STRATFORD With a population of 29,000, this Canada commercial centre surrounded by farmland is a fairly typical slow-paced, rural Ontario town except that it's consciously prettier than most and is home to the world-famous Shakespearean Festival. Many of the numerous older buildings in the attractive, architecturally interesting central area have been restored, and the layout along the river adds to the charm. Stratford's Avon River, with its swans and green lawns, together with the theatres help the town deliberately and successfully resemble Stratford-upon-Avon in England. London is about 60km or a 45-minute drive south-west, and Canada Toronto is about a two-hour drive east. Orientation Ontario St is the main street and everything is close to it. At the foot of Huron St is the Perth County Courthouse, one of the town's most distinctive and dominant landmarks.
Information There is a friendly, helpful and well-informed tourist office on the corner of York and Erie Sts, in the heart of town. You can see pictures of guesthouses and peruse menus from many of the town's restaurants. You can also get a free parking sign for your car. On fine days, heritage walks depart from the tourist office at 9.30 am Monday to Saturday from I July to Labour Day. With one of the descriptive maps available, you could do your own walking tour. One map, put out by the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, details some of the history and architecture of the downtown area. Don't miss out on a walk along the river where the park, lawns and theatres have been laid out in a charming and attractive manner. Between November and May, information can be obtained from Tourism Stratford at 88 Wellington St. The Gallery/Stratford This is a good art gallery in a fine old building near Confederation Park, at 54 Romeo St N.
Featured are changing international shows of modern painting, with the emphasis on Canadian works. Three shows are presented at any given time. The gallery is closed Monday mornings and admission is $5. Stratford-Perth Museum Articles collected around the region from the turn of the century are on view at this small museum at 270 Water St. Admission is by donation. It's open from May to October from 10 am to 5 pm, but afternoons only Sunday and Monday. Queen's Park Down by the river, near the Festival Theatre, this park is good for a picnic or a walk. Footpaths from the theatre follow the river past Orr Dam and a stone bridge, dating from 1885, to the formal English flower garden. Shakespearean Gardens Just north of the courthouse by the stone bridge, these gardens on the site of an old wool mill run along the waterfront. Near the bridge is the mill's chimney and a bust of Shakespeare. Here and there, picnic table can be found.
