Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon is a boutique gem in Shakespeare’s Hometown, just a stone’s throw from where he was born. Here, history meets contemporary luxury behind a striking black-and-white Tudor facade. This high-end boutique hotel provides a unique and immersive experience, reflecting the rich heritage and culture of this 800-year-old quintessentially English market town in Warwickshire. The town is known for some of the greatest theatres and performances in the world, as well as its quaint streets, wonderful eateries, fascinating museums, and stunning architecture.
We visited in early Spring and had a wonderful stay. We enjoyed the area’s history, walks by the river, delicious Shakespeare Distillery gins, and some of the best dining we’ve ever had at The Woodsman Restaurant.
Location
Situated right in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon, Hotel Indigo offers unparalleled access to the town’s iconic landmarks, including Shakespeare’s birthplace and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, both just a couple of minutes walk from the hotel. Visitors can also enjoy riverside walks, the UK’s largest butterfly farm, and entertainment along the River Avon, all just steps away. The area is surrounded by the picturesque Cotswolds, where you can explore charming streets, delightful cafes and restaurants, and captivating museums, all within easy reach.
The hotel lies just a 2-hour drive from central London via the M40 or 3 hours by train from London Euston or Paddington.
Style & Character
Hotel Indigo emanates charm and sophistication, seamlessly fusing traditional Tudor features in its original historic section – think undulating floorboards and winding staircases – with contemporary elegance in its brand-new wing. This unique blend of 16th-century legacy and modern amenities captures the essence of the town’s heritage while providing all the modern comforts of a boutique retreat. With parts of the building dating back to the 15th century, the hotel exudes a rich history and character, offering guests an unparalleled ambiance that sets it apart from any other hotel in the area.
We stayed in one of the rooms in the historic part of the building and found the uneven, rolling corridors, rich color schemes, and eclectic furniture choices to really add character to our stay.
Service & Facilities
Guests are treated to impeccable service and a range of facilities designed to enhance your stay, including a small private gym with treadmills, bikes, elliptical cross-trainers, and free weights. The hotel’s new wing offers reading nooks, a library, a beautifully designed executive boardroom, and a charming tea room, and every detail reflects the hotel’s commitment to excellence.
Although the website mentions limited on-site parking, which is charged for at £12.50 per night, we found there was ample parking for all guests when we stayed, in both a reasonably large outdoor and a separate two storey undercover carpark, perhaps in busier times make sure to turn up at check-in time to avoid disappointment. Parking cannot be pre-booked.
Rooms
The 93 stylish guest rooms at Hotel Indigo are inspired by the history of the local area, each offering a unique blend of boutique comfort and character. There are 76 standard rooms, two accessible rooms, 12 superior rooms, and three suites. Guests can choose from three distinct room designs—Tudor Rooms, Georgian Townhouse, and Contemporary Rooms—each reflecting a different era in the town’s history. Modern amenities such as Nespresso coffee machines, flat-screen TVs, and luxurious bedding ensure a very comfortable stay.
We stayed in a beautiful Tudor Room in the original 16th-century part of the hotel, directly overlooking Shakespeare’s New Place – exquisite gardens and artworks designed to celebrate the family home of William Shakespeare. The room exuded a quirky charm with an eclectic mix of artwork on the walls, a very comfortable Hypnos bed enrobed in luxury Egyptian cotton linens, and furnishings in rich colors complemented by modern amenities like the Nespresso coffee machine and complimentary minibar all tucked away in a Narnia-like wardrobe with the thickest wooden doors I’ve ever seen. Although bijou and almost triangular-in-shape, the spa-inspired bathroom was perfectly formed with a wonderfully powerful rain shower and beautiful fragrant luxury bathroom amenities.
Food & Drink
Inside the hotel, you will find The Woodsman Restaurant, which is independent of the hotel and the brainchild of Head Chef Greg Newman and Mike Robinson, whose passion for British produce and sustainable wild food is well renowned. This unique and characterful restaurant and bar within the hotel offered a culinary experience like no other, surrounded by hunting artworks and memorabilia all set around a large hearth at one end and a large wood-fired oven and charcoal grill at the other, where diners can watch the chefs meticulously prepare their food. The restaurant focuses on sustainability and seasonality. Their exquisitely presented dishes are made from locally sourced produce, including British deer, wild boar, Hebridean lamb, and fish from Cornish fisheries, all beautifully complemented by the freshest Evesham vegetables and wild herbs from the kitchen garden.
We enjoyed three delicious à la carte courses accompanied by a delicious French wine; you can also choose a seven-course tasting menu too. The lightly poached chalk stream trout was simply beautiful with its contrasting colors of beetroot, trout caviar, and ponzu. For main, the pave & shoulder of Bathurst estate fallow deer was melt-in-the-mouth, and the ‘dirty mash’ side is not to be missed. Finally, the puddings are an art form and a sensation for the eyes and palate. If you’re staying in Stratford upon Avon, then a meal at The Woodsman Restaurant is truly an absolute must!
The following morning, we enjoyed an extensive breakfast with a variety of hot options alongside a wide range of continental buffet options including cereals, fresh fruits, smoothies, cheeses, and delicious chocolate chip banana cakes all complemented by teas, coffees, and fresh juices. The breakfast room was eccentric, just like the rest of the building, with exposed wood beams and a unique set-up of large wooden farmhouse-style dining tables as well as smaller tables for two.
In the afternoons, The Falcon Tea Room offers an elegant setting for afternoon tea, whilst at night, it transforms into a romantic cocktail bar, offering a lovely, sophisticated ambiance for guests to unwind in.
Whilst in Stratford upon Avon, we also took in a Gin Tour at the Shakespeare Distillery, just a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The distillery blends classic and, occasionally, overlooked ingredients using modern techniques to create exciting new spirits inspired by the Tudor era. Here, you can experience a fun and educational tour of their working distillery, learning the art of gin and rum making from their founder, exploring their history, and sampling three of their delicious gins and rums. Your tour is completed with a delicious complimentary gin & tonic – I have to recommend the rhubarb gin with ginger ale. It was a real taste sensation. The tour is suitable for ages eight and above, and the distillery team couldn’t be more accommodating and helpful. There are soft drink options available, and tour guests can enjoy a 10% discount on their purchases in the shop. The tour costs £19.50 for adults and £12.50 for children eight and over.
Conclusion
With its historic roots, Hotel Indigo Stratford upon Avon lends an air of authenticity and timeless allure to any retreat in the heart of Shakespeare’s birthplace. From its excellent location and charming accommodations to the truly outstanding dining, every aspect of the hotel reflects the spirit and heritage of Stratford-upon-Avon, and we look forward to our return.
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