Stroud in Gloucestershire, what's it like?

[Biscuitsneeded]

DP has expressed a wish for our UK holiday this summer to include a visit to Stroud in Gloucestershire. When I ask him why, he says it's because it's 'nice'. All I know of Stroud is that I once came off the M5 to avoid a traffic jam and ended up in stationary traffic in Stroud instead - it didn't strike me as especially nice, or not nice - just a small town like many others. I suspect that the reason DP really wants to go there is because one of his musical or cycling heroes is from there and he wants to pay homage. I'm happy to indulge this wish en route to somewhere more exciting, but I thought I'd better check he isn't actually telling the truth and Stroud isn't in fact a hidden gem in the English countryside. Can anyone who lives there or nearby shed any light please?

It just won Best Place to Live

www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/stroud-gloucestershire-best-place-to-live-sunday-times-b1822839.html%3famp

Personally I don't live there, but nearby. It's nice to visit but it's the Valleys around it that are beautiful.

It has a nice farmers market on a Saturday, and a lido. Thats the best things about it tbh (PIL live there, DH grew up there).
The villages around it are much more interesting.

It's not that great to be honest. Painswick is quite pretty. Stroud is nothing to write home about.Small town centre with a handful of shops. If you're going to visit Gloucestershire, I would say visit some places in the Cotswolds like Bibury, Bourton on the Water and Stow on the Wold. There's some nice water parks at South Cerney.

There are much nicer places to visit in Gloucestershire, try those instead. Stroud is nothing special, but seems to have been elevated to some mythically wonderful place in the minds of urbanites.

I was born and brought up there until age of 17. Stroud has extraordinary green credentials, but the whole Stroud Valley from Chalford to the M5 junction at Stroudwater is grim, ribbon development, industrial estates, nothing to see and the town itself is nothing special. Some of the surrounding countryside and valleys are stunning though, as are Selsley and Minchinhampton Commons, Coaley Peak and Frocester Hill.

Personally I always feel depressed, hemmed in and suffocated when returning to visit family - but that is subjective and many may feel differently...

I would not plan a holiday around it, that's for sure!

It has canal, walks, a beautiful NT park with a lake, cycle paths, farmers' market, outdoor pool, good pubs, an indoor food market, commons, woodland, lots of lovely villages nearby.

It's good for a weekend visit, very pretty.
Some nice walks along the canals/valleys & Rodborough Common where the ice cream parlour is & a meal (or stay) at The Bear.
A bit of an arty vibe to the place & some good shops on the High Street & a market but like many places, I wouldn't hang around the centre in the evening.

I used to live very close. I have to say im bit baffled as to why its won 'best place to live'.

Stroud & surrounds was seen in the recent Robert Webb/David Mitchell series Back (second season) although the main filming is in nearby Nailsworth that's smaller & nicer. It looks good on the show. It does have a good variety of independent shops & cafes, not many vacant shops, not too many vape or mobile phone shops - rare for an average high street these days.

Stroud town itself is a bit down at the heels but it’s got lots of independent shops and is developing.

The surrounding 5 valleys around Stroud are beautiful. Cycling, photographers and walkers paradise I’m told. Look to stay slightly to the east or south of Stroud possibly in chalford, Minchinhampton, amberley areas.

Bibury, stow on the wold and bouton on the water are more traditional tourist destination Cotswolds, with large tourist numbers. Bibury particularly, I don’t know how the locals manage. Much flatter, mainstream, nice cream teas, conservative, very traditionally monied with expensive cars. So it really depends what you want out of a holiday.

Thanks all. I know the Cotswolds and have also been to Painswick, Nailsworth etc so I know the countryside is pretty. Was just wondering if DP knew something I didn't about Stroud!

He'd be disappointed if he has only seen the recent "Best place to live" stuff. The market is great, there are some really interesting art/craft places, canal side and the commons are wonderful places but, as others have said, its industrial heritage is the overriding factor for the town itself.

Look just a little bit further afield for somewhere to stay and visit Stroud on market day would be my best advice!