Upper Queen's Park is the green heart of Stratford's theatre district, the parkland on the rise above the Avon River that surrounds the Festival Theatre and sits next to Gallery Stratford. It is a public park, free to enter and open to anyone, and it is where many visitors spend the hour before a matinee or the long summer evening before a show. Its best-known corner is the Arthur Meighen Gardens, a well-kept garden in front of the Festival Theatre with a ginkgo tree and a range of perennial plants, which gives the theatre a handsome approach and a reliable place for a photograph. Beside Gallery Stratford, Destination Stratford also points visitors to a Japanese garden, one of the gardens that the river links, so a short loop from the theatre to the gallery takes in several quite different landscapes. The park is not a single attraction so much as a setting: lawns and mature trees, benches with views of the water, paths that lead down to the river and Lake Victoria, and the backdrop of the theatre itself. It is also a practical place, with parking nearby when the gallery and the theatre are busy. In every season it offers something, from perennial colour in summer to bare branches and a quiet walk in winter.
What to do
Walk the paths slowly, starting at the Arthur Meighen Gardens in front of the Festival Theatre and looking for the ginkgo tree, then continue toward Gallery Stratford and its Japanese garden. Bring a picnic or a coffee, find a bench with a view of the water, and watch the theatre crowds gather before a performance.
It is a very good place for people-watching, photography and a break from the more structured parts of a Stratford visit. Children can run on the lawns, and the nearby river path gives them swans to look for.
Seasons and planning
The gardens look their best from late spring to early autumn, when the perennial beds are in flower, with June and July the peak for colour and September offering late blooms and softer light. In autumn the ginkgo and the park's mature trees turn yellow and gold, which is a highlight for photographers.
In winter the beds are dormant, but the park is still open and makes a calm, uncrowded walk, particularly on a bright, frosty day. The park is a public space, so there is no ticket and no fixed opening hour, but check the City of Stratford's parks pages for any seasonal works.
Fitting it in
Allow 30 to 60 minutes, or longer if you add the gallery and the river. The park is directly beside the Festival Theatre, so it is the easiest filler for the time before a show, and it connects on foot to the Shakespearean Gardens, the Avon River path and Lake Victoria. Wear shoes that can handle damp grass and gentle slopes, and bring a layer, because the breeze off the water can be cool in the evening.
If you are visiting with a wheelchair or stroller, stick to the main paved routes near the theatre and check the ground conditions after rain. Many visitors pair a gallery visit in the afternoon with a stroll here, then walk down to the river for the swans and finish with dinner downtown.
What to expect
The experience
A free public park and garden around the Festival Theatre, with the Arthur Meighen Gardens, a ginkgo tree and a Japanese garden by Gallery Stratford.
Best time
Late spring to early autumn for flowers; autumn for the yellow leaves; winter for a quiet walk.
How long
Allow 30 to 60 minutes, or longer with the gallery and the river.
Tips
Visit before a matinee, wear shoes for damp grass, and check the City of Stratford's pages for seasonal works.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Garden lovers and theatre-goers who want a free, pretty hour before a show.
- Families
- Open lawns and the nearby swans make it an easy stop with children.
- Couples
- Take a slow loop through the Meighen Gardens at golden hour, then walk to the river.
- Pair with
- Gallery Stratford, the Shakespearean Gardens, Art in the Park and the Festival Theatre are all next door.
- Time needed
- Thirty to sixty minutes.
Good questions
Where is Upper Queen's Park?+
In the parkland above the Avon River beside the Festival Theatre, close to Gallery Stratford.
What are the Arthur Meighen Gardens?+
A garden in front of the Festival Theatre with a ginkgo tree and a variety of perennial plants.
Is there an admission fee?+
No, it is a public park and free to visit.
When are the gardens at their best?+
Late spring to early autumn, with June and July the peak for flowers, and autumn for the changing leaves.
Can I visit in winter?+
Yes. The beds are dormant, but the park stays open and makes a quiet walk, especially if you combine it with Gallery Stratford.
