Cotswolds Days Out is a new series I’ve started to showcase the day trips I take around the Cotswolds Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) in England. Since moving nearby to Cheltenham, I’ve been enjoying exploring the various villages and towns in the region and sharing my experiences with readers. This is the second post in the series. You can read the first post about Painswick here.

Stroud is recognized for its bohemian, alternative atmosphere—it’s home to a lively arts community and numerous independent shops. Its location on the train line from Cheltenham and London makes it an easy destination for a day trip.

We arrived in Stroud mid-morning and headed to the popular Saturday Farmers Market (open 9 AM–2 PM every Saturday). The market is extensive, featuring vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, specialty foods, and arts and crafts. I was impressed with the variety of stalls and items available, and thoroughly enjoyed the cheddar and jalapeno sourdough loaf we purchased, along with a block of cheddar cheese with chilis (we seem drawn to spicy foods!).

I didn’t spot any coffee vendors at the market, so we wandered a bit outside the area to Woodruffs Cafe, which had a takeaway coffee window. After grabbing coffee, we considered visiting shops on the High Street but found it too crowded, so we decided to head somewhere outside of town first and return to shop later before catching the train home.

Just outside central Stroud is Stroud Brewery. To reach it, we walked two miles along the Severn and Trent canal, which runs behind the brewery. Despite reading mixed reviews about this walk beforehand, I was pleasantly surprised by its beauty. The path was lined with greenery, locks, historical plaques detailing the canal’s history, and homes I envied for their views and easy access to such a lovely walkway.

At Stroud Brewery, we chose to sit outdoors by the canal. Mark and I both ordered beers—they weren’t outstanding but were enjoyable enough—and we shared a pizza, which was tasty though a bit pricey. I especially liked that Stroud Brewery has a book exchange near the restrooms: you can donate for a book, bring one to swap, or borrow and return a book. I’ll need to return the book I borrowed!

We then caught an Uber back to Stroud train station (you can walk along the canal again, but we opted not to) and returned to the High Street. The crowds had lessened, making it a great time to browse the shops. I definitely recommend visiting Stroud if you have shopping in mind—they offer a variety of excellent stores. We visited places like Made In Stroud (local goods), Fourteen Lifestyle (quirky gift shop), Stroud Bookshop, and Stroud Wine Company, picking up cards, wrapping paper, bath bombs, and some orange wine.

Overall, I really enjoyed our day out in Stroud. I appreciated its independent shops and community-driven atmosphere, offering a refreshing change from some of the other more “picture-perfect postcard” towns in the Cotswolds region.