Top 15 Attractions in Stroud, Gloucestershire

Five distinct valleys converge at the town of Stroud, located in the southwest Cotswolds.

For centuries, the swift rivers and abundant sheep in these valleys significantly contributed to a thriving textile manufacturing industry.

Historically, approximately 150 textile mills operated in this region, producing fabrics such as Stroudwater Scarlet, which was utilized for British Army uniforms.

Locally, snooker table felt and Wimbledon’s tennis ball coverings continue to be manufactured.

While most of the mill structures still stand, the woolen trade has largely diminished, making way for vibrant artist communities.

A notable figure from the art scene is modern sculptor Lynn Chadwick, whose estate at Lypiatt Park is open for visits during Heritage Open Days.

Now, let us delve into the premier activities in Stroud:

1. Cotswolds and the Stroud Valleys

Stroud is positioned on the southwestern boundary of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The picturesque countryside in this area epitomizes the classic English landscape, featuring rolling hills and valleys adorned with houses built from the characteristic golden limestone.

Surrounding Stroud, you can embark on explorations into the Five Valleys—Cam, Slad, Painswick, Chalford, and Nailsworth—through various walking and biking routes. Along the way, you will encounter remnants of former mills and charming villages that emerged during the Industrial Revolution.

Chalford is particularly enchanting, known for its maze of steep streets and townhouses constructed by affluent cloth manufacturers in the 18th and 19th centuries.

2. Stratford Park

A cultivated Victorian landscape park, Stratford Park is a Green Flag award winner, encompassing 56 acres on the northern outskirts of the town.

Originally a private estate until 1935, the 17th-century mansion at its center now houses an exceptional Museum in the Park.

Below the mansion, the park features a lake and a miniature railway, while its diverse collection of mature trees is among the finest in the region, showcasing monkey puzzles, a cedar of Lebanon, Indian bean trees, and western red cedars.

In total, there are over 800 trees, many planted when the parkland was designed in the late 1890s.

The park includes a well-equipped children’s area, as well as a public leisure center that boasts a 100-station gym, tennis courts, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

3. Museum in the Park

The exquisite 17th-century wool merchant’s mansion in Stratford Park has served as Stroud’s town museum since 2001. Featuring a modern extension and a neighboring purpose-built art gallery, the museum is designed to engage visitors of all ages.

More than 4,000 artifacts are on display, including dinosaur bones, a 17th-century doll, a Stroudwater scarlet uniform, and some of the earliest lawnmowers ever produced.

Additional intriguing items include a local inn sign dating back to the 1700s, a Bronze Age bracelet, a Medieval axe head, a rare 1929 Baughan motorcycle, a 6th-century Saxon brooch, and an 18th-century blunderbuss.

The collection of paintings notably features landscapes depicting the Five Valleys and their mills from the Georgian and Victorian periods.

4. Historical Trail

Information panels have been installed across Stroud’s historical center, identifying buildings and recounting fascinating events that transpired on these streets.

The trail is easily downloadable and spans just over a mile, ensuring it doesn’t consume much time while still presenting numerous captivating anecdotes.

A great starting point is St Laurence’s Churchyard.

In 1807, this site witnessed the Delmont Duel, the last duel conducted on British soil.

This duel, fought between two army lieutenants, resulted in the death of Joseph Francis Delmont, while the victor, John Sargeaunt, spent his life in exile in America.

The Old Town Hall (1570) and the adjacent Shambles Market outdoor create a picturesque scene in the town’s oldest area.

The market, operational on Fridays and Saturdays from 08:00 to 16:00, offers household items, fresh produce, cheese, specialty foods, and collectibles.

5. Woodchester Park

Located five miles southwest of Stroud, Woodchester Park is a stunning National Trust estate within an unfinished Victorian mansion.

The park was designed in a picturesque valley during the 18th and 19th centuries and features vast woodlands to explore, alongside ponds and remnants of the estate, such as an ice house, cottages, a gatehouse, and a boathouse.

A 3.5-mile circular route leads to the charming lakeside boathouse, while children can enjoy a playful trail in the woods, equipped with stepping logs, balance beams, climbing frames, balance bridges, and rope swings.

6. Woodchester Mansion

The Woodchester Park mansion, constructed around 1870, merits closer examination.

This Gothic Revival structure was commissioned by ship-owner William Leigh and took 12 years to build until work halted upon his death.

While the exterior appears complete and is adorned with gargoyles, the interior is incomplete, lacking floors, plaster, and fixtures.

Following Leigh’s passing, his family abandoned the project due to its Gothic Revival design and concerns about moisture problems in the valley location.

Nearby, remnants of the stables from the house Leigh demolished to construct his new residence can still be found.

7. Stroud Farmers’ Market

Every Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00, the Cornhill Market Place and its adjoining streets transform into one of the UK’s premier farmers’ markets.

Since its inception, the market has garnered attention in national newspapers and received the FARMA Best Farmer’s Market in the UK award in 2013. Here, you can shop for artisanal goods including local cheeses, free-range poultry, high-quality crafts, preserves, teas, artisan soaps, Cotswold wine, cakes, charcuterie, and an array of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as Isle of Wight garlic and craft beers.

Many stalls are operated by producers from the Stroud area, ensuring your support for local businesses.

8. Stroudwater Navigation

Stroud is connected to the River Severn via an eight-mile canal completed in 1759. This waterway historically served the local woolen industry by transporting coal to mills and exporting cloth to markets.

Upon completion, it formed part of a network linking Bristol by water to London.

The canal remained profitable even after the introduction of railways, operating until just after World War II.

Currently, efforts are underway to restore the waterway, and the canal-side textile mills, houses, and much infrastructure along the route have been rejuvenated.

The Royal Geographical Society has established a three-mile walking route along the towpath between Stroud and Stonehouse, with a guide available for convenient download on your device.

On this abbreviated route, you will encounter numerous bridges, mills, warehouses, and locks.

9. Subscription Rooms

A distinguished Neoclassical structure at George Street, the Subscription Rooms serves as a performing arts venue constructed from Cotswold stone in 1833. Here, you can immerse yourself in the artistic scene of the Five Valleys at various concerts, plays, and dance performances held in the 450-seat Ballroom.

Additionally, there is a dynamic lineup of concerts featuring well-known touring rock, pop, and folk artists, as well as classical music ensembles and solo performers.

Every September, the annual Stroud Theatre Festival is held, and regularly, you can find art or photography exhibitions in the George Room.

The tourist information center is located within the Subscription Rooms, and it is noteworthy that The Beatles performed at this venue in 1962.

10. Cloth Mills of the Five Valleys

The Five Valleys boast a rich legacy in cloth-making, dating back countless centuries, even prior to the arrival of Huguenot artisans fleeing persecution from France.

Initially powered by the streams coursing through the valleys, the peak of the cloth-making trade in the 19th century saw around 150 mills in operation.

With plentiful wool provided by the flocks grazing on the valley slopes, the region thrived.

While repurposed mills are found throughout the valleys, only two of the original 150 mills are still engaged in cloth production.

Lodgemore Mills and Cam Mill, located outside Dursley, have historical roots extending back to the Middle Ages.

Together, they manufacture the coverings for tennis balls used at Wimbledon and the green felt for snooker tables.

The Stroudwater Textile Trust provides information on open days and tours at locations such as the magnificent St Mary’s Mill, which features a 19th-century waterwheel, and Stanley Mill, where carding machines and spinning mules remain operational.

11. Coaley Peak

A popular resting point on the Cotswold Way National Trail, Coaley Peak offers a scenic viewpoint just 15 minutes by car from Stroud.

Comprising twelve acres of former farmland transformed into wildflower meadows, it boasts breathtaking views over the Severn Vale.

You can bring a blanket for a leisurely picnic while enjoying the surrounding wildflowers.

The open landscape is perfect for kite-flying, and it also serves as an excellent starting point for walks along the Cotswold Way and adjacent National Trust (Frocester Hill) and Woodland Trust sites.

12. St Mary’s Church, Painswick

A church existed in Painswick prior to the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

Although that structure has vanished, St Mary’s Church is worth a visit due to its diverse architectural styles developed over 500 years, culminating in the mid-19th century.

The oldest stonework is found in the chapel on the north side of the nave, dating back to 1377. The nave and tower were constructed at the end of the 15th century, while the Perpendicular chancel was completed in the mid-16th century.

Inside, pay attention to the baptismal font carved in 1661, which replaced one lost during the Civil War.

Outside, the churchyard is notable for its sculpted yews and solemn chest tombs created by local masons, with the oldest dating back to yeoman William Loveday, who passed away in 1623.

13. Miserden Garden

Overlooking the Golden Valley, the 850-acre Miserden estate encompasses a stunning historical house dating back to the 1620s.

The garden, initially planted in tandem with the estate, is accessible to the public, framed by the majestic Cotswold hills.

Renowned early 20th-century landscape architect Edwin Lutyens designed exquisite topiary yew walks, alongside vibrant mixed borders filled with herbaceous plants, roses, clematis, and colorful shrubs that thrive until winter.

A remaining feature from the 17th century is an ancient mulberry tree, while more recent additions like a charming stream, fountain, and stone summerhouse were built to commemorate the new millennium.

14. Lypiatt Park

Renowned 20th-century sculptor Lynn Chadwick resided in this Medieval and Tudor house located less than ten minutes from Stroud’s center.

Chadwick’s artwork is part of collections at the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Tate, and MoMA in New York. What distinguishes Lypiatt Park is the Lynn Chadwick Sculpture Park, featuring 32 of his sculptures set amidst hilly parkland.

Regrettably, both the house and grounds are not accessible to the public, but visits can be arranged on Heritage Open Days (subject to prior reservation), typically conducted in September each year to appreciate the Sculpture Park.

15. Select Festival

Stroud hosts a significant textile arts festival every spring, held from late April to early June.

Throughout this period, various talks, exhibitions, workshops, and master classes focused on visual and applied arts are scheduled across multiple venues in the town, including the Subscription Rooms and the Museum in the Park.

In 2018, events included an outdoor sculpture exhibition in Miserden Village, a tapestry art exhibition at the Museum in the Park, and a bustling collectibles and antiques fair at Lansdown Hall.

During two weekends of the festival, you can explore the Select Trail, where over 70 artists, designers, and craftsmen throughout Stroud and the Five Valleys open their studios to the public, hosting self-curated exhibitions of their creations.