Reading Room

Please note that the Reading Room will be closed on the following dates:

Monday 27th April to Monday 4th May (inclusive); reopening on Tuesday 5th May 2026.

Monday 25th May; reopening Tuesday 26th May 2026.

Our Reading Room is free and open to everyone. You do not need to book an appointment however as capacity is limited we strongly advise that you book in advance to guarantee a space and that any items requested from our stores will be ready before you arrive. If you have access needs, please let us know when you book, so that we can safely facilitate your visit.

Our opening times are:

• Mondays: 10:00 to 15:00
• Tuesdays: 10:00 to 15:00
• Wednesdays: 10:00 to 12:30

Each appointment is 2.5 hrs.

Please use our catalogue to search for items you wish to consult, you will be asked to provide reference numbers on our booking page. If you have any questions or need advice on using our catalogue please email us on [email protected].

Please bring a valid form of photo ID along with you on your first appointment in order to register for a Reader’s Card.

Terms of Service

We kindly ask visitors to the Reading Room must adhere to our Terms of Service. This includes

• No bags or outdoor coats
• No food and drink in the Reading Room
• No flash photography. Photography in the Reading Room is subject to charges, please see ‘service charges’ below
• Use pencils not pens

We can provide free of charge:

• Pencils
• Lockers
• Wifi
• Friendly handling advice

Our Reading Room is on the first floor, accessed via a staircase with handrails. If you may find yourself unable to use the stairs, for whatever reason, please let us know when you book your visit, so that we can facilitate alternative access and create a personalised evacuation plan in case of emergency. Please see the Accessibility section, below, for more information.

Finding Us

Our Reading Room entrance is located on Guild Street to the rear of the Shakespeare Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6QW. On arrival please press the buzzer and wait to be welcomed by a staff member.

Getting here

The closest car park is the Windsor Street multi-storey car park. Blue badge parking is available at the top of Henley Street near the jester statue. There is also a local Park and Ride service.

The closest train station is Stratford-upon-Avon which is a 15-minute walk from the Shakespeare Centre. There are several local buses with stops in nearby Bridge Street and Wood Street.

Accessibility

Our Reading Room is situated on the first floor of the Shakespeare Centre. Access is via a flight of stairs with handrails.

Where visitors require lift access, this can be facilitated if the reader alerts us to their accessibility needs when booking their visit.

In the event of a fire, visitors who cannot use the stairs will be evacuated using an evacuation chair. Please alert us to any accessibility needs when you book so that we can create a personalised evacuation plan with you and help keep you safe during your visit.

There are some changes of level within the Reading Room itself, although most areas are accessible once you are in the space.

Standard toilet facilities within the Shakespeare Centre can be accessed via a step and a short corridor.

Ambulant toilet facilities are located at the front of the Shakespeare Centre, at the main entrance on Henley Street. To reach these, readers will need to leave the Reading Room and go around to the front of the Shakespeare Centre.

Photography and Copy Services

Visiting our Reading Room is free, but some service fees apply for copy orders and photography. Please see Reader Services & Fees for more details.

Enquiries

If you have any questions about accessing our collections or visiting the Reading Room please email [email protected].