Headed to Stratford, Ontario? It’s one of my favorite towns, ever! Of course, you will spend hours at the Festival Theatre. While my cup of recommendations for things to see, taste, and experience in Stratford runneth over, I have a marvelous suggestion for something you should definitely include – and a fascinating person you must meet.
One of my favorite ways to explore and learn about a place is to listen to locals. And, as longtime readers of Wandering Educators know, we LOVE walking tours. They give you a chance to discover much about a place that you never would have on your own.
Having a local guide share history, stories, and insider lore just makes your travels SO much richer.
Imagine my utter delight in discovering Stratford Walking Tours. I KNOW!
While you’re in town to eat well, stock up on all your chocolate needs at Rheo Thompson, experience the Stratford Costume Warehouse, relax in our favorite coffeeshops, take a cooking class, and catch as many shows as you can (and talks with the Stratford Fest’s Meighen Forum), it’s crucial to save time for a walking tour (or a few…you will soon be addicted!).
Walking tours can show you new ways to love your favorite town. Ask me how I know…
Lauri Leduc is the owner, operator, and guide of Stratford Walking Tours. Founded in 2024, the company offers guided walking tours in beautiful Stratford, Ontario. Lauri holds a Master of Arts degree in Public History from the University of Western Ontario, and she has a passion for local history. A Perth County native, Lauri grew up in a small town near Stratford and has a strong connection to the area. She loves sharing information about the city and telling stories about the people, places and events that shaped our past.
We interviewed Lauri about her walking tours, Stratford history, and more. Here’s what she had to say…
Please tell us about your Stratford Walking Tours!
With a passion for history and a commitment to showing Stratford’s cultural heritage, the company offers guided walking tours in the city’s downtown core and provides participants with a unique opportunity to explore its architectural wonders and delve into its fascinating past.
How did you become interested in sharing Stratford via walking tours?
I founded Stratford Walking Tours in 2024 after I returned from living in the United Kingdom for two years. I took many walking tours when I was overseas, and upon my return to Canada, I wanted to offer these services in the beautiful city of Stratford. There are many maps, books, and websites to inform people about the history of Stratford, but taking a tour with a guide offers guests an opportunity to see the city in a unique and interactive way.
What are the biggest joys for you in researching and conducting walking tours in this incredible town?
One of the biggest joys I receive from conducting walking tours is in the variety of people that I get to meet. Stratford is a popular tourist destination, and I get to interact with many interesting people with diverse backgrounds. I also enjoy taking local residents on my tours, and I especially like when they share their stories with me. I love learning new things about the history of Stratford from them.
What might people be surprised to learn about Stratford, Ontario?
I think people might be surprised to know that right from the founding of the town, we have had a strong connection to William Shakespeare. The Stratford Festival was founded in 1952, but our first commercial building, a tavern constructed in 1832, was named the Shakespeare Inn. The early surveyors who laid out the town even changed the name of the river from the Little Thames to the Avon River, so that it would fit with the town in England where Shakespeare was born.
The iconic Shakespearean Gardens were opened in 1936, the famous Stratford swans were introduced in 1918, we have roads such as Romeo Street and Hamlet Street, and there used to be a Falstaff elementary school. All of these things came about before the Stratford Festival was founded. So, we have always been a town that is proud of its Shakespearean heritage.
We are ALL about taking ghost walks!!! Please tell us more...
Our ghost walks are very popular, and the tours often sell out – because everyone loves a good ghost story! For a small city, Stratford has a surprisingly haunted history and there are many spooky stories that I share on the tour. From a haunted hotel, to a spirit that roams the Avon Theatre, to the dark crimes committed by inmates at the Stratford Jail…our ghost tour is both informative and entertaining. The ghost walks take place throughout the year, and they are offered every weekend during the month of October.
We also offer a new tour called Boos and Brews. This tour combines the ghost walk with a stop at a local establishment for an alcoholic beverage along the route.
How can people find your work? How far in advance should people reserve their tickets?
Advance reservations are required for all of our tours and tickets can be purchased online at stratfordwalkingtours.ca. For those not comfortable buying tickets online, we can process orders over the phone by credit card payment. Ticket sales close twelve hours before the tour start time, but in order to secure the date and time that best suits your schedule, it is best to purchase tickets a few weeks in advance. All of tours are wheelchair accessible (even the combined walking tour and boat cruise), so they are open to those with mobility requirements.
I also offer private tours and group tours at a date and time of your choosing. I can easily modify a tour to suit the needs and interests of the group and come up with a route that is unique for the participants. For information about setting up a private tour please send an email to hello [at] stratfordwalkingtours.ca or call 226-261-1120.
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Is there anything else you'd like to share?
We also offer a tour called The Spirits of St. Marys ghost walk. It is a haunted riverside stroll in the lovely Town of St. Marys – a 20-minute drive from the Stratford. There’s lot to explore in St. Marys, known as The Stone Town due to its many limestone buildings, and it makes for a great side trip for people visiting Stratford.