Discover riverside leisure! Fishing, family fun, a superb restaurant, cocktails by the riverside, entertainment — and the park’s own River Taxi to take you to Stratford… it’s all here and much more
It’s easy to get hooked on spending your leisure time at Stratford Parks — literally. This trio of interlinked holiday home parks sits on the banks of the Avon, just a mile from Stratford-upon-Avon.
It’s a magical place in which to own a holiday home, with the internationally known theatre town of Stratford so close and the Cotswolds to explore a short distance away. Stratford Parks, though, has some very special attractions that mean your entire leisure-time focus could easily be on the parks themselves. Fishing, bowling, crazy golf and more are all on offer, plus an amazing restaurant, and breakfast or cocktails on the banks of the Avon.… It’s all here.
The three Stratford Parks are Riverside, Avon and Rayford, linked by a footbridge over the river which runs through the parks. Whichever of the parks you choose for your perfect plot, you’re close to places to dip your rod into the Avon.
There’s a private fishing area available to holiday home-owners — for many, that’s reason enough to consider holiday home ownership here. And there’s a special gift in store for buyers: Stratford Parks has £500-worth of fishing equipment vouchers ready to give to new owners if they’re keen on fishing already or want to give fishing a try. And many people do.
With the fishing season now on, this is an ideal time to get started with a new leisure lifestyle!
The parks’ exclusive, free fishing rights stretch for a mile and a half, with easily accessible fishing spots within the holiday home park and quieter, more secluded pegs in the Fisherman’s Field nearby.
The fishing season runs from 16 June to 16 March. So what can you expect to catch? Keen fisher folk will love this… There are some hefty fish to hope for. Stratford Parks tells us that chub weighing up to 7lb, barbel up to 15lb, bream up to 8lb and specimen silver fish can be caught.
Autumn is a great time, especially for larger chub and barbell; in the warmer months bream and silver fish are prevalent. And in the winter? You can expect to catch huge pike and zander, plus specimen perch.
While you’re fishing — or simply relaxing on the banks of the Avon — you can expect to see wildlife. Herons, kingfishers and cormorants are not uncommon here. And, if you’re lucky, you may even spot an otter.
The amazing dinosaur-themed crazy golf course will capture the imagination of kids — and provide competitive fun for all members of the family. The course is spectacularly set out underneath the magnificent restaurant that is built on stilts and forms an awesome centrepiece of the parks. So, whatever the weather, crazy golf is a great option.
There are climbing frames and swings, too, in a separate area. A programme of river-borne activities swings into action in the summer, featuring Paddle Adventure, with opportunities to try kayaking, paddle boarding and canoeing. Archery is also on offer.
The parks have slipways, and moorings available; many holiday home-owners buy boats, to take full advantage of this wonderful riverside location.
If you fancy taking up bowls, one of the Stratford Parks, Rayford, provides that, too; the bowling green is of course also available to owners at Avon and Riverside parks.
You don’t have to own a boat to get on the river — Stratford Parks has its own River Taxi which plies the mile of Avon between the parks and the centre of Stratford during the summer.
Just think — no car, no parking, just the quiet whirr of a little engine to take you into the heart of this world-focus town of culture, with a multitude of restaurants, frequent markets and special events. The River Taxi runs from the riverbank by the parks’ Bar & Restaurant. This service is one of Stratford Parks’ most valued features — a delightful, relaxing way to travel!
After a lovely day in Stratford, you can look forward to returning to your holiday home — and an evening of entertainment on the park. The Bar & Restaurant hosts a programme of bands, events and children’s activities.
The parks’ Facebook page announces events — and makes excellent reading, too; that’s how we learned that the parks have their own Bug Houses; another attraction of this superb holiday home location. We like that!
The elevated Galley Kitchen sits at the heart of the parks — and both the restaurant and its balcony dining area provide fantastic views of the river and far beyond. The menu draws inspiration on an international scale and presentation is spectacular. We’ve eaten there several times and enjoyed memorably delicious meals.
Pressed ham hock terrine, beetroot carpaccio, or prawns, crayfish, caper, shallot and lemon salad, for starter, perhaps, then maybe seared swordfish, smoked or Moroccan spiced lamb… There’s a lot from which to choose.
On the same level as the restaurant, the Muddy Oar Bar & Lounge is an enchanting place for breakfasts, pizzas, paninis and more. It’s also a stylish venue for riverside aperitifs and cocktails. Cosy booths, a lovely lounge, plus a kids’ corner and a sports viewing lounge ensure this new feature caters for everyone.
To get you started on the journey to owning your own holiday home at this first-class park, you can go to one of the show ground barbecues and open days, held each month. At these events you can see the show homes currently available and enjoy a complimentary barbecue. Go to stratfordparks.co.uk to find out forthcoming dates.
Find out more here: www.stratfordparks.co.uk or call 01789 293438