Most people visit Stratford, Ontario, for the theatre, but over the years, I’ve found some of my favourite experiences here happen between the performances. Living only about 30 minutes away, I’ve returned enough times to stop treating Stratford like a checklist of attractions and instead experience it more slowly on foot.
What changed the way I explored the town most were Stratford’s self-guided walking tours. They led me beyond the obvious downtown stops and helped me notice details I would have otherwise walked past entirely: historic buildings, public art, quiet residential streets, river paths, hidden stories, and small corners of Stratford that feel very different once you slow down enough to pay attention.
If you’re looking for what to do in Stratford, Ontario, beyond simply seeing a play and strolling the downtown, these walking routes offer a unique, yet fun way to experience the town.
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What to Do in Stratford, Ontario: Self-Guided Walking Tours
6 Free Audio Tours
One of the things I enjoyed most about Stratford’s audio walking tours was how differently they made me experience the town.
The tours are all self-guided and can be completed at your own pace, which makes them especially easy to fit into a day trip or weekend visit.
| Audio Walking Tour | Length + Best For |
|---|---|
| Tom Patterson Audio Tour | Approx. 2h 7m Best for Stratford history lovers and deeper storytelling |
| Justin Bieber Audio Tour | Approx. 30m Best for pop culture fans, Beliebers and casual fun |
| Stratford Gardens Tour | Approx. 1h 15m Best for flower lovers and seasonal wandering |
| Art Walk Tour | Approx. 1h Best for public art, sculptures, and creative exploration |
| Top Insta-Worthy Spots Tour | Approx. 20m Best for photography and first-time visitors |
| Bronze Star Audio Tour | Best for learning about Stratford’s homegrown talent and notable residents |
Simply, visit Stratford Walking Tours, select your tour, download and start your walk.
2 Paid Food Tours
In addition to the free audio walking tours, Stratford also offers two paid self-guided food trails that turn exploring the downtown into more of an interactive tasting experience.
| Self-Guided Food Trail | Cost + Best For |
|---|---|
| The Stratford Chocolate Trail | $39.55 for 6 vouchers Best for chocolate lovers, cafés, bakeries, and slower downtown wandering |
| The Bacon & Ale Trail | $39.55 for 5 vouchers Best for craft beer lovers, casual dining, and Stratford’s brewery scene |
Simply, purchase in person in downtown Stratford at Destination Stratford at 47 Downie Street, or in Bradshaws at 129 Ontario Street.
The Stratford Walking Tours That Stood Out Most to Me
These are the tours I decided to personally try, even though I think I know the city well, based on how many times I visited, I can honestly say they are fun things to do, which, more importantly, brought me to new places I might not have found otherwise.
The Art Walk Tour
If you love public art as much as I do, the Art Walk Tour is what you’ll want to do in Stratford.
I grabbed a tea and a scone from Edison’s Cafe and started the tour at Confederation Park, which ended up being one of my favourite sections of the experience. Walking beneath the large shade trees along the Avon River while discovering public art installations scattered throughout the park made the entire tour feel much more immersive than simply viewing sculptures one after another.
There are seven art installations located throughout Confederation Park alone, and I found myself slowing down far more than expected to actually take in the details and meanings behind the pieces.
Adjacent to the park is Gallery Stratford, one of Ontario’s longest-running public art galleries. Between the rotating exhibits and seasonal events like Stratford Art in the Park, it’s worth checking what’s happening during your visit because there always seems to be something new.
From there, I continued toward the Stratford Festival Theatre, where more sculptures and statues are woven throughout the beautifully maintained gardens surrounding the theatre grounds. What I appreciated most about this tour overall was how naturally it blended Stratford’s public art, gardens, and riverfront atmosphere into one experience.
The Top Insta-Worthy Spots Tour
Stratford is honestly one of the most photogenic small towns in Ontario, and this tour ended up taking me to parts of the downtown I may not have intentionally sought out otherwise.
What I liked about the Insta-Worthy Spots Tour was that it mixed Stratford’s better-known photo locations with smaller corners and murals tucked throughout the downtown.
A few spots that especially stood out to me included Allen’s Alley, York Street and York Lane, the colourful Love Wins mural on Brunswick Street, the Tir na nOg Gates on Downie Street, and the Huron Street Bridge.
Some locations feel colourful and playful, while others highlight Stratford’s historic architecture and river views. The variety kept the experience feeling less repetitive than I expected from a photography-focused tour.
And honestly, I think this tour works especially well for first-time visitors because it naturally encourages you to move throughout multiple parts of Stratford while discovering some of the town’s prettiest corners along the way.
The Stratford Gardens Tour
Garden lovers are going to absolutely love this Stratford walking tour.
One of the things that surprised me most while exploring Stratford more intentionally was just how many gardens, flower displays, and green spaces are woven throughout the town. In some ways, it actually reminded me a little of Niagara-on-the-Lake with how much care goes into the landscaping and seasonal plantings throughout the parks and downtown.
The Stratford Gardens Tour takes you through several of the town’s prettiest green spaces, and honestly, it’s one of the most relaxing ways to experience Stratford slowly on foot.
A few gardens that especially stood out to me were the Dutch Memorial Garden and the Pergola and Shakespearean Gardens. The Shakespearean Gardens are particularly beautiful because many of the plants and flowers were chosen specifically because they were mentioned throughout Shakespeare’s plays. There are now more than 60 varieties of plants woven throughout the gardens.
One of the most scenic stretches of the tour was approaching the Festival Theatre along Lakeside Drive on the south side of the Avon River. Passing Tom Patterson Island before arriving at the theatre gardens made the entire experience feel especially peaceful and beautifully connected to the river.
The Stratford Chocolate Trail
If you’re a chocolate lover, this may honestly end up being your favourite walking tour in Stratford.
The Stratford Chocolate Trail combines two things Stratford does especially well: wandering through the downtown and indulging in really good food. With your six vouchers and detailed trail map, you gradually move between participating chocolatiers, cafés, bakeries, and specialty shops throughout town at your own pace.
One stop I never skip is Rheo Thompson Candies. Their Mint Smoothies are one of Stratford’s most iconic treats for good reason, and still one of my personal favourites whenever I visit the town.
And honestly, I think that’s what makes these Stratford walking tours work so well overall. They encourage you to experience the town more gradually instead of simply checking off attractions as quickly as possible.
If You Love Stratford’s Walking Tours, You’ll Probably Love Guess Where Trips Too
What I enjoyed most about Stratford’s audio walking tours and food trails was how they encouraged a completely different way of exploring the town. Instead of rushing toward the main attractions, the experience became more about slowing down, noticing details, discovering hidden spots, and letting the day unfold gradually between stops.
That’s also exactly why these tours reminded me so much of Guess Where Trips.
Their surprise Ontario road trips are built around different themes but have one thing in common: they guide you through small towns, hidden gems, scenic drives, wineries and introduce you to local shops. Even for a professional day tripper like me, I’ve taken two of their fun day trips, and each time went to places I’ve not found on my own.
Stratford tourism has done the same thing for you; guide you to places you might not have found on your own.
If you enjoy exploring Ontario through curiosity, I think you’d genuinely enjoy these experiences.
Why Stratford Works So Well for Walking Tours
I’ve visited a lot of Ontario small towns over the years, but Stratford stands out because the town was almost made for this kind of slower exploration.
In places like Elora or Creemore, the experience often centres around one main street or a handful of major attractions. Stratford feels more layered than that. The river paths, gardens, multiple streets, public art, theatres, cafés, and historic buildings all connect naturally together in a way that keeps you walking a little farther to see what’s around the next corner.
That’s what makes the audio tours work so well here specifically.
And honestly, I think that’s part of why Stratford continues to be one of the Ontario towns I return to most often. Even after multiple visits, I still find new details, restaurants, and different ways to experience the town simply by slowing down and exploring it differently each time.
