Shakespeare, Potter, and more in Staunton, Virginia

For people looking for an easy weekend getaway from Washington DC, Baltimore, or Richmond, look no further than Staunton, Virginia. It’s a seriously underrated small town. There’s tons of things to do in Staunton, including multiple literary attractions for book lovers.

It’s one of my favorite small towns in the US, and I’m honestly getting homesick for it just by writing this post (can you get homesick for a place you’ve never lived? Apparently!). So for those on the East Coast, you’ll have to go visit on my behalf with the tips below.

Staunton (pronounced STANtin) is a little hamlet located approximately 2 hours southwest of Washington, DC, and less than 2 hours west of Richmond. I first stumbled upon this charming town by accident, and I’ve been back to visit multiple times

Staunton has a thriving, historic downtown with delicious restaurants and locally-owned specialty shops everywhere you look. There’s something to interest just about anyone: foodies, history buffs, shopping experts, artists, music lovers, festival goers, wine and beer connoisseurs, cyclists, outdoor enthusiasts, theater lovers, and yes, book lovers, too.

In this guide, I’ll focus on the many bookish attractions in Staunton, VA, and also give some tips on other things to do in Staunton, including hotels to stay at and restaurants you should definitely visit.

Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or through Bookshop.org, because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.

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Why Visit Staunton, VA?

Staunton, Virginia is one of the best small towns in America, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Even Smithsonian.com listed it as one of the 20 best smalls towns in America. Each year, it seems, they earn some kind of award or recognition as such, and let me tell, you it’s well deserved.

Staunton is well-positioned, in that it’s an easy day or weekend trip from major cities like DC and Richmond, but it’s also right next to some gorgeous outdoor destinations, like Shenandoah National Park and the Luray Caverns.

There’s everything here: history, great food, culture, outdoor attractions, and charm. But what strikes me most about Staunton is its sense of community; it’s a town about which its residents are passionate.

Staunton business owners and residents come together regularly to hold festivals all year round (check out the Shenandoah Fall Foliage Bike Festival and the Harry Potter-themed festival I detail below), and the sense of pride and togetherness is actually palpable.

While this post will focus on things to do in Staunton for book lovers, I’m also going to mention the other main Staunton attractions so you can incorporate them into your day trip or weekend getaway.

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Things to Do in Staunton: Literary Sights

For being a random small town in Virginia, Staunton really has a surprising amount of literary sights that you wouldn’t expect to find. Here are some of the highlights.

The American Shakespeare Center at Blackfriar’s Theater

Sure, you’ve heard of Shakespeare’s Globe theater in London and maybe even some of its replicas around the world, but did you know that Shakespeare and his theatre troupe, the King’s Men, also frequently performed in the monastary-turned-indoor-theater called Blackfriar’s Playhouse, or Blackfriar’s Theater?

The original Blackfriar’s Theater opened in 1608. In Shakespeare: The World As Stage, Bill Bryson explains that
“Blackfriars became the template from which all subsequent indoor theatres evolved, and so ultimately was more important to posterity than the Globe.”

The cost of tickets at Blackfriar’s was higher than at the Globe, something that would’ve benefitted Shakespeare, who owned a 1/6 interest in it. Blackfriar’s Playhouse burned down in the Great Fire of London in 1666, a good 50 years after Shakespeare died (666, guess they should’ve known?). Today, the only known recreation of Shakespeare’s Blackfriar’s Theater in the world is in Staunton, Virginia of all places.

Here, the American Shakespeare Center company performs the works of Shakespeare (and some others for variety) year-round.

I had the joy of attending a production of Two Gentlemen of Verona, a play I hadn’t previously read. Oftentimes, that’s a big no-no for seeing a Shakespeare play, because the language can be difficult to follow if you’re not already well-versed in the play. That is, unless the actors are so effective and lively that you follow along without effort, which is what I very happily experienced here at the American Shakespeare Center.

The atmosphere at the Blackfriar’s Theater is informal, mimicking the times of Shakespeare when all the lights are left on, some audience members sit on the stage, and the actors interact with them to comedic effect throughout the play. All of this made for an engaging and delightful evening with the American Shakespeare Center. It’s an experience I can’t recommend highly enough.

Each December, the American Shakespeare Center performs A Christmas Carol, which is a great way to celebrate in December. Make sure you check their website for the other plays they are performing in the current season.

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Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

This is one of the most fun surprises in Staunton. In 2008, a native of Bath, England who fell in love with Staunton built this replica of the original Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-Upon-Avon. It was originally opened as a bed and breakfast. If you’re not familiar, this is Anne Hathaway as in Shakespeare’s wife.

In 2016, the building changed ownership and functioned as a tea room for several years.

When I visited it in 2017, I had the pleasure of joining a friend for an afternoon tea service here and was thoroughly charmed. It was full of English antiques, teacups, and teapots galore. I, of course, selected a teacup to purchase as a keepsake, and I’m glad I did because, in 2019, the new owners closed the tea room so they could retire.

For a time after its closing, regular business hours weren’t maintained, but it would open for periodic afternoon tea events. Since the pandemic hit, it hasn’t opened as far as I can glean, and its website has been taken down. In 2018, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in downtown Staunton was listed for sale, and I haven’t been able to find any updates on it since (updated 2024).

What a shame. While the future of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage remains unclear, you can still visit the exterior and see the beautiful grounds surrounding it.

As for me, I hope this property gets snatched up by an eager, literary businessperson soon!

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Independent Bookshops in Staunton

As you ought to know by now, I love a good indie bookshop, so of course I have checked out some Staunton bookstores every time I’ve visited.

Black Swan was my favorite Staunton bookstore until it closed during COVID. It’s such a shame, though they do still have a branch open in nearby Richmond. It was a great place to find rare, antique books, and I bought one of my personal favorites here — a Shakespeare collection from 1790.

Luckily, there are still a few other Staunton bookstores you can choose from on your visit:

Staunton Books

Staunton books is an indie bookshop downtown that specializes in used books but also sells other local souvenirs, like hand thrown pottery and handmade jewelry. They also boast Staunton’s Smallest Art Gallery, and there’s rumors that they will be opening a tea shop as well (you know I’ll be there!).

Staunton Books is open for limited hours, but they do have an Honest Bookshop that’s open even when the shop is not. This is a smaller selection of books that you can grab and pay for online, counting on your integrity as a book lover.

The books are in very good used condition, and the prices are very reasonable!

Location: 16 W Beverley St, Staunton, VA

The Book Dragon Shop

The Book Dragon Shop is a fantastic Staunton bookstore, especially for young readers or the young at heart. They sell new books, specializing in children’s, fantasy, and beautiful books, and they host frequent special events for kids.

You can also find a small selection of used books as well as local artisan products for sale at the Book Dragon Shop. It’s a great place to shop for gifts downtown.

Location: 102 W Beverley St, Staunton, VA

Bargain Books

Bargain Books is a no-frills used bookstore in Staunton that’s perfect if you have time to hunt for a discount used book find. It’s located a little further from downtown, but it’s worth the drive if you can make it. The secondhand and vintage books are well-priced, but the old book smell is completely free.

Location: 707 Richmond Rd, Staunton, VA

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Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library

Woodrow Wilson was born in Staunton, Virginia, so you can visit his presidential library right here in Staunton. See the famous 1919 Pierce-Arrow limousine, and check out the basement to see a cool experiential exhibit on World War I trenches.

If you can’t make it to Staunton soon but want to check out the Woodrow Wilson library, you can take a free virtual tour of the library online. Check those virtual tours out here.

I appreciate that the Woodrow Wilson library and museum make no pretenses about excusing Wilson’s racism. Check out a snippet of their statement below:

We make no excuses for Woodrow Wilson’s racist beliefs.

Our organization stands against racism, hatred and bigotry in all forms and we are committed to being a resource for honest, transparent and inclusive history… The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum is not a statue or a building named as a memorial to him. It is an educational institution devoted to the study of his life and the times in which he lived.

For this nation to heal, careful study of Wilson- and of all presidents- must continue.

The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library is definitely a sight worth seeing in Staunton, Virginia, especially for book lovers.

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Staunton Harry Potter Festival: Queen City Mischief and Magic

Now I know there are more than a spare few Harry Potter festivals around the world, and I haven’t attended them all, but I can pretty much guarantee you that the Staunton Harry Potter festival ranks up there among the best of them.

Every September (except during COVID, when the festival went virtual), the entire town of Staunton, VA undergoes a magical makeover for the Queen City Mischief and Magic Festival. Virtually every downtown shop participates, taking on a new magical name and decorating their storefronts to make the whole town of Staunton Virginia resemble a real-life Diagon Alley.

Each year for the Staunton Harry Potter festival, local artisans create and sell hand-crafted wands, Potter-themed teas, costumes, candles, and so much more. Plus, you can participate in tons of Harry Potter events, like potions classes, character breakfasts, quidditch training, and more. You can also indulge in Potter-inspired treats, like butter brew and cauldron cakes.

Characters wander the streets of downtown Staunton during the Harry Potter festival, so look out for Hagrid, Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, Severus Snape, Dumbledore, Professor Umbridge, and lots of others. And that doesn’t even include all the attendees dressed up.

Make sure you check out my complete Queen City Mischief and Magic Festival guide before you attend this September.

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Related: If you’re a traveling Potterhead, make sure you check out this perfect 1-day NYC itinerary for Harry Potter fans as well as my comprehensive list of the best Harry Potter things to do in London.

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Where to stay in Staunton, VA

For ambiance and location in Staunton Virginia, you can’t beat staying in the historic Stonewall Jackson Hotel (now Hotel24) built in 1924. Somehow I didn’t manage to snag a picture when I stayed here, but check it out; it’s beautiful! And it’s one of the only places to stay that’s within walking distance of everything downtown.

There are also a number of cute bed and breakfasts and chain hotels in the Staunton VA area, though you’ll need to drive and park downtown to catch most of the action.

If you’re looking for privately owned vacation rentals, I recommend checking VRBO. I’ve personally had much better experiences with their owners and rentals than I have with their primary competitor.

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Where to eat in Staunton Virginia

For ice cream:

• Load up on gelato or sorbet at The Split Banana Co.

For pizza:

• Shenandoah Pizza & Taphouse

For lunch:

• The Clocktower Restaurant
• Cranberry’s Grocery

For a fancy dinner:

• Zynodoa (fancy take on Southern food)
• Aioli Restaurant (delicious Mediterranean cuisine)

For drinks:

• Yelping Dog Wine for the wine-y and casual atmosphere
• The Depot Grille for a cool vintage atmosphere inside the old train station
• The Clocktower Restaurant for drinks & good eats
• Byer’s Street Bistro for fun drinks with pub food

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Where to shop in Staunton, VA

There are so many fun stores to browse in Staunton that I really recommend spending time wandering through downtown and popping into stores that draw your eye. But here are a few of my favorites:

Pufferbellie’s

A darling store for children and the child at heart. We first caught notice of Pufferbellie’s by the bubble machine releasing bubbles into the street from the top floor window. It’s full of toys and books and even toys the kids can play with in the store (though likely not during the time of COVID-19). If you’ve got little ones or just nieces, nephews, or other kids in your life to shop for, you’ll want to check out this cute shop.

Antique stores

Downtown Staunton seems to have an antique store everywhere you look! Each one is unique, full of their own one-of-a-kind items. You can find a list of antique stores here or just wander downtown and discover them for yourself.

Staunton Olive Oil Company

I’ve bought so many infused oils and vinegars from the Staunton Olive Oil Company I’ve even paid to them them shipped to me now that I no longer live close by! It’s a small, woman-owned company with a fantastic product. I’m not sure how they’re operating under COVID-19, but typically you can go in any time during business hours to sample any of their products, and they’ll fill bottles of whatever you order right in front of you! They’ve got a beautiful bottle design, and honestly, you’re going to have a hard time narrowing down what you want to buy.

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How to Get Around Staunton, VA

Downtown Staunton is very walkable once you find a place to park (try the free lot at the Firehouse or on Lewis Street or find paid street parking. There are also a couple of paid parking garages and lots. Find more parking information here).

Once downtown, you can also take the historic trolley to drive by many of the best Staunton Virginia sights. It will take you on a loop of downtown Staunton and be back at the visitor’s center every 30 minutes. Don’t forget to have a quarter ready to pay the 25-cent fare.

And finally, don’t forget to check out Shenandoah National Park and the Luray Caverns while you’re in the area! They are each about a 1 hour drive from Staunton.

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Well, did I sell you? What would you be most excited to see in Staunton, VA?

Pin this now to reference later when you’re planning your Staunton getaway.