The Avon River runs through the heart of Stratford, dammed in the 1880s to create a long pondlike stretch that locals call Lake Victoria. The parkland on both banks is a continuous walk of two or three kilometres, with willows, formal flowerbeds, the Shakespearean Gardens, and a working dam at the western end.
Renting a paddleboat or canoe at the boathouse is one of the better ways to spend a sunny afternoon between performances. The famous swans tend to gather near the bridges.