Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<p>You don&#8217;t need to know your Hamlet from your Henry V to have a brilliant day out at the <strong><a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Royal Shakespeare Company</a></strong> this summer. In fact, one of the best-kept secrets in Stratford-upon-Avon is that some of the RSC&#8217;s biggest pleasures happen before the curtain even rises (or without a theatre ticket in sight).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083534.270-1000x667.jpg" alt="Riverside views at the RSC" class="wp-image-72049" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083534.270-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083534.270-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083534.270-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083534.270.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Whether you&#8217;re planning a family day out, plotting a cultural escape with friends or simply looking for one of the best things to do in Stratford-upon-Avon this summer, the RSC has quietly become a destination in its own right. Think riverside coffee, hidden rooftop cocktails, fascinating behind-the-scenes discoveries and a fresh new take on <em><a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/a-midsummer-nights-dream" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Midsummer Night&#8217;s Dream</a></em>. Here are five reasons we&#8217;ll be heading there this season.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-start-with-coffee-cake-and-front-row-seats-to-the-swans">Start with coffee, cake and front-row seats to the swans</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083717.866-1000x667.jpg" alt="Summer at the RSC" class="wp-image-72051" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083717.866-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083717.866-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083717.866-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083717.866.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>There are worse ways to begin a summer morning than wandering along the Avon riverbank, strolling through the gardens surrounding the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and then settling into a sunny spot perched on the <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/restaurant-cafes-bars/riverside-cafe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riverside Café terrace</a>. With swans gliding past, boats drifting along the water and Stratford-upon-Avon gently coming to life around you, it&#8217;s one of the prettiest corners of town. Order a barista-made coffee and one of the pastries or cakes fresh from the RSC&#8217;s in-house pastry kitchen, then simply sit back and enjoy the view.</p>



<p>Even if theatre isn&#8217;t on your agenda, the setting alone makes it worth a stop. Grab a table outside, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the sort of leisurely morning that makes you feel like you&#8217;ve stumbled upon a local secret.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discover-the-side-of-the-rsc-most-visitor-never-see">Discover the side of the RSC most visitor never see</h3>



<p>The Royal Shakespeare Company isn&#8217;t just about what&#8217;s happening on stage. Step inside and you&#8217;ll find plenty to explore, including one of the building&#8217;s most underrated attractions, <em><a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-plays-the-thing/about-the-exhibition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Play&#8217;s The Thing</a></em>.</p>



<p>This free exhibition offers a fascinating peek behind the curtain, charting more than 400 years of theatre-making through costumes, props and stories from productions past and present. Even if you&#8217;re not usually the museum type, it&#8217;s surprisingly immersive and packed with the sort of quirky details that make you appreciate just how much magic goes into creating a world-class production.</p>



<p>Travelling with children? They&#8217;ll love the dressing-up cabinet on Level 2, where aspiring actors can try on costumes and embrace their inner Shakespearean hero (or villain).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-go-behind-the-scenes">Go behind the scenes</h3>



<p>Ever wondered what actually happens backstage at one of the world&#8217;s most famous theatre companies? The RSC&#8217;s <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/your-visit/tours" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guided tours</a> reveal all. From ingenious stagecraft and hidden corners of the building to the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the productions, these tours offer a glimpse into a world that most audience members never get to see. It&#8217;s the sort of experience that leaves you dropping interesting facts into conversation for weeks afterwards. And let&#8217;s be honest, everyone loves feeling like they&#8217;ve gained access to somewhere they&#8217;re not normally allowed.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-catch-shakespeare-s-dreamiest-comedy-of-the-summer">Catch Shakespeare&#8217;s dreamiest comedy of the summer</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083243.343.jpg" alt="A Midsummer Night's Dream at the RSC" class="wp-image-72047" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083243.343.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083243.343-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083243.343-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083243.343-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083243.343-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you are planning to book a show, make it <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/a-midsummer-nights-dream/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>A Midsummer Night&#8217;s Dream</em></a>. Running from <strong>19 June to 30 Aug</strong>, this fresh new take on Shakespeare&#8217;s beloved comedy distils all the romance, mischief and woodland chaos into a slick 90-minute production. Ideal for seasoned theatre-goers and Shakespeare newcomers alike, it&#8217;s a brilliantly accessible way to experience one of the Bard&#8217;s most popular plays without committing your entire evening. Expect mistaken identities, magical meddling and plenty of laughs. Summer theatre doesn&#8217;t get much more fitting than this.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-head-upstairs-for-stratford-s-most-underrated-sun-spot">Head upstairs for Stratford&#8217;s most underrated sun spot</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083845.331-1000x667.jpg" alt="Summer at the RSC" class="wp-image-72053" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083845.331-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083845.331-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083845.331-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2026/06/Untitled-design-2026-06-19T083845.331.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Now for the insider tip. While plenty of visitors wander past without realising it&#8217;s there, the <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/rooftop-restaurant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rooftop Restaurant</a> is one of the best places in Stratford-upon-Avon to watch the sun go down. With panoramic views stretching across the town and river, it&#8217;s the perfect spot for a pre-show cocktail, long lunch or leisurely dinner.</p>



<p>The menu celebrates seasonal ingredients, while the drinks list is reason enough to visit on its own. Order a cocktail, settle into the view and enjoy that smug feeling that comes from discovering somewhere that still feels a little under the radar.</p>



<p>Not drinking? The Rooftop Restaurant is just as tempting by day. Its <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/rooftop-restaurant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">afternoon tea</a> is a rather civilised way to spend a summer afternoon, complete with spectacular views across Stratford-upon-Avon, while dinner here turns an ordinary evening into something a little more special.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-one-for-your-autumn-diary">And one for your autumn diary</h2>



<p>If you&#8217;re the sort of person who likes to have something exciting in the calendar, here&#8217;s a date worth bookmarking now.</p>



<p>From 26 September, the RSC welcomes Tony Award winner and Frozen star Jonathan Groff to Stratford-upon-Avon for <em><a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/as-you-like-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">As You Like It</a></em>. It&#8217;s already shaping up to be one of the hottest theatre tickets of the autumn, and if summer at the RSC leaves you wanting more, this might just be the perfect excuse to come back.</p>



<p>Because that&#8217;s the thing about the Royal Shakespeare Company. You might arrive for a coffee, a cocktail or a riverside stroll and leave wondering why you don&#8217;t visit more often.</p>



<ul>
<li><em><a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Royal Shakespeare Theatre</a>, Waterside, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6BB.</em></li>
</ul>


5 reasons the Royal Shakespeare Company is Stratford’s ultimate summer hotspot

You may also like