Stroud

There's many fine, beautiful and interesting things to see but it's not "pretty" in the way that similar sized towns in the Cotswolds or Gloucestershire are. It's a fairly "alternative" place with organic/biodynamic food and a long history of campaigning to save local facilities and landmarks. For many years, local people opposed letting McDonald’s build a restaurant.
The area around the town is known as the Five Valleys consisting of the valleys of Chalford, Nailsworth, Ruscombe, Slad and Painswick. There are a number of small towns and villages in the area, such as Minchinhampton and Stonehouse.

By train

• Stroud train stationThe trains usually arrive and depart 30 minutes on weekdays.

• Stonehouse railway stationhas connections from Swindon and Gloucester.

By bus

Stroud is the crossroads of the Cotswolds for buses, and stagecoach buses go further afield. Buses connect to Cheltenham (number 40, 46) and Gloucester (93).

By car

The Cotswolds are pretty hopeless in terms of public transport, so a car might be a good idea.
To reach Stroud from the M5, turn off at junction 13 eastwards. Follow the A419 through Stonehouse. The route is sign posted.
From the south (from Bath) head up the A46, following signs for Stroud.
A large multi-storey carpark is just outside the town centre.

The town is small, and much of the shopping district has been pleasantly pedestrianised. (mind the steep hills!)
There are buses every half-hour from Stroud to Stonehouse on weekdays, or it's about an hour's walk.

The town and nearby has been an industrial area for hundreds of years so there are many fine old stone mills, weavers cottages, a canal. Little of this has been given serious "heritage" treatment but it doesn't spoil the often beautiful setting in wooded valleys.

• Uley Long Barrow

  phone: +44 370 333 1181
  address: Crawley Hill, Dursley, GL11 5AR
  Neolithic burial mound.

• Owlpen Manor

  phone: +44 1453 860261
  address: Uley, Dursley, GL11 5BZ
  Tudor manor house.

• St George's Church

  phone: +44 1453 836536
  address: Church St, Nailsworth, GL6 0BP

• Market House

  phone: +44 1453 883369
  address: 1-2 Market Square, Minchinhampton
  17th-century.

• Doverow Hill

  address: Stonehouse

• Stonehouse Manor

  address: Stonehouse

• Woodchester House

  phone: +44 1453 861541
  address: Woodchester Park, B4066, Nympsfield, Stonehouse, GL10 3TS
  An unfinished Victorian manor house that is apparently haunted.

Stroud is home to the Stroud part of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, which has further campuses in the Bristol area.

• Cinema,

• The SpaceTheatre and music happen here.

• Subscription Rooms has a large attractive upstairs and puts on concerts, dances and exhibitions.
• Out and About: although Stroud itself has few attractions, fans of walking and hiking, or if you just want to take the dog for a walk should visit the local information office for popular walking routes, or just take foot and find your own! The Valleys around Stroud offer spectacular views, and if you don't mind a longer walk, a White Chalk Horse can be found.
• Mountain biking: Stroud has extensive public bridleways that you can legitimately ride on
• Sports and activities: If you more of a golfer, be sure to check out Rodborough and Minchinhampton common, a large expansive grass land with a full golfing course set out for free. Nearby Minchinhampton Golf club can also accommodate you with an internationally recognised 18 holes and driving range.

Next to the Stroud College of Art and Design is the Leisure Centre, with several Tennis/Squash and badminton courts as well as a swimming pool and various 'different' activities from Trampolining to Akido.

• The Cotswold Playhouse

  address: Parliament St, GL5 1LW
  Theatre owned by the Cotswold Players.
• Stroud's unique ‘Mayor on a Bench’, sessions, where local residents can voice their concerns to the Town Council, are held most Wednesdays in Kendrick Street from 11:30AM-12:30PM.

Events

• • • Country Market, every fourth Saturday morning in Mortimer Garden, Nailsworth.
    • Nailsworth Food Festival, mid September.
    • Goodwill evening, Nailsworth, last Friday in November.
    
    

Loads of shops along the pedestrian high street. Many non-chain shops too!

• Stroud Farmers Market

  phone: +44 1453 758060
  address: Cornhill Market Place, GL5 2HH
  Dozens of stalls selling cheese, meats, plates, honey, jam, spices, vegetables, cooked food, etc. Very busy and interesting. Often has a 'performing chef!'

• Shambles Market

  address: The Shambles, High St, GL5 1AP
  Half-way up the steep High Street near the church every Friday and Saturday. Stalls selling organic fruit and vegetables, cheese, fish, bric-a-brac, etc.

There are various fast food outlets in Stroud (including Subway, McDonald's and Burger Star) despite opposition from locals. Other cafés:

• Woodruff's. Organic café at the top of the high street, offering home-made food and lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Lunchtime meal £8-12.
• Mill's café. Down a (nice) alleyway towards the top of the high street. Two different meals each day, generous and delicious. Wide selection of home-made cakes. Lunchtime meal £6-10.
• Spuds. In the Merrywalk's precinct. Cheap baked potatoes and baguettes to go, though you can sit if you wish. Relatively cheap (roughly £3 per potato or baguette)
• Mother nature. Middle of the high street, down an alleyway. Fresh made-to-order sandwiches, baps, baguettes and paninis to go.

• Hobbs House Bakery

  address: 4 George Street,Nailsworth

• Mark @ Street

  address: Market Street,Nailsworth

• William's Foodhall

  address: Fountain Street,Nailsworth
  Great oysters.

• Sophie's Restaurant

  address: 20 High Street, Minchinhampton
  Tu-F 9AM-2PM coffee and lunch, Sa 9:30AM-12:30PM coffee and patisserie. Selected Saturday evenings, restaurant in the centre of town.

• The Kitchen

  address: 7 High Street, Minchinhampton
  Taste of the West Gold Award winning Cafe, Best cafe and tea room in Gloucestershire 2008 & 2009.

• The Old Lodge

  phone: +44 1453 832047
  address: Minchinhampton
  pub with good beer, reports suggest good food

• The Black Horse

  phone: +44 1453 872556
  address: Littleworth, Amberly
  Very popular pub with fantastic panoramic views over the Nailsworth Valley. Excellent range of beers and ciders, with a great menu and good service.

There are various cafés and coffee shops in Stroud, including Mother nature, Woodruff's and Mill's mentioned above, which serve freshly-baked cakes and tarts. There is a Costa Coffee at the top of the high street.
The main club in town is the Warehouse, only open on Saturday nights and costing £6 to get in (£3 before 11:30PM). A newer, less popular club, Junction 13, is at the top of town. It's open Friday and Saturday nights and costs £4 to get in (before 11PM it's free). These clubs aren't great, though, and Stroud can get quite nasty at night. Nearby Cheltenham is much better for evening entertainment.

• Golden Fleece

  phone: +44 1453 764850
  address: Nelson St, GL5 2HN
  Pub with nice atmosphere, locals' preference (check out the quote of the day on the black board outside). Part of a group of pubs including Tipputs and Brittanica (in nearby Nailsworth). Serves fantastic, restaurant-style meals and particularly nice garlic bread.

• The Black Horse Inn

  address: Littleworth, Amberley, GL5 5AL
  Pub and restaurant.

• The George Inn

  phone: +44 1453 833228
  address: Higher Newmarket Rd, Nailsworth, GL6 0RF

• Bear of Rodborough Hotel

  phone: +44 1453 878522
  address: Rodborough Common, GL5 5DE
  Need a car to get to it.

• Amberley Inn

  phone: +44 1453 872565
  address: Culver Hill, GL5 5AF
  This is a restaurant, pub and hotel, reputed to be haunted.

• Egypt Mill hotel and restaurant

  phone: +44 1453 833449
  address: Stroud Road, Nailsworth
  Nice meal

• Crown Inn

  phone: +44 1453 882357
  address: High Street, Minchinhampton
  Serves meals all day. Local pub. Accommodation also available.

• Ragged Cot

  phone: +44 1453 884643
  address: Cirencester Road, Hyde
  Much nicer food than Crown Inn, but less 'local' atmosphere. Very good restaurant, but pricey. Reputed to be haunted. It's a pub, restaurant and hotel.

• Stonehouse Court Hotel

  phone: +44 843 3575557
  address: Bristol Road, Stonehouse

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby