Blowes Cards & Gifts occupies the historical Victorian Brandenberger Block, once home to the town’s first Festival Theatre box office and later a Loblaws grocery store. Original timber floors, decorative tin ceilings and a restored façade remain, and visitors can view the newly renovated upstairs — The Blowes Inn space — which showcases additional period details from its 19th-century origins.

Rebuilt following a devastating fire, Knox Presbyterian remains a cornerstone of Stratford's spiritual and cultural life. Its magnificent stained-glass windows, including a stunning seven-panel installation, have been recently restored. While the congregation continues to worship here, the building is also being prepared for Copperlight, a new hospitality and arts venue. Return for a special ticketed dinner/concert Saturday evening (pre-booking required).

Start your day at the Doors Open Stratford Information Headquarters! Grab a coffee downtown and pick up your map/information before starting your journey. Kresge’s “five and dime” opened here in 1929 during the Depression, offering affordable goods until the early 1970s. Later home to the National Bank, the building now welcomes visitors as Stratford’s tourism centre.

The two buildings that house Gallery Stratford were constructed by London architect George F. Durand. One structure was built as the Stratford Waterworks’ pump house and the other for equipment storage. Durand believed that architecture was more than just engineering — it was art. You can see that in his mix of styles. Designated by the City of Stratford in 1985.

Join one of these 30-40-minute walking tours, beginning and ending at Stratford City Hall. Led by Stratford Walking Tours, you will explore the stories of the city hall, the courthouse, the Shakespearean Gardens, the Avon River and Memorial Gardens Stratford. Each 1-1.5-kilometre tour has a maximum of 25 participants. No registration required (first come, first served, rain or shine).

In 1874, Stratford’s first brick Lutheran church was dedicated. This building later became part of the Pounder Brothers Mill, whose construction shaped a lot of Stratford. Portions of the original church remain visible in Jobsite Brewing Co.’s production area today. Visitors can enjoy these historical touches alongside a pint and a wood-fired pizza, both made onsite.

Built in 1874 by local builder Thomas Orr Sr., this elegant Italianate home features tall arched windows, decorative brickwork and wide eaves with ornate brackets. Once a private residence, it now serves as the Orr Insurance & Investment head office, reflecting Stratford's rich architectural heritage and the Orr family's long-standing community legacy.

Designed by prominent architect George F. Durand, this is one of the most magnificent courthouses in Ontario with many of its original features intact. This excellent example of High Victorian architecture combines bichromal masonry with a variety of other building materials, not to mention architectural styles. Check out the spectacular stained-glass windows, intricate woodwork, decorative tile floors and grand staircases.

Founded in 1858, the Queen's Inn is Stratford's oldest continuously operating hotel, rebuilt in the neoclassical style in 1905. Long a gathering place at the heart of community life — even hosting Queen Elizabeth II during her 1959 visit — the hotel is now being restored/transformed into a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property known as the Queen’s Cue, continuing its tradition of hospitality.

Stratford City Hall, built in 1899, is a National Historic Site in the heart of downtown. This red-brick Victorian landmark, with its iconic clock tower, ornate detailing and auditorium, showcases the city’s rich history. Doors Open visitors can explore the auditorium and council chambers, and discover the stories behind the building’s past and its role in the community.

This museum comprises a buff brick house and extension, woodlots and trails. The home was built for early settler Thomas Holliday, who raised 10 children here with his wife, Mary. The property was sold in 1946 to Wesley Thurston, who developed an equine operation. The museum's collection of 35,000-plus artifacts now sits on the footprint of the Thurston horse barn.

The Stratford Public Library, built in 1903 with a $15,000 Andrew Carnegie donation, opened quietly after heated debate over accepting Carnegie’s funds. Originally featuring a grand north entrance and lower-floor custodian quarters, the library expanded in 1925-26, moving the entrance east. Today, its historical architecture reflects a century of evolving library service, from restricted stacks to vibrant community spaces.

Take a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the Collections Room and Conservation Labs at the Stratford-Perth Archives. Inspired by the architecture of the Perth County Courthouse and Registry Office, this 2015 building was purpose-built to preserve photographs, maps and other documents illuminating rich local history. If you can only make a quick visit, check out the Treasures Old and New exhibit.