The Cotswolds

With its dramatic Cotswolds landscape, unique arts and crafts heritage, fabulous festivals and independent shops, the Stroud District is the least commercialised and unexplored area of the Cotswolds. If you are looking for a lovely, Cotswolds weekend away, why not have a look at our Special Offers.

There's plenty to do in the Cotswolds' Stroud District this summer. Plan which Events and Festivals to attend for 2013 on our What's On page.

LATEST NEWS

My visit to the Stroud Valleys

Winstones on Rodborough Common

Georgia, aged 11, from Norfolk, wrote about her recent visit to the Stroud Valleys with her family. Her highlights were eating Winstones Ice Cream, visiting Woodchester Mansion and Park and The Woolpack in Slad.

PDF Read Georgia's article about her weekend

Stroud - One of Britain's Coolest Towns (The Times)

Stroud 'The Covent Garden of The Cotswolds'

According to The Times, the most obvious signs of cool may be culture, coffee bars, gastropubs and independent shops. This is why they have named Stroud as one of the Top 30 Coolest Places to Live in Britain, 'Designer Jasper Conran said Stroud is the “Covent Garden of the Cotswolds” thanks to its cute boutiques, art galleries and bookshops. Handy for beautiful countryside — and its farmers’ market wins awards.'

Stroud - about this page

The Times - Top 30 Coolest Places to Live in Britain

Stroud's Award-Winning Market

Farma 2013 Award Winners Announced

Stroud Farmers' Market has won Farmers' Market of the year 2013 in the FARMA annual awards.

The awards, known collectively as the 'FARMAs', recognise those farm shops, farmers' markets, pick-your-own and farm destination sites, which stand out from the crowd in 2013.  They exemplify a passion for local food, a commitment to farming and the environment, a talent for retail, and the fruits of a lot of hard work.  Well done Stroud! www.Farma.or.uk

A Great British Weekend in the South Cotswolds

William's Food Hall, Nailsworth

If you're looking for inspiration for a weekend away, read all about the South Cotswolds, described in The Times as 'A far cry from the twee Cotswolds that most people know', including the small market towns of Berkeley, Minchinhampton and Nailworth.

PDF The Times, January 2013

Towns & Villages - Towns & Villages

Stroud Special Offers - Find out about some great offers to inspire you to explore and enjoy the Stroud District

Download the new Cotswolds Visitor Guide

Cotswolds Visitor Guide 2013

Discover more about the Stroud District, where to stay and what to see and do in the rest of the Cotswolds in the new OFFICIAL Cotswolds Visitor Guide 2013. Features include 'Time for Yourself', 'Food & Drink' and 'Fun on a Shoestring'. View the guide online or download a copy from the link below.

Visitor Guides - Visitor Guide

Cotswolds Tourism Awards 2013

Award-winning Barncastle

The Cotswolds Tourism Awards have just been anounced for 2013. Barncastle in Pitchcombe near Painswick has won a silver in the Self Catering category. Other winners include Giffords Circus and Rob Rees 'The Cotswolds Chef.

Barncastle - More information

Cotswolds Tourism Awards 2013 - More information

Special Offers on Overnight Stays

The Bear of Rodborough

Make the most of cosy Cotswold pubs, bracing winter walks and roaring log fires by enjoying a weekend away in the Cotswolds this winter. Accommodation ranges from traditional Cotswold stone B&Bs and self-catering cottages to boutique hotels. Check out our Special Offers page and how to apply for free Stroud Farmers' Market vouchers for stays before the beginning of March 2013.

Stroud Special Offers - Find out about some great offers to inspire you to explore and enjoy the Stroud District

Independent shopping in Stroud District

Shop Local

Whether you're a local or a visitor, enjoy special offers and discounts from a wide range of shops and businesses all over the Stroud District with a Shop Local loyalty card, sponsored by Stroud District Council. Pick up one for free from Stroud Tourist Information Centre or participating businesses. Click below to find out which businesses are taking part.

Stroud District Loyalty Card - List of participating businesses

Stroud Farmers Market

The Seven Wonders of the Cotswolds

Stroud's award-winning Farmers' Market and the unfinished gothic masterpiece, Woodchester Mansion, have been voted by the public as two of the Seven Wonders of the Cotswolds.

The Seven Wonders of the Cotswolds - more information

Woodchester Mansion - find out more

Stroud Farmers' Market - find out more

Stroud on Water Festival 2012

The Stroud on Water Festival took place in summer 2012, coinciding with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 40th anniversary of the Cotswolds Canals Trust. The IWA's annual Trailboat Festival was hosted here and lots of boats were seen on the Stroudwater Canal for the first time in over 100 years! To find out more about the Stroudwater Canal, click on the following link:

Stroudwater Canal - The restoration of the Cotswold Canals will see the connection of England`s two greatest rivers; the Thames and the Severn for the first time in over seventy years.

All aboard the Stroud Special!

All aboard the Stroud Special! Visitors can speed their way to the Five Valleys onboard an off-peak special train service from London and Reading (from £8 single). Your ticket entitles you to discounts in more than 45 shops and cafes in the colourful market town of Stroud. For more information, click below.

Stroud Special - Special Train Service to Stroud

STROUD IN THE COTSWOLDS

The Cotswolds is renowned for being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is convenient to access famous points of interest such as Stratford upon Avon, Cotswold villages, Bristol, Bath and the Welsh Borders.

The Stroud district boasts an exciting and contemporary art scene, with the likes of Damien Hirst, Cleo Mussi and the Pangolin foundry in residence, making the area positively unique.

This least commercialised and unexplored area of the Cotswolds is presented among valleys, vales and wolds. This dramatic mix of landscape, coupled with unique heritage, unspoiled villages and market towns are all here waiting to be discovered.