Shakespeare's funerary monument Monument

Address: Holy Trinity Church, Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6BG, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.holytrinitychurchstratford.org/

Hours: Holy Trinity Church typically open daily 9am-5pm (confirm locally)

Shakespeare’s funerary monument is the stone and effigy memorial to William Shakespeare located inside Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. The playwright was buried at the church after his death on 23 April 1616, and the memorial marks his burial place.

Inside the church the monument sits on the north wall of the chancel and a grave slab lies on the floor before it; the memorial includes a recumbent effigy and carved inscriptions. The site is one of the most visited single objects associated with Shakespeare and is seen in the context of the church interior rather than as a freestanding outdoor monument.

The monument was erected in the early 17th century shortly after Shakespeare’s death and has remained in place since then, while the grave slab and church have been preserved as part of the parish building. The church continues to function for worship with the monument and burial forming a permanent interior feature.

Holy Trinity Church stands on the banks of the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon, in central England. The town is in Warwickshire and is the principal local centre associated with Shakespeare.

• Epitaph on the grave slab: The grave slab in front of the monument bears an epitaph that includes a warning forbidding the removal of his bones, which is a frequent point of interest for visitors.
• Visiting practicalities: The monument and Shakespeare’s burial are inside an active parish church, so visiting hours are constrained by services and church opening times.

Holy Trinity Church is on Church Street in Stratford-upon-Avon’s Old Town, a short walk from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Stratford town centre. The nearest train station is Stratford-upon-Avon Station (about 15-20 minutes’ walk). Local buses and taxis serve the town centre.

• The funerary monument sits on the north wall of Holy Trinity Church-visit during church opening hours and avoid service times to inspect the alabaster effigy closely.
• Look for the black-letter inscription on the plinth and the painted skull beneath Shakespeare's feet-early modern funerary iconography that was controversial even in the 17th century.
• Combine the visit with an examination of the church registers in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust for fuller genealogical context.