Located at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, Stroud is a bustling market town in Gloucestershire famed for its steep streets. It provides an atmospheric base for exploring the walking trails, natural landmarks and thatched medieval villages of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Things to do in Stroud
Occupying a 17th-century residence in Stratford Park is the Museum in the Park, which exhibits everything from dinosaur bones to early lawn mowers manufactured in the area. Get up close to 18th-century weaponry and an early film editing machine, as well as paintings depicting Stroud throughout history. After your visit, you can stretch your legs on the park’s walking trails or let loose in the children’s playground.
A short drive east of Stroud is Lypiatt Park, a medieval estate that encompasses a Tudor manor house, a 14th-century chapel and beautifully landscaped gardens. Since it was established by Over Lypiatt in 1220, the property has changed hands numerous times and was previously owned by British sculptor, Lynn Chadwick. Several of his large-scale works dot the grounds today.
Directly south of Stroud is Westonbirt, a national arboretum home to around 2,500 tree and shrub species from all corners of the globe. It was established in 1829 by Robert Stayner Holford and is Grade I listed as one of the most important botanical collections in the world. A network of walking trails traverse the arboretum while its treetop walkway offers a unique perspective on the canopy.
Getting around Stroud
Stroud is around 20 minutes’ drive from Gloucester and 1.5 hours from Birmingham Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Stroud railway station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Stroud can easily be explored on foot.