Wheelchair Accessible Stratford, Ontario: The Best Accessible Weekend Getaway from Toronto

I want to introduce you to the most underrated accessible small town near Toronto. Stratford has a food scene worthy of a big city, theatre that rivals anything downtown, and accessibility that really stood out to me as a power wheelchair user.

Stratford is only about two hours from Toronto, so we decided to head there for a local(ish) girl’s trip this summer. I haven’t been in about 10 years, so I truly forgot how much I loved it and what a fantastic accessible weekend getaway it is from Toronto. I went in expecting a cute theatre town and left having eaten my way through a food trail, watched a Broadway-calibre show, and stayed in a hotel room that didn’t make me solve a single accessibility puzzle.

As a power wheelchair user, it’s rare that I get that same level of ease everywhere on a trip — not just at the hotel, but at the restaurants, the activities, and getting around town too! It was so nice to experience a local getaway that felt this easy.

This trip was part of a collaboration with Destination Stratford and The Bruce Hotel. They hosted parts of our visit, but every opinion below is entirely my own.

NOTE: This post also contains a few affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it just helps keep this blog running.

So without further ado, here’s exactly what you need to know about visiting Stratford, Ontario as a wheelchair user.

Is Stratford Ontario Wheelchair Accessible? Here’s the Honest Answer

Yes, and it’s one of the more accessible small towns I’ve visited in Ontario. What I liked most is that Stratford is compact. In fact, you can check into your hotel and realistically walk/roll to almost everything else for the rest of the weekend (especially if the weather is nice). Sidewalks downtown are smooth and well-maintained, curb cuts are consistent, and the terrain is flat with only the occasional hill.

Like any destination, accessibility is not flawless, but I didn’t have too much trouble getting around Stratford as a power wheelchair user. A few businesses on the food trail have tight interiors that limit manoeuvring room, and accessible transportation options for power wheelchair users who can’t transfer are limited if you don’t bring your own vehicle. But I’ll get specific about all of it below so that you can plan your very own trip to Stratford, ON – because this is one accessible getaway from Toronto that I’d happily recommend over and over again!

Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Stratford, ON

Stratford Walking Tours: A Wheelchair Accessible Way to See the City

We kicked things off with a Stratford Walking Tour before we’d even checked into our hotel, just to get our bearings and see the town at street level. The tour was an easy, gentle pace on smooth sidewalks with only a couple of small hills, so it was incredibly easy to navigate in my power wheelchair.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, meeting her tour guide in her power wheelchair in front of Stratford City Hall, a historic landmark in downtown Stratford, Ontario — Meeting our tour guide in front of Stratford’s historic City Hall.

Our guide, Lauri, was so friendly from the first hello and clearly loved the town — she wove in local history and stories about the buildings downtown with so much passion. She also made a point of finding shaded routes wherever she could, which was so appreciated on such a hot day.

Lush garden pathways with hostas, willow trees, and flower beds along the accessible riverside walkway near Shakespearean Gardens on the Avon River in Stratford, Ontario — Wandering the accessible paths near Shakespearean Gardens.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, taking part in an accessible walking tour in Stratford, Ontario, as a local guide shares a historical photo near the gardens along the Avon River — Learning local history on Stratford’s accessible walking tour.

The wooden entrance gazebo and hanging flower baskets marking the entrance to Shakespearean Gardens in Stratford, Ontario — The entrance to Shakespearean Gardens, one of Stratford’s prettiest spots.

I will say, the company is extremely accommodating and they truly want to make every tour as amazing as possible for everyone. As such, if you tell them your mobility needs ahead of time, they will happily adjust the route to be as accessible as possible.

One honest flag, however: their website advertises the river cruise as fully accessible. When I inquired directly, I was told the boarding door wasn’t wide enough to accommodate my power chair, so it’s really only an option if you use a manual chair or a narrower mobility device. They told me they’re hoping to upgrade the ferry soon to accommodate a wider range of devices, which was great to hear. It would be worth calling ahead to check before you build your itinerary around it.

The Savour & Sip Trail: A Self-Guided Food Crawl

Day two started with breakfast at Romeo’s Corner Café — a cute, family-owned diner and the perfect fuel for the day ahead — before we set out on Stratford’s Savour & Sip trail.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, holding a Savour & Sip Trail voucher in her power wheelchair outside The Best Little Pork Shoppe on the Stratford Savour & Sip Trail in Stratford, Ontario — Redeeming my Savour & Sip Trail voucher at The Best Little Pork Shoppe.

Here’s how it works: you buy a passport of vouchers for $39.55 (including HST) that gets you five stops at participating restaurants, cafés, and shops around town. You can pick up the passport at Destination Stratford, Bradshaws, Werk-Shop, Small-Mart or The Boathouse. It runs May through October, so plan your trip inside that window if this is something that interests you. If those stops don’t peak your interest, there’s also a Chocolate Trail and a Bacon & Ale trail running the same self-guided format.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, smiling in her power wheelchair outside the entrance of Junction 56 Distillery, a wheelchair accessible distillery in Stratford, Ontario — Outside Junction 56 Distillery in Stratford.

A pint of dark craft beer in a Black Swan Brewery glass, showing Stratford, Ontario branding, at the accessible brewery taproom in downtown Stratford — A pint at Black Swan Brewery, Stratford’s cozy taproom.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, smiling and holding an iced drink outside Angela's Gelato, a wheelchair accessible café in downtown Stratford, Ontario — Cooling off with a lemonade from Angela’s Gelato.

Most of the stops had accessible entrances, and it’s truly such a fun way to taste your way through businesses you’d probably never find on your own. My accessible favourites:

Black Swan Brewing Co
Angela’s Gelato
neob lavender (their sweet popcorn is worth the stop alone)
Shakespeare Pies
The Best Little Pork Shoppe
MacLeods Scottish Shop
Bradshaws
Jenn & Larry’s
Junction 56

There are certainly more accessible options, but these are the ones that I personally visited and can confirm their accessibility. I’d recommend using the AccessNow app to check accessibility of anywhere that’s not on this list.

One caveat on Jenn & Larry’s specifically: the entrance is accessible, but there’s no room to turn a power chair around inside. It’s an order-and-back-out situation, with no indoor or outdoor seating. Fantastic ice cream, just don’t expect to linger.

Our picnic spread with items from the Savour & Sip trail — pies, cheese, and cider by the river.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, enjoying an accessible riverside picnic with local pies and cheese along the Avon River near Shakespearean Gardens in Stratford, Ontario — The view along the Avon River was so beautiful for our afternoon picnic.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, laughing with a friend in her power wheelchair at an accessible picnic table along the Avon River in Stratford, Ontario — Opening the drinks we picked up from Junction 56.

Pro tip: bring a cooler bag, collect your items as you go, and have yourself a picnic at one of Stratford’s al fresco dining spots — they’re set up all over Market Square, Memorial Gardens, along the Avon River, and out on Tom Patterson Island.

A Night at the Stratford Festival Theatre

You cannot come to Stratford without a night at the theatre — it’s the reason the town is on the map in the first place. We saw Something Rotten, a hilarious musical set in Shakespearean times, but the Festival’s lineup runs from the classics to modern hits, so there’s genuinely something for everyone.

Outside of the Stratford Festival Theatre

A Special Access ticket and program for Something Rotten! at the Stratford Festival's Festival Theatre in Stratford, Ontario, highlighting accessible seating options — Special Access Ticket for Something Rotten at Stratford Festival

Destination Stratford arranged our tickets for this trip, but accessible seating is available by calling the box office directly. The accessible section was spacious, and my friends had comfortable seats right beside me.

Parking was easy as well, with dedicated wheelchair accessible parking available out front of the main entrance for $25.

All four Festival venues — Festival, Avon, Tom Patterson, and Studio — offer wheelchair seating, elevators, and accessible washrooms. If you need a support person, they can get in free with a CNIB or Access 2 card, and select shows offer ASL interpretation, audio description, or relaxed performance.

Overall, I had an incredible time, and I’d absolutely come back just to see another show. It has a much more intimate vibe than anything you’d find in a big city, but the talent and production value matched it (if not surpassed it). If you only do one thing in Stratford, make it a night at the theatre!

Stratford Perth Museum

Before we hit the road, we made one last stop at the Stratford Perth Museum. It holds more than 20,000 artifacts covering Perth County’s history from the early 1800s to today, including a Perth Regiment military exhibit, a signature quilt collection, and a newer exhibit called “We’ve Been Here” on Black heritage in the region. One of the highlights for me was Justin Bieber: Steps to Stardom, since he’s a Stratford local — they even offer a VIP-style backstage tour add-on.

The museum is wheelchair accessible with an elevator and accessible washrooms. It’s open daily from 10am to 4pm, admission is $15 for adults, and it’s about a 10-minute drive west of downtown.

Where to Eat in Stratford: Accessible Restaurants Worth Knowing

Romeo’s Corner Café

Our breakfast stop on day two, and exactly the kind of family-owned diner you’d hope to find in a small town. I had some truly incredible eggs benedict which was such great fuel for the day ahead.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, smiling in her power wheelchair at a table with a cappuccino inside Romeo's, a wheelchair accessible restaurant in Stratford, Ontario — Starting the day with a coffee at Romeo’s

A breakfast spread of eggs Benedict, hash browns, fresh fruit, and powdered-sugar pancakes at Romeo's restaurant in Stratford, Ontario — Eggs Benedict and pancakes to share

Fosters Inn

Fosters Inn is moody, intimate, and quaint; it felt like the perfect date-night spot, especially before a night at the theatre. It’s a little narrow inside, but I navigated it without any issues. Steaks and sides are ordered separately, which is a nice touch if you’re sharing.

The Bruce Hotel Restaurant

Upscale and beautifully curated. The space is bright and open, which made it easy to get around in my chair, and they have a gorgeous patio out back if you’re visiting in the warmer months.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, toasting with a friend over cocktails at the restaurant inside The Bruce Hotel in Stratford, Ontario — Toasting to a great trip at The Bruce Hotel’s restaurant

Two fine dining plates — pan-seared fish with beets and roasted cornish hen with carrots and asparagus — at The Bruce Hotel restaurant in Stratford, Ontario — Dinner plates from our night at The Bruce Hotel (Cornish Hen and Artic Char)

In the summer, the hotel also runs a Fire Table Supper Club on Friday and Saturday nights, 8:30 to 11pm, with grilled dishes served fireside outdoors. We didn’t make it there this trip, but it looks like a really unique option!

Getting Around Stratford in a Wheelchair

Driving Your Own WAV

We chose to drive my wheelchair accessible vehicle to Stratford, and it’s the option I’d recommend if it’s available to you. It’s about a two-hour drive from Toronto, which makes it an easy weekend trip, and having your own vehicle means you’re not relying on limited local transportation once you’re there.

The New GO Train from Toronto

Stratford recently added GO Train service from Toronto on the Kitchener line. I didn’t take it this particular trip since we drove, but I’ve been on GO Transit many times before, and accessibility has always been great. It’s a great option if you don’t have a vehicle.

Local Buses and the Truth About Accessible Taxis

Wheelchair accessible taxi services in Stratford are limited if you’re travelling with a power wheelchair that can’t fold down to fit a standard vehicle. Stratford’s local buses are accessible, though I didn’t personally ride one this trip. The good news is you may not need either: once you’re checked into your hotel, everything in town is close enough that you’ll likely be able to roll to it directly.

Where to Stay in Stratford: The Bruce Hotel’s Accessible Rooms

The Bruce Hotel might be the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever stayed in. It’s upscale, and it’s not cheap, but honestly, worth every penny for the aesthetic alone — chandeliers, French doors opening onto private balconies, Shakespeare-inspired rooms with soaking tubs and Frette linens. Walking through the lobby feels so European, and the building has such an interesting history behind it too; it sits on the site where the Brooks Steamer was manufactured in the early 1900s. You get an old-world, elevated feel without ever leaving Ontario.

Tori Hunter, a wheelchair user and disabled travel blogger, smiling in her power wheelchair outside The Bruce Hotel, a wheelchair accessible boutique hotel in Stratford, Ontario — Outside The Bruce Hotel in Stratford, Ontario

A stone fountain surrounded by hostas and flowering salvia in the garden courtyard at The Bruce Hotel in Stratford, Ontario — Every detail of the property felt like a storybook

A pale blue beaded Stratford Festival costume gown displayed on a mannequin near a window at The Bruce Hotel in Stratford, Ontario — A beaded gown from the Stratford Festival’s costume collection, displayed in the lobby of The Bruce Hotel

The Bruce Hotel stands out enormously for accessibility as well, and after staying there, I understand why. It holds a CAA/AAA Five Diamond designation — the only boutique hotel in Canada to hold it — and it won Stratford’s 2021 accessibility award. What I appreciated most is that every single room at The Bruce is designed with accessibility in mind. You don’t have to specifically request or book an “accessible room” like you do almost everywhere else — every single room is designed with universal design standards, giving so much flexibility to guests with disabilities to choose a room that truly works for them.

Butter tarts from The Bruce Hotel — A sweet welcome message when we entered the room with fresh butter tarts

The room had plenty of space to get around in my wheelchair.

The bathroom had a beautful roll-in shower and a standard-height vanity. On the opposite wall (not pictured) is a lower, roll under sink and makeup counter.

Our room had a roll-in shower and a roll-under vanity, with generous space to manoeuvre and get to either side of the bed. We had three people in our room, so along with the two twin beds pushed together, the hotel brought in a third roll-away bed. The doorways throughout were wide, and I also noticed that check-in has a lowered counter, which is a nice touch that I rarely see.

The wheelchair accessible indoor mineral pool with wood vaulted ceiling and handrails at The Bruce Hotel in Stratford, Ontario — The pool and hottub both had a transfer bench with grab bars, making the pool easier to get into if you are somebody that can self-transfer

The pool has a transfer ledge with grab bars rather than a pool lift. As someone who doesn’t transfer independently, I’ll be honest — a lift would have been the better setup. The ledge worked, but it took teamwork: my friend lifted me onto the bench, got into the pool, and then lifted me in from there. If you transfer independently, this will likely be a non-issue. If you don’t, go in knowing you’ll need a helping hand.

Also, my favourite detail worth mentioning: they run a 24-hour cookie hotline, and yes, they will bring you freshly baked cookies!!!

We tried the chocolate chip & double chocolate cookies!

Final Thoughts and Practical Tips for Planning Your Accessible Getaway in Stratford, ON

Overall, if you’re planning a wheelchair accessible weekend getaway from Toronto, Stratford deserves a spot on that list. It’s a small Ontario town where the restaurants, the theatre, and the hotel all took accessibility seriously. I didn’t expect to love it this much, and I’m already planning when I can get back!

Here are a couple of practical tips to make the most out of your wheelchair accessible trip to Stratford, Ontario:

Pack a cooler bag for the food trail and picnic along the Avon River — it’s the best part of the day.
Visit between May and October to do the Savour & Sip trail — vouchers are valid all season, so there’s no rush to fit it into one day.
Call Stratford Walking Tours ahead to sort out the best accessible option for your device, whether that’s the walking route or the river cruise.
Book The Bruce Hotel if accessible accommodation is a priority — you won’t be disappointed.
Bring your own WAV if you can, it gives you the most flexibility to explore Stratford at your own pace.

If you’re building out a bigger Ontario accessible road trip, I’ve also written about nearby destinations such as Central Huron (amazing accessible beach town!) and Waterloo Region (great history/culture and accessible dining) — both make an easy add-on to a Stratford weekend.

FAQ

Yes. It’s about a two-hour drive from Toronto, and the town is small enough that you can see and do most of it without travelling far once you’re there.

Yes. GO Transit now runs service from Toronto’s Union Station to Stratford, and I’ve found GO Transit’s accessibility great on other trips I’ve taken. Stratford’s station is listed as accessible, so it’s a good option if you’d rather not drive.

Stratford’s local buses are accessible, and the town is compact enough that you can roll between your hotel and most attractions. Bringing your own wheelchair accessible vehicle gives you the most flexibility, especially if your power chair doesn’t fold down for a standard taxi.

Very. It’s the only boutique hotel in Canada with a CAA/AAA Five Diamond designation, and every room is designed with accessibility built in rather than one designated room type. Their rooms have roll-in showers, roll-under vanities, wide doorways, and hotel amenities that include a fully accessible pool and gym.

Wheelchair Accessible Stratford, Ontario: The Best Accessible Weekend Getaway from Toronto

Is Stratford Ontario Wheelchair Accessible? Here’s the Honest Answer