Twixmas in Stratford-upon-Avon: What’s On Between Christmas and New Year

Twixmas, the hazy days between Christmas and New Year, is one of the nicest times to be in Stratford-upon-Avon: the RSC has its Christmas shows on, there are two pantos in town, and the river and the Welcombe Hills are quiet. Warwickshire schools break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and go back on Tuesday 5 January 2027. Here’s what’s on and where to go, plus the practical bits.

Shows on between Christmas and New Year

These are running over Twixmas 2026, from the organisers’ own listings. Performance days and times vary, so check before you book.

• The Three Musketeers at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RSC), until 9 January.
• The Bear and the Piano at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RSC), 11 December to 10 January.
• Robin Hood: The Pantomime at Rother Street Arts House, until 31 December.
• Jack and the Beanstalk, the Attic Theatre’s adult panto (18+), at Cox’s Yard, 19 December to 3 January, from £18.50.
• Christmas at Charlecote at Charlecote Park (National Trust), until 3 January.
• Compton Verney: the Enid Marx exhibition (until 3 January) and Raqib Shaw’s night sonnets (until 21 February). Check the gallery’s Christmas opening days.

Our Christmas shows and pantos guide has more detail, and the events calendar lists everything on each day.

Winter walks to blow away the cobwebs

• Welcombe Hills and the Obelisk: the best views over town, but muddy in winter, so wear boots.
• The Stratford Greenway: the flat old railway line from Seven Meadows Road, good for buggies, bikes and new scooters. Bobby’s Café is in a railway carriage at the Seven Meadows end, and Milcote Café is in another at Milcote car park. Check their holiday opening times.
• The river to Holy Trinity: follow the Avon past the theatres to Shakespeare’s grave and keep going for the quieter stretches.

All three, with distances and where to warm up afterwards, are in our winter walks guide.

Family days out

• Our things to do with kids guide has indoor ideas, child prices and days out within 40 minutes.
• Many attractions change their hours or close on some days over Christmas, so check before you set off.
• Children on benefits-related free school meals can get free holiday activities and lunches: see our guide to the HAF programme.

New Year’s Eve

Pubs, bars and restaurants usually announce their New Year’s Eve plans in late November and December. We’ll add them to the events calendar as they’re published. For late drinks, see our bars guide.

Practical information

• Bins: collection days change over Christmas and New Year. See our bin collection guide.
• Christmas tree: see Christmas tree recycling in Stratford.
• Buses and Park & Ride: services change on bank holidays. Check the live bus times on the day.
• Parking: our parking guide has every car park, with prices.
• Right now: Stratford Live shows buses, trains, road closures and what’s on today on one map.

Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.