We have pulled together this guide to Stroud … a potted guide for anyone who wants more than a quick look at the map and would rather understand what makes the place worth visiting.
As you explore, look out for local highlights such as Read More, View our business listings for Stroud and Museum in the Park Read, along with the quieter streets, views and details that help tell the story of the town.
Places worth visiting… |
Museum in the Park |
Lansdown Hall & Gallery |
Brimming with character and with an enviable array of independent shops, cafes, galleries and a lovely museum, Stroud has something of a bohemian feel to it.
The town is home to one of the best farmers’ markets in the country, held every Saturday. Indeed, Stroud has been described by the fashion designer Jasper Conran as “The Covent Garden of the Cotswolds”.
Encircled by five sweeping valleys opening out to the River Severn and made famous by Laurie Lee’s novel “Cider with Rosie”, the scenery is dramatic around Stroud.
In the Middle Ages Stroud quickly established itself as a centre for the cloth industry and at the height of its prosperity there were about 150 cloth mills in and around the town. Stroud was particularly famous for manufacturing the cloth used in making military uniforms.
The centre of Stroud has attractive narrow streets and a Tudor town hall and is home to an eclectic mix of shops which sell all sorts of unexpected treasures for the keen-eyed shopper. Stroud has become a popular centre for contemporary arts and is also known
for its canal, commons, woollen mill heritage and colourful festivals. A wide variety of artists can be seen at work in the area and there is also the chance to take part in one of the many traditional workshops.
During the summer months, street performers provide entertainment every Saturday morning and there is a full programme of music and theatre throughout the year. Stratford Park offers a range of indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, a lakeside walk and the acclaimed Museum in the Park.
The town has a state-of-the-art cinema and the Subscription Rooms hosts a variety of live events in a Regency building in the heart of the town. Much more information on Stroud and the surrounding area can be found at Stroud Tourist Information Centre in the Subscription Rooms or from the Canal Visitor Centre.
View our business listings for Stroud