Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall Tour: Embrace the Past where Great Playwright was Schooled

Step into the past and explore Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall, where the world’s greatest playwright was educated. Immerse yourself in 16th century Stratford, participate in a Tudor lesson, and experience the space where Shakespeare first witnessed performances by renowned actors. Perfect for all ages!

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall - Visitors are invited to explore the very building in which young William Shakespeare was educated in the 1570s. Films provide background information about Shakespeare’s school days and the historic significance of Stratford-upon-Avon’s Guildhall. 
    Built in 1420, this building is one of only a few remaining…
What's Included
  • Tudor history lesson
  • Experienced guide
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Experience the educational journey of William Shakespeare that led him to become the world-renowned playwright we celebrate today, by visiting Shakespeare’s Schoolroom & Guildhall. Submerge yourself in the atmosphere of 16th century Stratford, and have the unique opportunity to sit in the exact room where a young Shakespeare once studied. Explore the…

Location
Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall
Church Street
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(213 Ratings)
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Fred
Mar 27, 2025
The School That Made Shakespeare Shakespeare. - Don't overlook this Stratford-upon-Avon gem that too few visit. You may have gone to Shakespeare's home, now go see the schooling and experience that helped form this genius. Still used today by students of the King Edward VI school until its opening time at 11:00 it is living history. Information on Shakespeare's training in Latin and the classics to his exposure to traveling actors plays are brilliantly presented by the docents including Schoolmaster Jenkins.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tonyd5402qw
Mar 24, 2025
Wonderful experience, not to be missed when visiting Stratford. - Wonderful experience not to be missed in Stratford. The building is very well preserved. The guides are so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subject. We learned a lot about Shakespeare’s times, where he went to school and his education. We really enjoyed our time here, which was well worth the entrance fee.
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Dorothywe1591bg
Feb 24, 2025
Lessons for all time - Amazing morning spent learning about the education Shakespeare had , putting it into historical context. Very well informed and friendly staff, interactive. Wish we could use the educational techniques described now to encourage children to question and challenge orthodoxy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sharon_a
Feb 21, 2025
Highly recommend this trip - This was an excellent experience which lasted about an hour. The staff are great, friendly and very knowledgeable. The magister was great and we learnt some Latin, how to write with a quill and ink. Would highly recommend this for both adults and children.
Review provided by Viator
Yellowbelly_em
Jan 26, 2025
A fascinating journey into the past - Absolutely loved our tour of Shakespeare's schoolroom and the old guildhall. Our tour guides were not only informative but clearly passionate about the history of the site. I'm a huge Shakespeare enthusiast so loved learning something new about his father's role in the town and his education. It was fun learning some Latin and how to write with a quill, but my favourite was dressing up as a Tudor school master myself. As our tour was very busy, one of the staff offered to give us (a small group of 3) additional insights into the building and its history after the larger party had left, which we really appreciated as the space was small and this meant we didn't miss out on anything because of the size of our tour group. We were able to take our time and learn even more from someone who clearly had a real love for history. Would highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Milionia
Jan 19, 2025
Fantastic and full of surprises! - First, just go book your tickets! This was one of the most enlightening and fun tours I’ve ever enjoyed. I took my teenaged daughter, who is both a history buff and a fan of Shakespeare, and this visit knocked our socks off! We began our tour in the guildhall with a very engaging tour guide - a history teacher with an obvious passion for the subject matter. The upstairs schoolroom was presided over by a theatrical schoolmaster who gave an impassioned, in-character run-down of Tudor era beliefs about the importance of education. It was as unexpected as it was intriguing. The Tudor era is a swathe of history I usually avoid based on my preconceived notions about the bleakness of life at the time; this tour dispelled many myths I had believed. We will long remain grateful that we toured the schoolroom and guildhall.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M7423yhbrianw
Jan 8, 2025
Discover Shakepeare's world as a 7 year old to see his Tudor England excitingly brought to life - A relatively new Shakespeare venue to visit after the King Edward VI moved its library in 2016. The trip comes in two parts. Downstairs learning about the Guildhall where John Shakespeare (William's father) was an Alderman and later Mayor. Upstairs is the original classroom (still used today), where William attended for 6-7 years from the age of seven upwards. You have guides for both sections who know their subject well to give you a very informative insight into the world of Shakespeare as a child and some of the key influences that would shape his later plays. The upstairs guide plays the part of a Master from the time and is brilliant. It was a hugely entertaining and informative 90-minute visit
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G1105tvkelvins
Jan 5, 2025
Staff are friendly and professional. Very, very interesting. - The actual school attended by Shakespeare. Staff are friendly and professional, speaking in a clear and easy to understand way. Very, very interesting. Thoroughly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Helenwk589xx
Dec 12, 2024
Such a well-run place - This is the school once attended by William Shakespeare. The tour guides are so enthusiastic and really bring the school alive for visitors.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nkay84
Jan 13, 2025
Shakespeares schoolhouse and guildhall review - We came in the week between Christmas and new year. We didn’t realise it was a guided tour and was expecting just to look round ourselves. It was interesting to begin with but then it did begin to drag on. The school master doing the talk seemed to go on for ages and it felt we were going over and over the same information and I felt rude to get up and leave so sat through it. There was a weird whirling whisper in my ear throughout the school master talking too which was really strange. I kept looking around but couldn’t see any speakers playing any sound and no one else seemed to notice it and didn’t mention it. It was like someone was whispering in my ear. Be interesting to know if there was something being played into the building or whether it was something paranormal, It was interesting but a shorter tour would have been better especially with having my teen with me. She kept asking if we could go now….
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
April 2025
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