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Six streets in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon will be closed to traffic from 6pm on Friday until 11.59pm on Sunday on both Christmas market weekends: 27 to 29 November and 4 to 6 December. The district council’s two orders were published by the Town Council on 29 October. The markets themselves are on the Saturdays and Sundays; the Friday evening start gives traders time to set up.
On this page
Which streets close for the Christmas market
- Bridge Street, from its junctions with High Street and Union Street down to Waterside
- High Street
- Henley Street
- Meer Street
- Sheep Street
- Waterside
While each order is in force, nobody may drive on those streets or leave a vehicle waiting there, apart from emergency vehicles, utilities dealing with an emergency and anything a police officer allows. Wood Street, Union Street, Rother Street and Guild Street aren’t in the orders.
What’s different from last year
For the 2025 markets, the council described High Street as running one way and Sheep Street as open, with no way through onto Waterside. This year’s orders list both High Street and Sheep Street as closed, so if you usually cut through either of them, plan another route. If the council publishes a detailed traffic plan, we’ll add it to our Christmas market guide.
One thing to watch: the Town Council’s web page for the second weekend is headed “04.11.2026 – 06.11.2026”, which reads as November. The text of the notice and the order itself both say Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December, which matches the market dates, so the heading looks like a typo.
Buses and parking
In past years, with Bridge Street shut, the Park & Ride and town service 19 have left from Windsor Street coach park and other buses from Guild Street. Stagecoach hasn’t published its 2026 arrangements yet, so check before you travel. Town centre car parks stay open, but the roads in are slow on market Saturdays, especially over Clopton Bridge. Our Stratford parking guide has every car park with prices, and the Christmas market guide has the opening times and locals’ tips.
The lights switch-on comes first
Before the markets, Bridge Street, High Street, Henley Street, Wood Street, Union Street and Meer Street close from 4am to 10pm on Saturday 14 November for the Christmas lights switch-on. Every planned closure is on our Stratford road closures page, and the rest of the season is in our Christmas in Stratford guide.
Alex Harrington
Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.
