environment, take stunning shots, and relax on the iron bench on the river’s shores and enjoy some quiet time. That’s not all there is to do in this garden, though. A few strolls to the east of the river will take you through an important part of Canada’s history. There, you will find a cenotaph, created in memory of the country’s fallen soldiers and a plaque detailing the events surrounding the sculpture.

Shakespearean Gardens

Address: 5 Huron St, Stratford, ON N5A 2L6, Canada

Website: Shakespearean Gardens

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

8. Check out the graceful Stratford City Hall National Historic Site of Canada

After the first town hall was destroyed by fire in 1897, many architects competed to construct another. Local architect John Wilson Siddall and Toronto architect George King’s ideas stood out, and they were awarded the task. The second town hall was completed in 1900, and it’s a wonder to behold. The building is located in a triangle-shaped town square, which is the heart of the city’s commercial district. This monumental town hall was made up of red brick with a blend of styles, including Queen Anne Revival and Flemish Renaissance styles. Some notable features include the paneled chimneys, classical cupola, and the clock tower. It was listed under Ontario Heritage Act in 1982 and National Historic Site in 1976.

Stratford City Hall National Historic Site of Canada

Address: 1 Market Pl, Stratford, ON N5A 1A4, Canada

Website: Stratford City Hall National Historic Site of Canada

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

9. Learn more about Ontario’s culture in Gallery Stratford

Journey into the unique art culture of southwestern Ontario in Gallery Stratford, established in 1967. It is one of the longest operating art studios in the region, and it focuses on Canadian and regional art. It features rotating exhibitions of contemporary visual art housed in three different places. The gallery not only seeks to feed your eyes, but it also provides an opportunity for interactive learning through organized dialogues. Outside the building is a fantastic parkland, featuring sculpture-dotted pathways to admire. You can check the on-site gallery shop to buy and take home some Canadian arts.

Gallery Stratford

Address: 54 Romeo St S, Stratford, ON N5A 4S9, Canada

Website: Gallery Stratford

Opening hours: Thu - Fri: 12pm - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed from Mon - Wed)

10. Savor Japanese and Korean varieties at Pearl Sushi

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PearlSushi (@pearlsushistratford)

Unlike the restaurant’s size, Pearl Sushi features an extensive menu of Japanese and Korean delicacies to devour. It’s located close to the Avon Theatre on the busy Downie Street and has been serving the community fresh and delectable food since 2007. Its sushi is the best you’ll ever taste on this side of the globe. Other top dishes on the menu include sashimi, tempura, teriyaki, and udon. The interior is small and intimate. Though it only serves take-out orders currently due to Covid-19, you won’t regret stopping by.

Pearl Sushi

Address: 127 Downie St, Stratford, ON N5A 1X1, Canada

Website: Pearl Sushi

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11:30am - 7pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

11. See Perth County’s notable artifacts at Stratford Perth Museum

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Better appreciate the diversity, art, and culture of Perth County in this interactive museum. Stratford Perth Museum features plethoras of memorabilia and artifacts dating back to the early 19th century as well as new and innovative exhibits. Some of the amazing photos and exhibits in this place include Perth Regiment, Railway Century, Such Stuff as Dreams, and Justin Bieber: Steps to Stardom. The exterior is also visually appealing with a forested trail 0.6 mi (1 km) long, decorated with 15 storyboards, which walks you through the region’s history. You can also join the organized history talks and tours for a more engaging experience.

Stratford Perth Museum

Address: 4275 Huron St, Stratford, ON N5A 6S6, Canada

Website: Stratford Perth Museum

Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)

12. Solve challenging puzzles at Escape From Reality

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Make your evening exciting with a challenging round at Escape From Reality after a long day of exploring this beautiful city. The spot highlights three different rooms with difficult but possible puzzles to solve in under an hour. Clues are provided, and you can unravel the mystery with four others and have your names crested in the room’s hall of fame. The places are changed every couple of months, and there is a separate room to sit and play board games. The friendly owner also offers cake decorating classes.

Escape From Reality

Address: 368 Huron Street Stratford, ON, Canada N5A 5T5

Website: Escape From Reality

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6pm - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 12pm - 10pm

Enjoy a unique vacation experience

Regardless of what you enjoy doing while on your getaway, beautiful moments await you in this place. You can check out the beautiful outdoors, enjoy Shakespeare’s plays in theaters, admire the region’s artifacts in museums, and so much more. With all these things to do in Stratford, Canada, you will surely have an interesting journey like no other.